MN BREWERS CONFERENCE

Perspective on Quality: Exploring In-house and Mobile Can Packaging

Nathan Landry, Packaging Quality Technician, Bell’s Brewery
Tyler Wille, Founder and CEO, Iron Heart Canning Co

This collaborative presentation explores packaging quality considerations from two different perspectives. Nathan Landry of Bell’s Brewery and Tyler Wille of Iron Heart Canning discuss key quality parameters every packaging hall, whether in-house or mobile, should focus on and the challenges they face in managing a quality program.

Discussion topics include Seam Teardown and Inspection, Dissolved and Total Package Oxygen Control, Can Liner Testing and Compatibility, Packaging of THC and Alternative Beverages, Equipment Considerations, Retain/Quality Programs and more.

Learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of maintaining your own packaging hall compared to contracting with a mobile canning company.

Takeaways:

• Identify the primary quality considerations for packaging beer and alternative beverages into cans.
• Explore the key differences between in-house and mobile canning.
• Better understand the equipment, tools, and processes available to maintain a quality packaging program.

About the Presenters

Nathan Landry has worked various roles in the beer industry since 2013. During that time, he has worked for a mobile canning company as a Line Lead and is most recently at Bell’s Brewery as a Packaging Quality Technician, spending most of his time working on process improvements while tracking packaging quality trends.

Tyler Wille is the Founder and CEO of Iron Heart Canning. Iron Heart’s offerings are designed to make it as easy as possible for breweries and other beverage producers of all sizes to join the can market.

Contract Manufacturing for Breweries and Brands

Riley Seitz, Senior Project Manager, BevSource
Will Crosby, VP of Brewing Operations, Surly Brewing Company
Joe Wells, Head Brewer, Fair State Brewing Cooperative
Tom Berg, Chief Brewing Officer, Falling Knife Brewery

Moderator: Matt Hall, Brewing Consultant, BevSource

This panel discussion will cover the ins and outs of contract manufacturing from both the producer’s and brand owner’s perspectives. We will cover the considerations for contracting your beverage/beer, how to prepare your brand and brewery for contract manufacturing, brewery/client relationships, and the compliance and reporting required for alcohol production.

Takeaways:

• Why should you contract manufacture your brand?
• Why should your brewery start contract manufacturing for others?
• How to prepare yourself for a contract manufacturing relationship.
• Compliance considerations for contracting alcoholic and THC beverages.

Carbon Dioxide Equivalent Comparison of Commercial Hop Varieties

Steve Bradt, Craft Sales Representative, Hopsteiner

This presentation will look at an in depth analysis of the factors involved in sustainable production of hops, with data regarding the sources of greenhouse gas emissions, levels, and the differences across a large number of commercial varieties.

Takeaways:

• Attendees will gain a better understanding of the breadth of factors, which have to be considered in order to provide an accurate evaluation of the CO2 equivalents emitted in the growing and processing of hops.
• These can provide some eye opening insights into how much difference the choice of variety and have on your overall sustainability effort.

The Whole Pie: A Masterclass in Brewery Marketing Strategy

Bryant Vander Weerd, Founder & Creative Director, Full Pour Media

Crafting a killer content marketing strategy for a craft brewery isn’t just about posting cute beer pics on social media. It’s about understanding your audience, telling captivating stories, optimizing your website, slaying the social media game, blogging like a wordsmith, and keeping in touch with your most dedicated following through email. Social media is just one “slice” of the marketing “pie”. No matter if you’re a 30K BBL urban brewery or a brand new rural brewery, this interactive presentation will get you up to speed fast on how to beef up your marketing strategy and give you tactics to implement ASAP.

Takeaways:

• Understand your target audience: knowing who your ideal customer is, and how to speak to them as the foundation to all your marketing and branding.
• How to implement SEO, blogs, and email, and why they matter so much to your larger content strategy.
• Real-life application of the above topics through an example marketing plan for an imaginary event (this will also be an interactive portion).

Standing Out on Tap: Crafting Memorable Content to Connect & Convert

Cari O’Brien, Founder & Chief Word Nerd, Custom Content Solutions LLC

In today’s crowded taproom, it’s more important than ever to craft content that connects with beer lovers in a meaningful way. With so many watered-down, AI-generated articles flooding the web, you’ve got to tap into what makes your brewery unique to create something beer lovers truly care about. To rise above the competition, you must go beyond the surface to deliver experiences that resonate with your ideal imbibers. We’ll discuss how to define your audience not just as “beer drinkers” but as multi-dimensional humans with emotions, interests and values. After this session, you’ll be able to move past brewing generic content that simply adds to a noisy marketplace and instead craft content that stands out on tap, creates lasting connections and leaves drinkers thirsty for more.

Takeaways:

• Define your dream beer lovers in a holistic, inclusive way
• Brew up authentic content that meets your customers where they already are
• Infuse your brand’s personality and values into engaging content

Events and Marketing: Rural, Small, and Midsize Community Perspectives

Jacob Maier, Events, Revelation Ale Works
Jayme Sczublewski, Brand Manager, Talking Waters Brewing Co.
Audrey Robinson, Taproom Manager, Little Thistle Brewing Company
Betsy Shadowick, Taproom Manager, Goat Ridge Brewing Company

This panel discussion will explore marketing and events from the perspective of rural, small, and midsize community breweries, focusing on goals, challenges, successes, and lessons learned at a variety of businesses. This is an interactive discussion with lots of opportunity for audience involvement, questions, and group discussion on topics relevant to attendees!

