Craft Beer Professionals

Our market is shrinking and a lot of both smaller and larger breweries are going under (much to everyone’s chagrin). While the craft beer market MAY be shrinking, it will never go away and, like a lot of other niche products, will always ebb and flow. We’ve done a lot to, are actively doing, and have solid plans to be growing our on premises business as well as distribution with little to no resources by focusing on what our industry does right, minimizing what our industry as a whole does not the best job at, and side-stepping the “rtd’s” that are eating craft beer’s lunch! We don’t want the small, neighborhood brewery to go away in a downward market, and we want to share our success and best practices!Brian, with his business partner and childhood best friend Mike Rushford, opened Rushford & Sons Brewhouse in December 2020; right during the height of covid. Brian and Mike put together the business with scotch tape and bubblegum and got it off the ground during a difficult time. Despite the shrinking market, Rushford & Sons is growing it’s distribution network in Central Massachusetts as well as opening a second taproom location while hosting “beer fest” events to grow the local craft beer scene as a whole.Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org

The 2025 tax year is shaping up to be a detrimental one for craft brewers. Between the current research and development capitalization requirements, the phaseout of accelerated depreciation on equipment purchases, and other brewery tax credits that are generally overlooked, the opportunity for breweries to plan, save, and grow is now. We will cover a brief legislative update, including the current situation on the house bill that has stalled in congress, as well as low-hanging tax credits that are ripe for the taking.T.j. O’Neill is a senior manager in Wipfli’s tax practice, specializing food & beverage manufacturing, retail, and distribution. Tim leads Wipfli’s Craft Brewery Services team and has over 11 years of experience assisting craft breweries ranging from large, multistate breweries to breweries in planning with their tax and business compliance & planning needs. Brewery owners appreciate his tailored business solutions, commitment to excellence, and ability to build strong relationships with their team. Tim lives in St. Louis with his wife and three young children and loves any English-style brown ale just as much as he loves a beautifully formatted spreadsheet.Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org

Being a successful, and profitable, craft brewery is more than just offering good beer and a fun experience. As we all know, having the right people and business plan matter a bunch. But have you spent enough time considering how critically important maximizing efficiencies is in the key processes that are involved in making your beer?Today we’re going to have a dialogue around a few ways that craft breweries of all sizes can make improve their bottom line with process equipment that drives efficiency and productivity without sacrificing quality. We will focus on three technology areas, discuss how they work, and share how some of the most advanced versions of this equipment can deliver high value when implemented. These technologies are:Next-level tank cleaning that can dramatically reduce usage of water and chemicals as well as the time required to clean a tankUtilizing flash pasteurization to improve quality, shelf stability, and sometimes your brandFinally, how modern centrifuge technology can deliver not only more yield and quality but also higher levels of product consistency and improve reliability of production schedulingIn this discussion we will have Alfa Laval industry and Product experts sharing their experience and knowledge with the attendees as well as taking questions to help the audience improve their efficiency and profits.Sheldon Young and Vince Polino work with Alfa Laval’s Food and Water Division in the US. Vince has 10 years with the organization solving brewery challenges and Sheldon has spent over 15 years working in a number of areas of the organization with his current role supporting customers on their sustainability journeys. Alfa Laval is one of the world’s largest suppliers of heat transfer, separations, and fluid handling equipment. They support breweries of all size around the globe in making the highest quality beer in the most efficient way possible.Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.orgJoin us in-person for CBP ConnectsHalf workshop, half networkingCharlotte, NC | June 9-11, 2025Register now: https://cbpconnects.com/

