MN Brewers Conference
April 20 @ 8:00 am–4:30 pm
The MN Brewers Conference is put on by the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild in partnership with Master Brewers (MBAA) District St. Paul-Minneapolis. The event will be packed with national and local speakers, covering everything from the technical aspects of brewing to business strategies.
The conference includes educational sessions, group discussions, the Guild’s quarterly member meeting, and networking opportunities. All are designed to help you develop new ideas, discover best practices, and make connections with others in the craft beer industry.
You can expect to bring back great ideas, practical takeaways, and a renewed sense of energy to help make you and your brewery or brewpub stronger. There’s sure to be something for everyone…and a few craft beers too!
Sponsorship Opportunities
Please see our 2023 MNCBG Sponsorship Form. You may also request custom partnerships. All sponsorship levels include an exhibitor table at the MN Brewers Conference.
Exhibitor/Tabling Opportunities
All sponsorship packages (above) include an exhibitor table. If you would like to exhibit but not sponsor, visit our ticket page to purchase a “Conference: Exhibitor Booth” ticket. Exhibitor booth includes a 10×10 booth space (6’ table, 2 chairs) in the event’s prime networking and socializing corridor as well as 2 conference tickets for booth staff.
Media Press Passes
Please email info@mncraftbrew.org to request a press pass.
Thursday, April 20, 2023
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Union Depot—St. Paul
Member price: $65 (Price jumps to $80 on April 1)
Non-member price: $115 (Price jumps to $135 on April 1)
Note: For the first time, the MN Brewers Conference (daytime) will be held the same day as the MN Brewers Cup Awards Ceremony (evening). Both events will take place at Union Depot—St. Paul; tickets to each event are sold separately, but both can be purchased at the link above.
BASE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE & SESSION TRACKS
Schedule
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.: Conference Check-in, Breakfast, and Exhibit Hall
9:00 – 9:50 a.m.: Welcome & Conference Open – MNCBG Member Meeting
10:00 – 10:50 a.m.: Session Block 1
11:00 – 11:50 a.m.: Session Block 2
12:00 – 12:50 p.m.: Lunch & Exhibit Hall
1:00 – 1:50 p.m.: Session Block 3
2:00 – 2:50 p.m.: Session Block 4
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.: Closing Keynote & Happy Hour
Session Tracks
The Guild accepted presentation proposals until the end of January; presentations will be confirmed in February. Check back here for full presentation descriptions and speaker bios. Until then, please review our track descriptions and a few presentation previews:
-
- Regulatory Overview with the AGED
- MnTAP’s Brewing Highlights: Water, Energy, and Sustainability, Jon Schroeder (MNTap at the University of Minnesota)
- Finding & Keeping Great Employees: Strategies for Successful Acquisition & Retention, Holly Haslam (Brewers Association)
- The Burden of Burnout, Katie Mugglie (Infinite Ingredient)
- Legislative Discussion, Hosted by Bob Galligan (Director of Government and Industry Relations, MNCBG)
| BREWING | OPERATIONS | FOH/SALES/MARKETING | OWNER/DECISION-MAKER |
| The Brewing track features technical presentations covering ingredients and processes that create our favorite beverages.
For staff doing brewing, cellaring, packaging, and quality control. Presentations coordinated by the MBAA District St. Paul-Minneapolis. |
The Operations track includes processes, procedures, and practices that lead to a successful, healthy business and staff.
For managers, owners, and those looking to implement best practices in their area. |
The FOH/Sales/Marketing track covers everything about how your business interacts with the general public, reaches new audiences, and connects with long-time fans.
For taproom managers, marketing and sales teams, beertenders, and event staff. |
The Owner/Decision-Maker track covers big-picture business issues like HR, Legal, and financial management.
For owners and decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and those looking to expand their businesses. |
Session Tracks
The Guild accepted presentation proposals until the end of January; presentations will be confirmed in February. Check back here for full presentation descriptions and speaker bios. Until then, please review our track descriptions and a few presentation previews:
-
- Regulatory Overview with the AGED
- MnTAP’s Brewing Highlights: Water, Energy, and Sustainability, Jon Schroeder (MNTap at the University of Minnesota)
- Finding & Keeping Great Employees: Strategies for Successful Acquisition & Retention, Holly Haslam (Brewers Association)
- The Burden of Burnout, Katie Mugglie (Infinite Ingredient)
- Legislative Discussion, Hosted by Bob Galligan (Director of Government and Industry Relations, MNCBG)
BREWING TRACK
The Brewing track features technical presentations covering ingredients and processes that create our favorite beverages.
For brewers, QC, chemists, and those looking for information on technical aspects of brewing. Presentations coordinated by the MBAA District St. Paul-Minneapolis.
OPERATIONS TRACK
The Operations track includes processes, procedures, and practices that lead to a successful, healthy business and staff.
For managers, owners, and those looking to implement best practices in their area.
FOH/SALES/MARKETING TRACK
The FOH/Sales/Marketing track covers everything about how your business interacts with the general public, reaches new audiences, and connects with long-time fans.
For taproom managers, marketing and sales teams, beertenders, and event staff.
OWNER/DECISION-MAKER TRACK
The Owner/Decision-Maker track covers big-picture business issues like HR, Legal, and financial management.
For owners and decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and those looking to expand their businesses.
WHAT YOUR TICKET INCLUDES
- Access to all presentations on all tracks
- Access to keynote sessions
- All-day access to the Exhibitor Hall
- Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and happy hour drinks
- Post-conference content
More details coming soon!
