You can be assured that with all the craft brewers scattered across the landscape along the Makers Trail in our region, they all would much rather be hoisting a brew in person, but since the pandemic will preclude that, the statewide show goes virtual next month when the long-standing collaboration between the Michigan Brewers Guild and the Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA) – District Michigan also welcomes Michigan State University Extension’s Great Lakes Hop & Barley Conference for an enhanced Virtual Conference and Trade Show, from January 12th through the 14th.
Brewing industry experts from around the world are being brought together virtually to educate across diverse topics for brewers, brewery owners and specialists in hop and malt production — including Garrett Oliver of the Michael Jackson Foundation and Brooklyn Brewery as the opening keynote and Ari Weinzweig of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses as the closing keynote.
Three afternoons of informative sessions — focused on agriculture, business and technical aspects — will be offered from 3-7pm on Tuesday, January 12th; Wednesday, January 13th and Thursday, January 14th.
Two Virtual Trade Show sessions geared toward the brewing industry will be offered from Noon to 2pm on January 13th and 14th. The complete schedule, including the list of speakers, can be found online at the link below right now, however the list of exhibitors for the Trade Show will not be posted until early January. Here’s the schedule link: https://www.mibeer.com/Events/winter-conference
Registration is now open for both members of all presenting organization (at $50 per person) and non-members or the general public (at $75 person). Rates for all levels increase by $25 per person on January 9th. Attendance in the Trade Show is free of charge, although advanced registration is still required.
Formed in 1997, the Michigan Brewers Guild represents nearly 300 member breweries, and that’s a number that increases on a monthly basis. The Guild is a passionate beer community that believes in “quality artisanship, bold character, fun, responsibility and pushing the boundaries.” The mission of the Guild is to promote and protect the Michigan beer industry with an overarching goal to help locally brewed beer attain 20-percent of all beer sales in the state by the year 2025.
Michigan’s brewing industry contributes more than 21,000 full-time jobs and $872 million in labor income, with a total economic impact of over $2.5 billion. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation—supporting its title as “The Great Beer State.”