The appearance of off-flavors and the decline of fresh flavor/aroma characteristics are often linked to oxygen and transition metal ions (e.g. iron, copper) present in packaged beers. In many oxidative reactions, radicals are formed as intermediates, reacting with beer components and greatly catalyzing beer deterioration. Iron and copper play a key role in the oxidative degradation of wort and beer, as they drive the formation of these radicals. In addition to reducing oxygen ingress throughout the brewing process, the chelation and removal of these transition metals has a major impact on the shelf life of your beer! We will discuss the chemistry behind this removal process and what brewing methods and products can be used to achieve better beer freshness for longer.Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.orgJoin us in-person for CBP ConnectsHalf workshop, half networkingCharlotte, NC | June 9-11, 2025Register now: https://cbpconnects.com/

As a brewery owner or manager, your taproom is your greatest opportunity to drive profits and build relationships. This leadership-focused session will provide you with the financial insights, actionable strategies, and data-driven tactics you need to turn your taproom into a thriving profit center. Learn how to maximize sales, manage your finances effectively, and enhance the guest experience while empowering your team to deliver results. Walk away with the tools to guide your taproom toward increased profits and keep things thriving in a constantly changing industry.Andrew Coplon is the Founder of Secret Hopper and Craft Beer Professionals. Andrew helps breweries nationwide create more memorable and profitable taproom experiences using data-based insights gathered from thousands of visits. He has successfully built a community of 17,000 Craft Beer Professionals dedicated to the growth and betterment of our industry across the United States. When he isn’t building relationships on Zoom or meeting you for a pint, he enjoys climbing jungle gyms with his son, Max, or planning the next adventure with his wife, Stacie.Kary Shumway is the founder of Craft Brewery Financial Training.com which offers online resources for beer industry professionals. He has worked in the beer industry for more than 20 years as a certified public accountant and a chief financial officer for a beer distributor and a brewery.Join Taproom Success and Gain Access to Additional Resources to Create Profitable Taprooms: https://www.taproomsuccess.com/Join us in-person for CBP ConnectsHalf workshop, half networkingCharlotte, NC | June 9-11, 2025Register now: https://cbpconnects.com/

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.You’ve spent years researching, developing, sourcing, and finally crafting your spirit, however, without proper attention paid to the most basic aspects of the governance of your entity, regardless of how good the liquid is, all the blood, sweat, and tears can be for naught.This presentation will (1) walk through basic considerations when forming your entity or taking in early investment dollars to avoid issues with co-founders, or early investors, (2) provide insight into common pitfalls that can and will cause additional expense and delay when dealing with potential investors or acquirers (or in the worst scenarios cause companies to lose investment or exit possibilities), and (3) discuss what types of diligence investors and acquirers will focus on during the course of a transaction and how companies can not only be prepared for those requests, but differentiate themselves from other potential target companies in their preparedness for diligence.Drew was raised in a family-owned fine dining restaurant and catering company, which was an outgrowth of his grandparents’ local burger joint and watering hole. He counsels companies of all sizes from formation through early-stage fundraising, day-to-day corporate formalities and contracting, and transformative M&A and beyond. He also focuses on distribution agreements, complex alcohol beverage regulatory issues, and commercial contracting. Drew joined BBG from Reyes Beverage Group, where he served as Senior Counsel. Before entering the alcohol beverage industry, Drew was in the M&A and Emerging Companies group at Latham & Watkins in Chicago. Originally from New Jersey, Drew is a double Wolverine, having earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan. He spends his time cooking, baking, and barbecuing, fishing (not catching), exploring the local food and beverage scene in his new home town of Grand Rapids, and being outside with his family.Huge thanks to Small Batch Standard + InTouch LabelsStay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.orgJoin us in-person for CBP ConnectsHalf workshop, half networkingCharlotte, NC | June 9-11, 2025Register now: https://cbpconnects.com/

CBP Connects Charlotte is almost here, happening from June 9-11. Join us for a conversation to discover why you need to attend and how it can help you see greater success. 14 interactive sessions, 3 nightly receptions (Triple C, NoDa, Resident Culture), a trade show, and your opportunity to connect with other industry decision makers.This conversation features:Aaron Gore (Beer30 by The 5th Ingredient)Celeste Beatty (Harlem Brewing)Corey Lord (Lord CPAs)LJ Coverdale (Deutsche Beverage + Process)Join us in-person for CBP ConnectsHalf workshop, half networkingCharlotte, NC | June 9-11, 2025Grab your spot now at https://cbpconnects.com/