CONFERENCE INFORMATION
Conference Schedule
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.: Conference check-in opens.
Conference registration will take place in the long corridor that connects the Headhouse and Waiting Room. Most parking lot elevators lead you to this location. Once checked in, participants can enjoy a light breakfast and tour the Exhibit Hall.
10:00 – 10:50 a.m.: Welcome & Conference Open – Member Meeting
11:00 – 11:50 a.m.: Session Block 1
12:00 – 12:50 p.m.: Session Block 2
1:00 – 1:50 p.m.: Lunch & Exhibit Hall
Misc Food Sandwich Boxes, with cookie, chips, boxed Cobb salad with and without chicken, pop, and water.
2:00 – 2:50 p.m.: Session Block 3
3:00 – 3:50 p.m.: Session Block 4
4:00 – 4:45 p.m.: Keynote Speaker & Happy Hour
Hotel Room Block for MN Brewers Conference and MN Brewers Cup Awards Ceremony
The Guild has reserved a room block at the Hyatt Place in Downtown St. Paul, which is less than a block from Union Depot—St. Paul.
This room block is an effort by the Guild to help members find accommodations for the conference and/or awards ceremony. You are not required to book within the block. If you find other accommodations that work better for you and your team, please feel free to book those.
Rooms in this block must be booked before March 19, 2023, to get the rate. However, we suggest booking as early as possible in order to ensure your room(s).
Hyatt Place – Downtown St. Paul
Wednesday and Thursday nights – $139
>> Book Using This Link or by calling 1-888—492-8847
Refer to group code G-MNCB
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
The MN Brewers Conference has grouped sessions into four tracks. Presentation submissions are open until January 29; once the sessions are confirmed, you will be able to click each track below to expand the list and read about every session.
Your registration will allow you into any session you choose to attend; you do not need to follow the same track throughout the day. Please attend whichever sessions feel most helpful to you and your business!
| BREWING TRACK | |
| 11:00 – 11:50 a.m. | The Ergonomics of Brewing: Avoiding Injury and Staying the Course in the Brewery
Steven Finnie, Little Thistle Brewing Co. |
| Sore back? Shoulders hurt? Never enough ibuprofen? Let’s talk. Join Steve Finnie, brewer and owner of Little Thistle Brewing Company and licensed Physical Therapist to talk about what you can do to maintain your physical health and avoid injury in the brewing profession. Attendees will learn how to develop a simple, low cost injury prevention program with techniques to decrease risk of injury, as well as stretches and core strengthening exercises to maintain overall health. | |
| 12:00 – 12:50 p.m. | The Ergonomics of Brewing: Avoiding Injury and Staying the Course in the Brewery John Paul Maye, Hopsteiner |
| Attendees will learn how to brew an NEIPA, review the analysis of 12 NEIPAs that underwent a High Performance Liquid Chromatography test, and test the haze of the NEIPA. | |
| 2:00 – 2:50 p.m. | The Ergonomics of Brewing: Avoiding Injury and Staying the Course in the Brewery Mitch Steele, New Realm Brewing Co. |
| A review of the history of IPA, from its origins in 1700s London and its massive popularity in the 1800s, through its decline in the 1900s and subsequent re-emergence as craft beer’s most popular style. Brewing techniques, analytical specifications and ingredient selection will be covered for all periods of IPA. brewing. | |
| 3:00 – 3:50 p.m. | The Ergonomics of Brewing: Avoiding Injury and Staying the Course in the Brewery
Sean Tynan, Rahr Corporation |
| Malt free amino nitrogen (FAN) provides one of the main sources of nitrogen for yeast metabolism during wort fermentation. FAN comprises individual amino acids and small peptides (di- and tri-peptides). Of the 20 essential amino acids, wort contains 19 amino acids that yeast assimilate in preferential order at varying rates depending on yeast strain. Brewers look to FAN to determine yeast potential growth and fermentation efficiency; insufficient yeast nutrient leads to difficult fermentation and possible sulfur and other off-flavor formation. Although healthy fermentations require adequate FAN, excessive FAN levels contribute to negative flavor attribute formation, lowering overall beer quality and, hence, flavor stability. | |
Session details to come. Interested in presenting? Submit your proposal by January 29.
Session details to come. Interested in presenting? Submit your proposal by January 29.
Session details to come. Interested in presenting? Submit your proposal by January 29.
Special Sessions
Welcome & Conference Open
10:00 – 10:50 AM
MNCBG Member Meeting
The MNCBG April Member Meeting will be held as part of the conference opening. The member meeting will cover:
- Updates from the MNCBG Board of Directors
- Legislative updates from the MNCBG Legislative Committee
- Details on upcoming MNCBG events for the year
- A reminder of benefits and resources
Closing Keynote Panel: Iasdfdas?
4:00-4:45 p.m.
Featuring: people
Moderated by: people
Join us for x y z.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Presenter info to come.
Are You Interested in Presenting?
We are seeking proposals for presentations from industry leaders along the session tracks: Brewing; Operations; FOH/Sales/Marketing; and Owner/Decision-Maker. We are also seeking 1 keynote presentation/panel. If you are interested in presenting, please fill out this form by January 29.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITORS
Exhibitor info to come.
Are You Interested in Sponsoring or Exhibiting?
Please contact info@mncraftbrew.org for details.
THANK YOU TO OUR CONFERENCE PARTNERS
MEDIA: GET IN TOUCH
Are you interested in covering the MN Brewers Conference or the MN Brewers Cup Awards Ceremony later that evening? The Guild has a limited number of press spots open for local reporting. Please email info@mncraftbrew.org to request press access.