Craft Brewers Conference | Seminar Proposal Submission

The call for seminar proposals for the 2024 Craft Brewers Conference® (CBC®) is now closed. We will begin accepting proposals for CBC 2025 in summer 2024. To receive a notification when the call for proposals is posted, complete this form.

2024 Submission Details & Guidelines

Download the full seminar proposal submission guidelines and form fields.

All seminar proposals (including those for researcher presentations—more information below) are reviewed and recommended for selection by the CBC Seminar Subcommittee, a group of Brewers Association (BA) members selected annually as industry experts in their fields.
Seminars are expected to provide actionable takeaways for attendees to help improve their businesses. Proposals should clearly outline the skills and knowledge that attendees will learn from the seminar.
Descriptions should accurately reflect the proposed seminar content. If selected, the title, description, and learning objectives submitted in your proposal will be used as the seminar information on the event website and in the conference program and mobile application.
Titles and content of selected seminars are subject to revision after Seminar Subcommittee review.
Be prepared to provide contact information, a short biography, and a headshot for ALL proposed speakers when you submit your proposal.
Standard CBC seminars are hour-long presentations. However, submitters are encouraged to submit proposals for seminars in shorter or longer time slots and/or creative formats, where appropriate. Potential new formats could include short lectures or series, workshops, roundtable discussions, hands-on demonstrations, and more. You will have an opportunity in the submission form to describe your preferred seminar format.
You can begin filling out the form and save at any point for completion at a later date, but you must submit the form on or before Friday, October 13 in order for your proposal to be considered for review. Once a proposal is submitted, you will no longer be able to make additional changes.
- It is highly recommended that you keep a copy of your proposal content and speaker information in a Word document or other external file in case of any errors during the submission process.
- Changes (including speaker additions or changes in company affiliations) after a seminar is selected are subject to review by the Seminar Subcommittee.
Seminar Deliverable Timeline*: Selected seminars are expected to follow a deliverable timeline (listed below). All deliverables will be reviewed by the CBC Seminar Subcommittee and feedback will be provided to presenters. Presenters are expected to make suggested changes to their seminar content based on this feedback. Selected speakers should be aware of the deliverable timeline and able to commit to submit deliverables on time. Selected speakers who do not adhere to the deliverable timeline are subject to removal from the conference schedule.
- Seminar content outline due January 5, 2024
- Presentation draft due February 2, 2024
- Final presentation deck due March 6, 2024
- Onsite presentation deck due April 10, 2024
- *Exact deliverable timeline subject to change.
Supplier Submissions: CBC attendees have clearly expressed the sentiment that they prefer not to have supplier-generated presentations that only explore one specific product or solution in the educational tracks at the Craft Brewers Conference. Suppliers wishing to present specific information on their products or services should consider a sponsored seminar. Proposals from suppliers are welcome when balanced approaches and solutions to industry issues are presented and they do not reference specific products or services by name.
Submission Maximum: Individual submitters (or supplier groups) are limited to a maximum of 3 proposal submissions total. Any additional proposals beyond the third submission will be automatically rejected.
Speaker Registration and Travel: All accepted speakers will receive a full complimentary registration for the event. However, all speakers are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses. We recommend booking your hotel early as they do tend to sell out. ConferenceDirect is the official housing bureau for CBC 2024. Through this partnership, we have negotiated the best possible rates at hotels near the conference center. Book with ConferenceDirect here.
Speaker Fees and Honorariums: Selected speakers for CBC are provided with a full complimentary conference registration in lieu of a speaker fee/honorarium.

For questions or for more information about the submission guidelines for regular seminars, please contact MacKenzie Staples.

Researcher Presentations

Download the full Researcher Presentation proposal submission guidelines and form fields.

The CBC 2024 Seminar Subcommittee is also accepting proposals for researcher presentations via the submission form. Speakers interested in presenting a researcher presentation should read the information below before submitting a proposal.

The CBC Researcher Presentation session is a unique session with a particular format unlike other seminars at the conference. This session will include a series of succinct presentations presented by individual researchers followed by an interactive poster session enabling attendees to directly engage with the presenting authors. The presentation style is inspired by the Ignite strategy for science communication, where a concise yet impactful narrative, lasting approximately five minutes, is coupled with auto-advancing slides.

Similarly, the poster template provided for this session diverges from the conventional approach, incorporating science-backed principles for a fresh design. This design emphasizes brevity, allowing the key takeaway message to shine. By adopting this approach, researchers can dedicate less time to poster creation and more time to meaningful conversations with attendees.

While these innovative formats may challenge researchers to recalibrate their science communication strategies, they promise to enhance information sharing both within and beyond their immediate fields, all in an engaging and inventive manner.