Brewery owners wear many hats. Let’s face it… At some point in your journey, you have worn ALL the hats of your business. While this is overwhelming at times, being able to create a quality label for your array of brews can be a daunting task. Using all of the proper file configurations ensure the quality of the result is worthy of the effort you put into brewing it. This presentation provides a fool-proof checklist to confidently send your label files to the printer on the first attempt without the costly and time-consuming back & forth.Jason Foss is the Digital Marketing Specialist at InTouch Labels & Packaging. He has a diverse background in food, beverage, and cannabis product marketing. As part of the Avery Products family, InTouch Labels is a premium choice for high-quality custom label printing. InTouch specializes in short-run label printing and offers a swift 3-day turnaround, volume pricing, and no rush fees or minimum orders.Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.orgJoin us in-person for CBP ConnectsHalf workshop, half networkingCharlotte, NC | June 9-11, 2025Register now: https://cbpconnects.com/

As if brewery owners needed another thing to worry about, Tariffs could be another thing added to the list for 2025. Rather than shrug shoulders or worse yet, have it keep you up at night – we wanted to share some tips on ways that you can address Tariffs for your brewery.We’ll go over the biggest thing to avoid, and that is spending to much time trying to negotiate or avoid their impact. The fact is, that there is little a small business can do to avoid impacts completely, either short or long term, from tariffs. But once you stop wasting energy on trying to figure out ways to avoid them completely, you can work on ways to lessen the impact to your business if they do show up in your operating costs.We’ll go over 3 areas to lessen the impact:1. If you have the space/storage – you can acquire extra inventory. Make sure to work with your suppliers if you chose this option.2. Identify any line items that you know are being imported today ( i.e. perhaps your Malt provider) and reach out to US based providers. With some discussions, you may want to switch now and then avoid any worry later in the year.3. Spot check pricing compared to 2024. When you see an increase ( i.e. 10% or higher) reach out and ask about the reason. Be ready to switch providers to alternatives that are not seeing an impact from tariffs in the same category. Also talk to your supply partners about how they are handling tariff prep in 2025.This isn’t about avoiding risk all together, but figuring out a plan on how to deal with it as it comes so you are not caught off guard. Cheers.My name is Dan Klasen and I’m the Founder and President of the Beverage Federation. The Federation is a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) that provides procurement services to its craft members, focused heavily on cost savings measures. Starting the Federation has combined my passion for meeting new small business owners, negotiation, and cost-saving programs. I have worked with every size organization in my career, from small family-run companies to fortune 500 businesses. While I learned a lot from working with larger organizations, I truly enjoy working with fellow entrepreneurs on running and improving their business. The Federation now works with over 300 breweries to help educate and implement smart buying programs designed to help them run leaner and be around longer.Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.orgJoin us in-person for CBP ConnectsHalf workshop, half networkingCharlotte, NC | June 9-11, 2025Register now: https://cbpconnects.com/

While beer is the foundation of our industry, a great pint alone isn’t always enough to capture and keep attention. A thriving taproom requires exceptional hospitality and compelling reasons for guests to return. Some taprooms double as coffee shops, others build strong event programs, and many find creative ways to become true third spaces—community hubs where people gather, connect, and feel at home. In this conversation, taproom managers, owners, and industry experts from across the country will share how they’re going beyond beer to create profitable, engaging destinations.This conversation features:Bronywn Vogler (Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company)Chuck Garrity (Death of the Fox Brewing Company)Erica Teague (Cactus Land Brewing Company)Michael Varda (Craft Beer Advisory Services)Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.orgJoin us in-person for CBP ConnectsHalf workshop, half networkingCharlotte, NC | June 9-11, 2025Register now: https://cbpconnects.com/