
Hosted by Craft Beer Professionals · EN

In today’s competitive market, simply producing high-quality beer is often no longer enough to secure sustained growth. Many forward-thinking breweries are strategically diversifying their product portfolios, expanding into high-growth categories such as hard cider, spirits, wine, RTDs, can cannabevs.While this expansion opens up exciting new revenue streams, it simultaneously introduces a new set of operational, financial, and regulatory challenges. The question for many producers is: where do we even begin?Industry experts Alex and Aaron with lead a discussion focused on demystifying the diversification process and will guide attendees through the critical considerations required when integrating an entirely new product line into an established brewery operation.The session with specifically focus on how production software, like Ollie and Ekos, can act as the cornerstone for a successful transition. We’ll focus on key areas such as streamlining procurement for new ingredients and packaging, adapting the production process, ensuring financial accuracy, and managing sales efficiency.Don’t let complexity slow your growth. Learn how to successfully expand your portfolio while maintaining efficiency and compliance.Alex was born & raised in North Carolina. He is an alumni of Grimsley High School and UNC-Wilmington, and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a former swimmer and grilling enthusiast. His first craft beer was Natty Green’s Freedom IPA, and North Carolina beer holds a special place in his heart. Alex has spent 9 years with Next Glass, and currently is a Solutions Consultant supporting the Producer Solutions team. While coming from outside of industry initially, Alex brings valuable experience after thousands of conversations with brewery owners around the world.Aaron Keefner is happily approaching his 14th year in the craft beer industry, having started out in marketing with Goose Island in early 2012. He eventually moved to an operations role in wholesale support in order to gain experience on both the production/operations side, as well as the knowledge already obtained via marketing/sales. After 5.5 years he found himself at Revolution Brewing running their specialty beer program, including their celebrated Deep Wood barrel-aged program, as well as spearheading the rollout of their small batch program. In 2019 he assumed the role of Executive Director of Brewery Operations with More Brewing Company helping them expand and open their production facility in Huntley, IL and planning of a 3rd facility in Bartlett, IL. With his leadership, More was able to weather the storm of the pandemic and grow 600% in a span of just under 3 years. At the end of 2022, Aaron assumed his current role as a Solutions Consultant with Next Glass, serving as a product expert on Ollie & Ekos, ERP/CRM softwares for beverage production.Join us in person for CBP Connects ChicagoJune 15-17, 2026Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/

What makes a good lager?How do we make a good lager?Join us as we explore the various methods used to craft high-quality lager, breaking down the classic techniques to help you choose the best approach for your best beer.Nathaniel Ferguson is one of the owners of Escarpment Laboratories, A yeast manufacturer in Guelph, Canada, where they focus on teaching about yeast fermentation. Additionally, Nathan has been a professor at Niagara College for over 10 years, teaching in the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Program.Join us in person for CBP Connects ChicagoJune 15-17, 2026Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/

Do you remember your first Guinness? How about that Guinness you had at the top of their Dublin brewery? Best beer ever? In this conversation, we will be joined by Jimmy Callahan, a Guinness Brewery Ambassador, to discuss how Guinness continues to innovate. We will discuss the role of limited time offerings, where the brand is heading, and unique partnerships. Along the way we will dive into successes, failures, lessons learned, and strategies for continued success. Jimmy has a true passion for Guinness and the entire beer industry, spending time in Los Angeles and New York to perfect his craft before moving to Chicago. He has covered the Midwest Region for Guinness for six years, engaging hundreds of thousands of people during this time. In addition to his role as a Guinness Brewery Ambassador, Jimmy loves to spend his time traveling and trying new beers, constantly experimenting with food pairings alongside his wife, an accomplished chef. Jimmy is also a successful actor, appearing in over 100 commercials and several TV/Film projects over the years. Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking Norfolk, VA | September 12-14, 2022 Learn more at cbpconnects.com