The CBC Researcher Presentation session is appropriate for those who are investigating specific testable questions with the goal of accumulating knowledge and advancing the field of brewing science. Suggested topics for this seminar should be technical in nature. Examples of technical topics include those related to beer quality, ingredients, safety, food safety, sustainability, and sensory.

Researcher presentation proposals will be reviewed and recommended for selection by the Seminar Subcommittee and accepted speakers will be asked to follow a similar deliverable timeline to the one listed under the “Submission Guidelines” section above.

For questions or for more information about the 2024 Researcher Presentation session, please contact Katie Fromuth.

Suggested Seminar Topics by Areas of Focus

The CBC 2024 Seminar Subcommittee has prepared a list of suggested seminar topics, organized by Areas of Focus. These topics are not intended to be an exhaustive list, but rather a guide to potential speakers to some of the top priority seminar topics that the committee would like to see presented on in 2024. Potential speakers are welcome to submit proposals beyond the scope of these suggestions but are encouraged to keep them in mind when planning their proposal content.

Download the full list of suggested topics.

Brewpubs, Taprooms & Hospitality

Staff Management

Taproom employee retention, engagement, and motivation
Encouraging your staff to provide exceptional customer service
Structuring your employee incentive and compensation program, particularly when working with diverse age groups
How leadership can contribute to preventing and managing employee burnout
Cross-training and connecting your front-of-house (FOH) and back-of-house (BOH) staff as one cohesive team
Designing beer and food education programs for your FOH staff
Planning and leading effective pre-shift meetings
Defining your company culture and maintaining it as your business grows
The impact of connecting company leadership with frontline managers and hourly staff

Brewpubs & Taprooms Operations

Using technology and reporting data to increase efficiency and customer engagement
Integration considerations when selecting your tech stack
How to use the reporting data from your point-of-sale (POS) to inform business decisions
Sustainability in the taproom, including identifying local resources, options for recycling and composting, gaining guest buy-in, and more
FOH contributions to your overall cost of goods sold (COGS) and how to incentivize staff to reduce and offset them
Recognizing when it’s time to raise prices
Diversifying revenue streams to maintain existing customers and engage new customers in a changing industry landscape
Designing a functional and versatile taproom and effectively using your space for events and engagement
Removing barriers in your taproom and creating physically inclusive space

Hospitality

Developing a best-in-class hospitality program
Identifying and staying authentic to your niche without alienating potential customers
Creating a welcoming space for both customers and staff, including using your taproom to engage with diverse communities in a safe and meaningful way
Bridging the gap and converting customers from the digital to physical space
Accommodating all patrons by providing various food and beverage options
Important considerations for dietary restrictions and allergens in the taproom

Community Engagement, Charitable Giving & Philanthropy

Collaborating with other local businesses (including breweries) for mutual benefit
Community engagement and acting as a community hub
Making a difference at any size
The business case for giving back

Events

Creative and easy event ideas to bring more customers to your brewery
Logistical considerations for planning successful events
When NOT to host or attend an event
Understanding the cost of events to your business and how to price and budget appropriately

Beer & Food

Creating creative food pairings to sell more beer
Partnering with outside food vendors, including navigating the dynamic of having two distinct businesses operating in the same space
Various options to provide food in your taproom and considerations for each

Business

Finance & Accounting

How to find and secure funding for a new project or brewery
How to continue to drive profitability and returns in an era of compressed margins
Understanding your income statement and identifying potential pitfalls
Basic considerations when taking on debt; Financial tools to make decisions about debt
Managing margins; Understanding changing material costs and the relation to pricing dynamics
Simple, efficient, and easy-to-implement processes to stay financially sound
Encouraging financial literacy and leadership across your entire team
Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) rationalization and lifecycle

Management, Leadership & Strategy

ESOPs 101, including options for structuring your ESOP, pros and cons, and more
Potential business exit strategies and considerations for each
Downsizing and things to consider when winding down operations
Location selection considerations, whether for opening a brewery or opening a new location
Understanding both sides of a contract brewing agreement; Navigating the contract brewing space
Alternating proprietorships and other cooperative operating models
Taking your business to the next level; Opportunities for growth
Change management; Effective strategies for leading teams through periods of change
The potential opportunities and pitfalls of allowing remote work
Evolving your organizational structure
Developing operational leadership skills, such as effective delegation, avoiding micromanagement, team problem solving, and more
Crisis management and practical considerations for disaster recovery
Determining partnership compatibility; How to hire the right professional partners for your business model and the brewing industry overall
Learnings from other mature industries

Statistics, Data & Trends

How to tell the difference between fads vs. trends, and making business decision related to both
Measuring the success of your business, from Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to financial benchmarks, and more
Identifying trends in your own data and the greater market

