

Craft Beer Professionals
Craft Beer Professionals
Craft Beer Professionals is a national network dedicated to the growth and betterment of the craft beer industry. CBP unifies and elevates the industry through educational content, peer to peer dialogue, and unique community events.
Educational sessions, interviews, and panel conversations that dive into critical topics in the craft beer industry.
[Stay up to date with CBP]
www.CraftBeerProfessionals.org
Educational sessions, interviews, and panel conversations that dive into critical topics in the craft beer industry.
[Stay up to date with CBP]
www.CraftBeerProfessionals.org
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 22, 2023 • 35min
Pitfalls of Buying (or Selling) a Brewery w/ John Szymankiewicz (Beer Law Center)
We're continuing to see consolidation in the craft beer industry, especially among independent breweries. Some people are looking to exit the industry, some are looking to break in. And, right now, it may be cheaper to buy a brewery than to start or build one. But there are some real dangers to consider when you're looking at a transaction. From financing to due diligence to closing the transaction - it's not as simple as you might think. Don't make a mistake that can tank the business. This presentation will walk through the overall process, from Letter of Intent to Closing, and highlight the risks you should consider or mitigate.
John Szymankiewicz is a licensed professional engineer, attorney, and a Managing Partner of Matheson & Associates. Since 2010, John has dedicated his practice to the craft beverage industry. John is a recognized expert in federal and North Carolina state alcohol beverage law and regularly helps alcohol producers and retailers as part of Beer Law Center, the alcohol practice area of Matheson & Associates. He is licensed to practice law in all North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington DC. John is admitted before several federal district courts as well as the Supreme Court of the United States.
Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking
Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023
Grab your spot now at https://cbpconnects-milwaukee.eventbr...

Apr 19, 2023 • 29min
CBP Connects Milwaukee Event Preview
Andrew Coplon joins us to answer some questions about the upcoming Craft Beer Professionals Connects Workshop in Milwaukee this June. Their event is very different from other conferences/expos, and we wanted to uncover what actually makes it so unique. Andrew answers a ton of questions and shares a little secret about the event that you won't find online.
This episode is also featured on the Get Hoptimized Podcast.
Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking
Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023
Grab your spot here

Apr 15, 2023 • 54min
Would ChatGPT recommend your brewery to new drinkers? w/ Scott Kolbe (Market Your Craft)
It’s virtually impossible to scroll through your newsfeed without seeing a new headline about ChatGPT. Schools have banned the tool. Lawmakers are using it for speech writing. It’s passing law exams and writing code. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having a moment due to its ability to answer questions as if you were talking to a human. But should brewery owners and managers be scared?
Your business may be one of dozens or even hundreds of search results. So, what value would ChatGPT or other AI tools offer consumers in a similar search scenario? The answer seems to be a faster pathway to “Yes."" Imagine a complex question returning 10 results versus 1,063. Who wouldn’t welcome more personalized results delivered conversationally?
We believe work done now to craft your unique brand story will position you for the eventuality that Artificial Intelligence will help new drinkers find your brewery:
• Build authority using owned media
• Build engagement via social channels
• Build buzz through press and competitions
It’s too early to predict where ChatGPT and other Artificial Intelligence tools will provide the most value. We can be sure, however, that Microsoft, Google and other A-list tech companies will continue exploring ways to integrate AI into their offerings: first for free and then in a monetized way for advertisers and subscribers. Presentation attendees have access to 10+ Complimentary Guides, with storytelling techniques to keep fans engaged and the proven tools to build momentum and capture new sales in this new environment.
Market Your Craft is a virtual team of experts in storytelling your craft beer brand. We've worked with some of the most iconic brands in the beverage industry, including Sierra Nevada, BJ's Brewhouse, Jim Beam, Maker's Mark and others. Led by Scott Kolbe, industry veteran of 20 years, our goal is to help you become more discoverable in today's crowded market. We measure success by how quickly we provide your internal team with the tools needed to drive traffic, build engagement and capture sales. To learn more or to schedule an hour free of charge with one of our storytelling experts, visit marketyourcraft.com.
Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking
Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023
Grab your spot now at https://cbpconnects-milwaukee.eventbr...