Coexisting as a Brewery and a THC Beverage Copacker

Nate Smith (moderator), Founder & CEO, Lagersmith Can Supply Co.
Gavin Rydell, Co-Owner, Foundry Nation
Bryon Tonnis, CEO, Bent Paddle Brewing
Zach Rohr, Founder & CEO, Minny Grown
Jake Haneman, President/Owner, Bootlegger Brewing Kombucha/Auroch Canning

This panel, composed of cannabis beverage brand owners, and hemp derived THC copacking breweries reveal the keys to a successful partnership. Without brick-and-mortar beverage facilities, many cannabis brands rely on breweries to package their beverages. Brand owners will discuss their needs and expectations from their copacking partners. Brewery owners will share lessons they learned as copacking cannabis has become a crucial part of their business.

Takeaways:

• Laying a foundation to become a copacking facility. Ensuring your facility has the proper licensing, equipment, and packaging capabilities.
• Finding cannabis beverage customers and knowing their expectations.
• The cannabis beverage market is still young and growing. Learn from others experiences, missteps, and advice.

Position your Business for Success: Current Industry & Legal Landscape

Mary Cate Cicero, Attorney, Monroe Moxness Berg PA
Matt Duffy, Attorney, Monroe Moxness Berg PA

Perhaps now more than ever, it’s important for owners and managers to understand and run their breweries as sophisticated businesses. This presentation is designed to notify and help breweries comply with recent legislation, provide legal insights for breweries planning to grow or diversify their business, and offer ideas to protect their interests in the marketplace. Monroe Moxness Berg attorneys, Mary Cate Cicero and Matt Duffy will cover the impact of the 2023 Minnesota Legislature session on Minnesota employers, real estate and land use considerations for breweries, and succession planning and exit strategy considerations for brewery owners.

Takeaways:

• A clear summary of the Minnesota earned Sick and Safe Time law and the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Real estate and zoning law considerations for breweries including using buildings for multi-uses such as musical entertainment and selling food.
• How to get started with succession planning.

Hemp Beverage Regulations: What Does the Office Want You to Know

Chris Elvrum, Assitant Director of The Office of Medical Cannabis at the Department of Health

Chris Elvrum, the Assistant Director of the Office of Medical Cannabis, will give a short presentation on low potency hemp products and will answer questions from the audience.

Data Management Panel: Solutions Available and How They Can Be Used

Morgan Smith, Head Brewer, Spiral Brewery
Matt Johnson, Sales Strategy & Analytics Manager, August Schell Brewing Company
Patrick Sundberg, Owner/Founder, Jack Pine Brewery

Maintaining Your Mechanical Equipment

Tom Berg, Senior Project Manager, Northland Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
Aaron Corrick, Field Service Supervisor, Northland Mechanical Contractors, Inc.

So your brewery spent way too much money on mechanical equipment in order to make great beer and get open. Now what? You want to keep that equipment working properly and lasting as long as it possibly can. We’ll walk you through the universal things that every brewery should be doing to maintain their mechanical equipment and how often, including boiler licenses, inspections, and maintenance, RPZ testing, steam trap testing, chiller maintenance, HVAC maintenance, and more!

Takeaways:

• What mechanical equipment needs to be maintained and how often, including what’s required by the city/state to be annually inspected?
• What do those maintenance tasks look like and how long should they take?
• How do I move forward managing and scheduling these maintenance tasks?

Mental Illness & Addiction at Work—Understanding the Costs and Overcoming the Stigma

Katie Muggli, Infinite Ingredient
John Sakacs, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

During this session we will discuss mental health and addiction – and how it shows up at work. We’ll provide high-level information about mental illness and addiction in the workplace, and the things that HR and organizations can do to help their employees.

Takeaways:

• Identify the real costs of mental illness and addiction in the workplace.
• Explore ways organizations and leaders can create a workplace where it’s safe for employees to address issues before a crisis happens.
• Discuss the alternatives organizations have for helping employees and their families deal with mental illness and addiction crises.

Brew Greener: Cut Waste, Boost Efficiency, and Save Money!

Keely Schultz, Senior Sustainability Specialist, Minnesota Waste Wise
Jessie Hendrix, Outreach Coordinator, Minnesota Waste Wise & Energy Smart

Team up with Waste Wise and Energy Smart to discover sustainability savings. Join us for a session packed with sustainability opportunities for breweries. Learn about grants and free technical assistance from Minnesota Waste Wise and Energy Smart, including waste and energy consulting, staff training, and cost-saving tips—all at no cost! Learn about waste reduction, recycling opportunities, and energy efficiency insights to start your journey to saving money and the environment. Don’t miss out on a brew-tiful chance to grow sustainably!

Takeaways:

• Opportunities for grant funding and free assistance available to breweries through Waste Wise and Energy Smart
• Recommended energy efficiency strategies for breweries
• Waste reduction and recycling tips for breweries