Export Development, Government Affairs & Legal

Export Development

Developing a plan to consistently market and sell your beer abroad
Evaluating potential import partners
Importer/distributor relationships and expectations when exporting
Navigating export compliance and regulations
Evaluating the return on investment (ROI) of overseas marketing opportunities like festivals, trade shows, and competitions
Understanding the logistics of exporting beer
Overview of opportunities for American craft beer in specific markets

Government Affairs & Legal

Comparative trade practices and compliance considerations for non-beer beverages
Deep dive into the legal considerations for specific beyond beer products (example: hard cider and/or other wine products)
Trademark law, specifically focused on cross-commodity and cross-functional issues
How to introduce and pass legislation, including a look into the various resources available
Legal and compliance on a shoestring budget
All the ways to get sued in 2024

Quality & Ingredients

Quality Labs & Microbiology

Establishing, growing, and making the most of your quality lab
Interpreting and responding to microbiological issues
Managing quality and safety in packaged beer

Sensory

Making sense of your sensory data
How to train brewery staff to detect off-flavors in finished beer
Understanding, preventing, and working with diacetyl

Food Safety

Food safety and quality considerations when using juice and other flavorings
Use of pasteurization
Stabilization and preservatives
Allergen food safety best practices
Ensuring food safety and quality of non-alcohol and low alcohol beer
Can liner performance for beyond beer products

Draught Beer Quality

Proper pouring techniques, serving pressures, temperature, and choice of glassware for different styles
Draught line cleaning, including best practices for methods and frequency
Proper sanitation and kegging techniques

Raw Materials & Supply Chain

The most important developments in the supply chain over the past year
How to plan your raw material purchasing to maximize value and storage efficiency
Navigating shortages in raw materials through contracting
Understanding the certifications, labeling allowances, and requirements involved in brewing with natural and organic ingredients
Avoiding common handling mistakes with raw ingredients

Hops

State of the current hop crop, including quality and yield changes due to recent weather conditions
Understanding the importance of the Hop Storage Index (HSI)
Exploring advanced hop products and their use in the brewing process
The next great hop
Dry-hopping techniques and equipment
Understanding and analyzing survivables
Identifying hop smoke taint

Malt

Advances in domestic barley and malt production to emulate imported malts and improve sustainability
Understanding and taking advantage of your malt certificate of analysis (COA)
Overview of advances in bioengineering in North American barley breeding

Yeast

An update on thiolized yeasts
Best practices for yeast harvesting, handling, and storage at various sized and equipped breweries

Adjuncts

Why and how to use different types of fruit products to maximize fruit flavor
The various sources of flavor and how to maximize the impact of adjuncts

Sales & Marketing

Social Media & Digital Marketing

Deep dive into social media and digital platforms
Developing your digital marketing strategy beyond social media, including content marketing, email campaigns, and influencer partnerships
The “how-tos” of marketing management software, including what options exist, the pros and cons of each, and how to choose the right platforms for your business
How to manage social media and avoid burnout
Handling social media comments and direct messages, dealing with trolls, and setting realistic expectations for your team and guests
The value of a good website
Web analytics and Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Marketing, Branding & Advertising

Graphic design for various sizes of breweries
Label and packaging design, including legal and regulatory considerations
The power of visual content, including photography, videography, and package art
Establishing your brand identity, from design elements, to causes, partnerships, event participation, and more
Developing an authentic message, effectively telling your story, and preserving your identity while your company grows
Marketing in a crisis and how to use your platform in a thoughtful and constructive way
Artificial Intelligence (AI), including how and when to use it, the risks and opportunities, legal considerations, and the question of what you “own”
Understanding marketing data and where you are in your data journey
Using data to drive innovation
Setting up your merchandising strategy; Could include extending merchandising from in-house to retail and distribution, philanthropy-specific merchandising; etc.
Overview of in-house marketing and its value
Marketing through events such as beer tastings and tap takeovers
Brand families, brand extensions, and when to leverage an existing brand vs. starting a new one
The value of traditional (offline) advertising, including strategies for print and outdoor campaigns
Identifying your niche and understanding your target customer, as well as what your target customer will look like in the future

Sales & Distribution

Data-driven storytelling for national accounts and navigating retailer submissions
Push vs. pull; How to spot the difference and take advantage
Setting and managing expectations with your retailers and distributors
Tips for self-distribution, including how to stay profitable while effectively managing your self-distribution network
Communicating with retailers, including virtual and print sales collateral
How the distribution landscape has changed and how to choose the right distribution strategy and partner/s for your brewery
How to communicate effectively and be a good distribution partner, from both sides of the relationship
Using data to create a pricing strategy that works for your brewery
Distribution 101: A crash course in the logistics of distribution
Distribution 201: Developing and executing an annual sales plan

