DECEMBER 6+7 | MARINA DEL REY, CA
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Brewbound Live Agenda
All times are subject to change.
Print the agenda for Wednesday, December 06
Please note: All times US Pacific Time
- 7:00 AM9:30 AM
Breakfast & Registration
Breakfast, coffee and beverages are served from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM PT and are included with registration. Registration and badge pick up opens for the day at 7:00 AM PT. - 8:00 AM9:30 AM
Brewbound Live Pitch Slam Semifinal Round
Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
The Brewbound Live Pitch Slam, presented by Ollie, a Next Glass Company, is a business pitch competition designed to encourage entrepreneurship and build awareness for startups within the beer, cider, hard seltzer, alcoholic kombucha, and canned cocktail segments Watch the semi-finalists pitch and vote for your favorite to help them make it into the finals!
Judges include:
Yair Tygiel
- 9:30 AM10:00 AM
Networking Break
- 10:00 AM10:30 AM
Welcome + Keynote: Get Out of Your Own Way & Get Focused
Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
Adam Bankovich, the new CEO of Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist Brewery, will give the keynote address at the 2023. Amid a sea change of leadership at top craft breweries across the country, Bankovich represents the next wave of craft leadership at a brewery that just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Following the keynote address, Bankovich will be joined on stage by Rhinegeist co-founder Bryant Goulding for a discussion of passing the torch to the next generation of leaders, getting out of your own way, why it’s OK to say no and much more.
Bryant Goulding
- 10:30 AM11:00 AM
Future Proof Your Flagship
Bell’s Brewery EVP Carrie Yunker, Rogue Ales & Spirits president Steven Garrett, CANarchy chief commercial officer Chris Russell and Lawson’s Finest Liquids CEO Adeline Druart will explore brand building strategies, how to leverage brand equity of longstanding flagships, considerations for creating brand families and how to create a halo effect across your portfolio.
Chris Russell
- 11:00 AM11:50 AM
23 Data Points That Defined 2023
The beer industry’s chief economists will come together to discuss beer’s data, challenges and opportunities. Bart Watson and Lester Jones, chief economists of the Brewers Association and the National Beer Wholesalers Association, respectively, will share the stage to provide an update on beer industry trends and the trajectory heading into 2024.
Bart Watson
- 11:50 AM12:00 PM
Pitch Slam Finalist Announcement; Best of 2023 Awards & Rising Stars Video Announcement
- 12:00 PM1:30 PM
Lunch, Sampling & Livestream
Lunch and beer samples are served in the Bayview Ballroom on the rooftop level and is included with registration. - 1:30 PM2:00 PM
How to Get Mindshare & Sell More Beer
Getting in distributors' trucks and onto retailer shelves is harder than ever, with increased competition coming from all sectors and categories of bev-alc. Hear directly from wholesalers on how you can gain mindshare and stand out, with Stone Distributing general manager Brian Fried, Breakthru Beverage California director of beer Sinead Carey and Tryon Distributing director of beer Elledge Davis. - 2:00 PM2:25 PM
Tapping in: Bringing Back the On-Premise
The on-premise has failed to return to pre-pandemic levels, as bars and restaurants continue to tackle staffing issues and shorter hours, and breweries continue to battle draft declines. Karl Strauss co-founder and CEO Chris Cramer, Mellow Mushroom associate director of beverage operations Kynyetta Lester, and industry consultant Jason Murphy will give insights on what on-premise business looks like today, how retailer priorities are shifting and why the on-premise is still important for craft brands.
Chris Cramer
- 2:25 PM2:45 PM
Sampling, Networking & Livestream
- 2:45 PM3:10 PM
M&A in 2023: Selling, Merging, & Buying Back Breweries
One of the leading themes for craft beer in 2023 has been mergers and acquisitions. Arlington Capital Advisors managing director Ryan Lake, industry board and advisory Simon Thorpe and Three Weavers co-founder Lynne Weaver will discuss trends in the space, as well as tips for navigating deals, from craft-on-craft strategic partnerships, to buying back your brewery, and more. - 3:10 PM3:35 PM
Why a Cannabis Firm is the Most Active Acquirer of Craft Breweries
Tilray Brand’s president of the U.S. Beer Division Ty Gilmore will offer insights into the global cannabis firm’s craft beverage strategy after making nine acquisitions in 2023. Tilray has quickly built a portfolio of craft brands through acquisitions, including SweetWater, Green Flash, Alpine Beer Co. and Breckenridge Distillery. The company added to its roster this year with the additions of New York’s Montauk Brewing Company in January, followed by a transaction for eight craft beverage brands from Anheuser-Busch InBev. - 3:35 PM4:30 PM
Beers & Networking
- 6:00 PM8:00 PM
Official Party Presented by Firestone Walker, YETI, Crafted ERP, and Beer Institute
Head over to Firestone Walker - The Propagator (3205 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292) for additional networking. Enjoy beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and light appetizers. All registered attendees of Brewbound Live Winter 2023 are invited to attend. An event badge and valid ID is required for admittance.