Apr 12, 2023 • 1h 14min
Studly Brewing Company: Beer, Baseball, and the First 100 Days
In this conversation, we chat live with Blake about his experience since opening. We dive into what he's learned so far, what has surprised him, and what he's been able to apply from his background in sports to create out of the park taproom experiences. No baseball puns will be spared.
Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking
Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023
Grab your spot now at https://cbpconnects-milwaukee.eventbrite.com/

Apr 8, 2023 • 1h 1min
Small Town Breweries: Strategies for Success
Small town doesn't have to mean small profits. In this conversation, we will be joined by representatives from small town breweries from across the country. From customer preferences to events to marketing, we will discuss strategies our guests have used to build relationships and grow their bottom line.
This conversation features:
Clay Hysell (Patch Brewing Company)
Kate Bogli (The Brewery at Maple View Farm)
Sean West (Forgottonia Brewing)
Tim Goers (G5 Brewing)
Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking
Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023
Grab your spot now at https://cbpconnects-milwaukee.eventbrite.com/

Apr 5, 2023 • 49min
ChatGPT, Business vs Brewery, & Closures (Conference Preview Panel)
As we gear up for our Spring Virtual Conference (April 3-5), we are excited to bring together 3 of our presenters for a conversation that will discuss current challenges and opportunities our industry is facing, changing consumer preferences, and even the role of ChatGPT in today's market. This conversation will discuss the changing landscape and also thoughts on closures.
This conversation features:
Aaron Gore (Bevana)
Fred Kaplan (Stony Hill Advisors)
Scott Kolbe (Market Your Craft)
Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking
Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023
Grab your spot now at https://cbpconnects-milwaukee.eventbrite.com/

Apr 1, 2023 • 47min
Energy Drinks, Education, & Efficiencies
As we gear up for our Spring Virtual Conference (April 3-5), we are excited to bring together 3 of our presenters for a conversation that spans everything from energy drinks to education to efficiencies. Join us as we have a roundtable discussing the current state of craft beer.
This conversation features:
Charlie Cole (Great Revivalist Brew Lab)
Dan Klasen (Beer and Wine Federation)
Jon Childress (BarTrack)
Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking
Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023
Grab your spot now at https://cbpconnects-milwaukee.eventbrite.com/

Mar 29, 2023 • 51min
Why Maine's Oldest Craft Brewery Got Into Non-Alcoholic Beer
Geary Brewing Co., the oldest in Maine, in was founded in 1983. Forty years later they are still innovating under the leadership of Alan and Robin Lapoint. The Lapoints launched the non-alcoholic 1820 Brewing Co. to bring their time honored brewing capabilities and quality to this special market sector to offer craft beer drinkers new options to support their modern lifestyle choices. Today, we will learn about the Lapoint's history, why they started an NA brand, and how the desire to do good has fueled their success.
Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking
Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023
Grab your spot now at https://cbpconnects-milwaukee.eventbrite.com/

Mar 25, 2023 • 1h 4min
Restaurant Rockstars: What Taprooms Can Learn From Restaurants
In this session, we are joined by Roger Beaudoin, CEO of Restaurant Rockstars, for a conversation on what taprooms can learn from our restaurant industry counterparts. We will discuss logistics to consider when opening your taproom, finances, and staff training tips. Roger will also offer thoughts on big picture marketing, efficiencies, and how to find lucrative profit centers. Tune into this entertaining and engaging session as Roger shares his insight on creating a profitable food menu, customer affinity, and showmanship. There's even mentions of garlic knots and lottery tickets.
There is so much we can learn from other industries, and Roger will offer his insight on how you can see greater success.
Learn more: https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/
Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking
Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023
Grab your spot now at https://cbpconnects-milwaukee.eventbrite.com/

Mar 22, 2023 • 1h 3min
How to Pair with Chocolate at Your Brewery
Chocolate has long been viewed as a childhood treat or a pick-me-up on a bad day rather than an agriculturally-rooted, craft-driven product displaying variety and nuance. A new wave of craft chocolate makers are doing for the chocolate world what craft brewers have done for American beer. And the really good news? Beer and chocolate pair great together. In this presentation, beer writer and Bean to Barstool creator and host David Nilsen will share everything you need to start a beer and chocolate pairing program at your brewery.
David will discuss how the flavors of beer and chocolate can pair together and walk through the logistical and technical details of setting up both stand-alone pairing events and an ongoing retail pairing program. Along the way, he'll discuss the partnership opportunities with bean to bar and other craft chocolate makers, and how these can be utilizing in marketing and parlayed into other forms of collaboration.
David Nilsen is a beer writer living near Dayton, Ohio. He is an Advanced Cicerone and an award-winning member of the North American Guild of Beer Writers, as well as a member of the National Book Critics Circle. In 2020, he created Bean to Barstool, a podcast and blog celebrating the intersections of craft beer and craft chocolate. He leads beer and chocolate pairings at breweries and bars, and in 2021 published the Pairing Beer & Chocolate zine, the only printed guide to pairing beer and chocolate, and the zine was included in Forbes' year-end list of the best beer and booze books of 2022.
Learn more about David and Bean to Barstool: https://www.beantobarstool.com/
Order from Bar & Cocoa: tinyurl.com/ypvb3yn3
Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking
Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023
Grab your spot now at https://cbpconnects-milwaukee.eventbrite.com/