Technical Brewing & Production

Beer Styles

Production techniques for growing and emerging beer styles
Lager fermentation and equipment
Proper procedures for working with and making gluten free and gluten reduced products, the differences between them, and how to properly lab test and avoid cross contamination
How to submit a beer to the correct style when entering beers into competitions
Non-alcohol and low alcohol beer production, including food safety concerns

Beyond Beer Production

Brewing and packaging tips for ready-to-drink and other non-beer products, including non-alcohol products
How to maximize the capacity of your brewery while offering the most diverse products you can
Food safety certifications you may need as you expand into new products

Brewing Operations & Engineering

Principles of carbonation and carbonation techniques, including spunding valve best practices and safety considerations
Where and how to find and track efficiencies in your brewery
Pasteurization principles, important considerations, and auditing your pasteurization process
The importance of oxygen in the brewing process
Low oxygen in packaging and its effects on stability and flavor
How to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your brewery
Approaching brewing conditions outside the norm, such as brewing with septic tanks and well water, solar or electric-powered brewing, brewing in a foreign country, etc.
Reducing loss and waste, including with the use of new age products
Re-evaluating traditional brewing timelines
Liquid chillers and refrigeration 101 for brewers
Preventive maintenance, including how to determine critical spares and which ones you need to keep in stock
Thiol yeast, thiol products, and thiolized beers
Bioengineered products and the science behind them
Managing water chemistry and profiles for flavor and mouthfeel
A review of BA technical resources, including where to find them, how to use them, and what you can gain from them

Safety

Important safety considerations and legal requirements for operating a brewery, including equipment safety, employee training, and regulatory compliance
Occupational noise exposure, including what it is, the common areas of concern for production and front-of-house employees, potential engineering solutions, and audiometric testing

Sustainability

Sustainability: Why it’s important, how to get started, and avoiding greenwashing
CO₂ capture, limitations, and how to know when carbon capture makes sense for your business
Recycling, upcycling, downcycling, and wish-cycling; Understanding what they all are and the opportunities available
Sustainability partnerships and how working with third parties or nonprofit organizations can aid you in your sustainability goals
Assessing production sustainability and preparing resilience plans
Alternative, greener, and safer cleaning chemicals for use in and around the brewery

Thrive

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces for both your staff and customers
How to foster DEI from the top down and what can leaders learn from the bottom up
What does DEI really mean? Understanding and supporting the broad spectrum of DEI
How to communicate with and support your staff with different needs and abilities
Outward facing DEI: How to remain true to your brand while thoughtfully and authentically recognizing various cultures and events
How to build, promote, and attract diversity in your team

Human Resources (HR)

Navigating the creation and implementation of your code of conduct
Understanding the various types of harassment, including passive and overt forms, their legal definitions, and your obligations as an employer
Creating, documenting, and publishing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for harassment, including how to receive complaints when you don’t have a formal HR department
Training your staff on how to properly document incidents for a successful investigation
Defining what HR is and is not, and the elements that need to fall under this role
Key procedures and resources you need to have in place, even before you have an internal HR team
Understanding and leveraging the HR resources available to you
The evolution of HR in your brewery; When and how to expand your HR resources
How to retain, support, and develop your HR staff, especially in times of adversity and change
Getting past the paperwork and administrative tasks; Why HR is more than just a “cost center”
Using technology for HR efficiency
Finding ways to provide more work/life balance for your employees, and setting healthy employee expectations and boundaries
The specific challenges the brewing industry faces in providing certain employee benefits, and what we can learn from other industries
Making careers–not just jobs–in craft beer, and the benefits of hiring professionals from outside the brewing world
Structuring competitive benefits for different parts of your team, especially when working with a tight budget
BA resources and how to tap into them, including how to give your team access and get them involved
Developing internal staff training for both technical skills and soft skills
Maturing your people strategy as the industry matures
Personal financial planning and management in the craft beer industry
Achieving livable wages for all employees at your brewery
Setting your HR team up as a proactive resource and trusted champion for your employees
Staff recognition and appreciation; Establishing a positive, supportive, transparent, and inclusive work environment
Employee handbook 101 and what should be included in your employee handbook

Mental & Physical Wellness

Helping brewery leadership identify and support mental health in the beer industry
Recognizing and addressing employee burnout, including how leadership contributes to the problem and what managers can do to prevent burnout
Sobriety in the brewing industry, including how to effectively talk about it with your staff
Promoting responsible alcohol consumption and healthy drinking habits for your staff and customers
How equity and wellness go hand-in-hand and its impact on business
Ways to promote physical wellness for your staff and customers
Supporting employees through shift work

Seminar Proposal Submission