2023 Brewers Studio

Festival attendees listening to presentation

Seeking beery enlightenment? The Brewers Studio is where you can relax and sip your way through epic stories, impeccable pairings, and palate-pleasing discoveries. Stay awhile!

Quality Rules Everything Around Me (Q.R.E.A.M.): On a Budget, Dollar Dollar Bills Y’all!

Shaye Holdaway, QA/QC Manager, Upslope Brewing Company
Dany Page, Founder and Operations Manager, Upslope Brewing Company

6:30 pm – 7:00 pm

In the brewing industry, quality assurance and quality control go beyond just investing in fancy lab equipment. In this presentation, Dany Page and Shaye Holdaway (Upslope Brewing Co.) will discuss how you can set up a QA/QC program with or without spending thousands of dollars. They will share how Upslope Brewing Company started its program with a QA/QC mindset, eventually investing in a full-sized lab with two technicians and instrumentation such as PCR and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. They will also outline some of the most important things you can do for a QA/QC program in your brewery on any budget: from $0 to $100,000.


Bringing Culture to the Cup: A Discussion with the National Black Brewers Association

Alana Koenig-Busey, Program Manager, NB2A
Celeste Beatty, Founder, Harlem Brewing Company
Teo Hunter, COO & Head of Brewing Operations
, Crowns & Hops

7:30 pm – 8:15 pm

The National Black Brewers Association (NB2A) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a more inclusive and vibrant beer industry by providing Black brewers access to the resources, mentorships, and networks needed to thrive. Join Alana Koenig-Busey, NB2A Program Manager; Celeste Beatty of Harlem Brewing Company, and Teo Hunter of Crowns & Hops to learn about the association and its goals.

From Garage to Gold: You Can Do It, Too!

Rod Murray, Head Brewer, Big Beach Brewing

5:45 pm – 6:15 pm

Join Rod Murray, head brewer at Big Beach Brewing, as he spins a tale of daring and adventure culminating in a world champion schwarzbier. Food pairing provided by Brewers Association executive chef Adam Dulye.


How to Brew the American Dream: Quit Your Day Job and Get Into Beer!

Jennifer Glanville Love, Director of Partnerships & Collaborations, Boston Beer Company

6:15 pm – 6:45 pm

For 15 years, Samuel Adams has inspired, fueled, and supported the American dreams of more than 14,000 food, beverage, and beer entrepreneurs nationwide. Joined by 2023 Brewer Experienceship winners Funkytown Brewing of Chicago and Melissa Wallace, founder of Sippin Snax, Boston Beer Company’s Jennifer Glanville Love will share tips on how to know when it’s time to chase that dream and who/what you need in your corner to make it a reality.


What Do You Mean There’s No Alcohol?!

Scott Kolbe, Advisor, Partake Brewing
Josh Richier, Western Regional Sales Manager
, Partake Brewing
James Dobbin, Controller, Partake Brewing

7:15 pm – 7:45 pm

With one in every 20 beer drinkers reaching for non-alcoholic brews, craft breweries are stepping up to add flavorful, on-trend NA options to their lineup. Sample the latest innovations from Partake Brewing—Hazy IPA and Peach Gose—and enjoy the benefits of a balanced approach to life: mind, body, and beer. Presented by Scott Kolbe of Partake.


Innovation & Intentionality: Creativity with Purpose

Neil Fisher, Founder & Owner, WeldWerks Brewing Co.

8:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Since WeldWerks opened in 2015, it has been known for its innovative and unique approach to beer. But without intentionality, creativity can venture into trend chasing and gimmicks. Hear from WeldWerks founder and owner Neil Fisher on what drives their culture of innovation and how they have found success with even the most outlandish ideas, as well as lessons learned from their less successful efforts.

Rodenbach and the Original Flanders Red-Brown Ale

Brian Walsh, Marketing Director, Rodenbach U.S. Import Team

1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

Don’t miss a rare opportunity to attend a guided tasting of three Brouwerij Rodenbach Flemish Sour Ales. Learn about the origins of these unique, iconic brews, the history of the Rodenbach Family Brewery, and how that story intertwines with the formation of the country we know as Belgium. Your guide for this fun and informative seminar will be Brian Walsh, a member of the Rodenbach U.S. import team.


Craft Cider 101: Production, Trends & Growth in the Craft Beverage Community

Colin Schilling, Co-founder and CEO, Schilling Cider
Eric Phillips, CCO, Schilling Cider

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Colin Schilling and Eric Phillips of Schilling Cider will take a deep dive into how scaled-up craft cider production differs from craft beer, including the technology, equipment, and innovative processes Schilling Cider uses to make its unique and trend-setting ciders. They will compare trends in cider, craft beer, and the beverage alcohol space over the last five years and share how they believe the increased popularity of regional craft ciders can be an integral part of preserving and growing the craft beverage community during a time when some consumers are moving back toward huge multinational brands.

Chocolate with Beer or Beer with Chocolate

Doug Miller, Senior Lecturer, Cornell University

6:30 pm – 7:00 pm

The world of chocolate is as complex as the world of beer, with many different types of chocolate and many ways to use it in food. This session will explore the various facets of chocolate and the delicious possibilities it brings to beer pairing presented by Doug Miller of Cornell University.


Drink and Know Things

Dr. Bart Watson, Chief Economist, Brewers Association

7:30 pm – 8:00 pm

You know what pairs perfectly with beer? Data! And expert analysis! Join Brewers Association Chief Economist Bart Watson while he runs through historical, current, and fun data points about the craft brewing industry. If you’re ready to take your beer geekery to the next level, be sure to catch this talk with industry insider Dr. Bart Watson.