New England Craft Brew Summit

03/03/2026

We've got BIG news...the 2026 New England Craft Brew Summit program is live on the Maine Brewers' Guild website now! And with the Summit happening this Friday, now’s the time to dive in and start planning your day.

From can’t‑miss conversations to hands‑on sessions and industry insights you won’t get anywhere else, this year’s program is packed. Whether you’re coming for strategy, inspiration, or connection, there’s something on the schedule for every corner of the craft beer community.

Map out your sessions. Flag your must‑sees. Get excited.

Tickets are still available — but with the Summit just days away, this is your last chance to be part of the region’s biggest gathering focused on the business of craft brewing.

View the program here: https://mainebrewersguild.org/new-england-craft-brew-summit/

Buy your tickets here: https://3common.com/necbs2026

Registration is now open for the 10th Annual New England Craft Brew Summit! Join the region’s craft beer community on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine, for the East Coast’s largest business-to-business conference dedicated to the craft brewing industry. Now...

03/02/2026

03/02/2026

New session added for New England Craft Brew Summit‼️ "Mistakes We Made, How We Learned From Them, and How We Moved On" with Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head, Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing Company, and Abe Furth of Orono Brewing Company!

In challenging times for small breweries, standing out requires risk. Not every bold idea pays off financially — but every risk leaves a mark on your brand journey.

Join Sam, Rob, and Abe for an honest conversation about the projects that didn’t go as planned — and why those moments often matter most. From ambitious bets and failed experiments to pivots that reshaped strategy, this panel will explore how embracing mistakes can strengthen culture, sharpen decision-making, and build resilience.

Moderated by Sarah Bryan, Executive Director of the Maine Brewers' Guild, this candid discussion will feature hard-earned lessons, real-world stories, and a reminder that owning failures with humility and humor is just as important as celebrating success. Because in today’s crowded market, growth doesn’t just come from what works — it comes from what you learn when it doesn’t.

Register now for the 10th annual New England Craft Brew Summit held this Friday, March 6th in Portland to hear Sam, Rob, Abe and a full day's worth of craft experts! Information and tickets available on nebrewsummit.com!

02/23/2026

👾 No-Hype for AI Breweries with Patti Wilcox of Awestruck Ciders / BevAI Advisors

MIT reports that 95% of business AI projects fail to deliver ROI — yet companies keep investing. This session cuts through the hype to focus on real, proven use cases for breweries. Big brewers have leveraged automation for decades, but today’s affordable AI tools make similar advantages accessible to everyone. From reducing wasted sales stops to accelerating new account wins and capturing shelf intel with a single photo, you’ll learn how to replicate $100K-level software using tools that cost as little as $20 per month. Designed for beginner to intermediate users, this session delivers eight actionable brewery-specific workflows you can implement within 30 days for measurable impact.

Join us March 6th at the 10th annual New England Craft Brew Summit to hear from Patti and a full days worth of beer brewing and business experts by registering today via mainebrewersguild.org!

02/23/2026

Snow day slowdown? ❄️

Perfect time to cross one thing off the list: register for the New England Craft Brew Summit. It takes a minute, and we’re now under two weeks away.

The Summit is a full day of education, connection, and big-picture conversations, plus a bustling vendor hall and the region’s entire craft beer community in one place.

Snow won’t last forever. Registration won’t either. See you March 6: https://3common.com/necbs2026

Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors:

Allen Insurance and Financial - Presenting Sponsor
Can-One USA - Premier Sponsor
Broadreach Public Relations - Supporting Sponsor
Bangor Savings Bank - Supporting Sponsor
Cross Insurance - Supporting Sponsor
Lebel & Harriman Retirement Advisors - Supporting Sponsor
Maine Oxy - Supporting Sponsor
Brewbound- Media Sponsor
Mainebiz - Media Sponsor
Amherst Label - Bag Sponsor
Stompers Wine & Beverage Superstore - Beer Table Sponsor
CBIZ - Coffee Sponsor
John I. Haas, Inc. - Breakfast Sponsor
Diversey, a Solenis Company - Luncheon Sponsor

02/20/2026

It’s the 10th anniversary of the New England Craft Brew Summit, and we’ve just released a schedule packed with presenters and panelists who will have you walking away with fresh knowledge and plenty of inspiration.

We’re kicking things off with breakfast alongside the Maine Brewers’ Guild Board, followed by a keynote from Natalie Cilurzo, Co‑Owner and President of Russian River Brewing Company. From there, the Summit moves into 20 workshops covering everything from business and leadership to marketing strategies and hospitality best practices.

With 30+ vendors filling the hall, there’s always something to explore (and someone new to meet). We’ll wrap up the day with a happy hour, giving you the chance to connect with the community shaping New England’s craft beer industry.

Tickets are on sale now—don’t wait!

Check out the full schedule here: https://bit.ly/46f3pmy

Check out this design designed by Sarah Bryan.

02/19/2026

🌾 Building a More Sustainable Pint: Farm, Malt + Brewer Connections with Zach Gaines of Proximity Malt and Joel Alex of Blue Ox Malthouse!

Sustainability in craft brewing extends far beyond the brewhouse, with much of a beer's environmental impact beginning on the farm. In this session, Joel and Zach explore how barley and wheat production shape sustainability across the brewing supply chain, focusing on farms in the New England and Mid Atlantic supply sheds.

The talk highlights how growers and agricultural communities are adopting more sustainable and regenerative practices that support healthier soils and long-term community resilience. It also examines the carbon footprint of a pint of craft beer, the role of farming and malting in emissions, and realistic opportunities for carbon reduction and removal, including the benefits of winter barley compared to spring barley.

Join us March 6th at the 10th annual New England Craft Brew Summit to hear from Michelle, Heather and a full days worth of beer brewing and business experts by registering today via the link in our bio and at nebrewsummit.com !

02/19/2026

🌱 Demystifying Concentrated Lupulin Pellets, Hop Extracts, Oils + Downstream Products with Michelle Ross, Crosby Hops Account Manager - Northeast + Heather McReynolds, HOPSTEINER Specialty Craft Manager

Explore the uses, advantages, and limitations of alternative hop products. In this presentation, Heather McReynolds from Hopsteiner and Michelle Ross from Crosby Hops will break down when to consider using concentrated lupulin pellets, extracts, oils, and downstream hop products, along with how to use them, their advantages, and limitations.

Join us March 6th at the 10th annual New England Craft Brew Summit to hear from Michelle, Heather and a full days worth of beer brewing and business experts by registering today via: https://3common.com/necbs2026

02/18/2026