Allen Craft Beverage Insurance is one of the top insurers of craft breweries in the country insuring more than 250 accounts. Our knowledge of the brewing industry and network of local, regional and national carriers means we can build a comprehensive and competitively priced program for almost any risk.

The Mass Brewers Guild’s (MBG) Technical Brewing & Business Conference, presented by Allen Craft Beverage Insurance, will return to Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham for a day-long series of workshops and lectures.

Held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Monday, Nov. 3, the focus of the day is to learn best practices from industry experts and create meaningful connections with peers within the craft beer industry.

Choose the track that best suits your skillset in the industry - Technical Brewing or Business.

A continental breakfast, lunch, and happy hour is included in the ticket price - Early bird pricing is $150 for members and $200 for non-members, until Oct. 20, after which, prices will increase to $175 for members and $225 for non-members. If you are unsure of your member status, please reach out to executive director Katie Stinchon at katie@massbrewersguild.org.

MBG Con is presented by Allen Craft Beverage insurance and also made possible thanks to supporting sponsors Aetna, Amherst Label, Bowditch, Can-One USA, Cove Risk, Edward Jones, Euphorics, Fat Basset Design, InTouch Labels, Jack's Beverage Company, Pink Boots Society Boston, Small Batch Standard, Stone Path Malt, Walker-Clay and Zumbiel Packaging. These businesses are associate members of the Mass Brewers Guild and help to make our educational programs possible and affordable for member breweries.

View the full workshop line up and purchase tickets below:

Purchase Tickets

Keynote Address - 9 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.

Keynote address - Beer Hall

Beverages 2.0, How Gen Z is Crafting a New Era of Consumption

Generation Z—the most socially conscious, tech-savvy, and experience-driven generation yet—is redefining the beverage industry. From sustainability and authenticity to digital-first engagement and purpose-driven branding, their values and behaviors are transforming what, how, and why we drink. In this thought-provoking keynote, Brian P. Connors, Professor and Director of Innovation & Strategy at Accelerating Leaders, award-winning educator, consultant, and former Senior Director of Global Food & Beverage Innovation and Founding Faculty Director of the Bacardi Center of Excellence at FIU, explores actionable insights for staying ahead of this seismic shift. Recognized as one of the “30 Most Influential Educators in Global Hospitality,” a TEDx speaker, and a Certified Sommelier, Brian shares compelling data, emerging trends, and real-world examples to help industry professionals craft products, experiences, and campaigns that resonate with Gen Z—turning their preferences into powerful opportunities for growth.

SESSION ONE - 10:20 to 11:20 a.m.

Technical Track - Beer Hall

Out of Code: Extending Shelf Life Without Sacrificing Flavor

A deep dive into the science of flavor and haze stability, oxidation control, and packaging best practices. Learn how to proactively protect your beer’s shelf life through smart process design and packaging QA—ensuring your beer tastes just as great at day 90 as it did on day 9.

BUSINESS TRACK - FEST HALL

Paths to Profit: 3 Ways Brewery Owners Unlocked Big-Time Profit in 2025 (With‬ Real-World Examples)‬

If you own or operate an established brewery, and want to increase profit this year, this session shows exactly how. Drawing from 15 years of financial insight across 285+ U.S. craft breweries, we’ll break down three common paths to increase profit by $100k/year or more using adapted examples from real-world scenarios:

Profit Path 1: Taproom Revenue Ratios

Profit Path 2: Disciplined Distribution

Profit Path 3: Event Expansion

We’ll work through the step-by-step process together for each scenario to find profit opportunities, build a +$100k/year profit strategy, and create an action plan the brewery team can execute without hiring, buying equipment, or spending more. No matter where your business is today, there's always a path to more profit. Our goal is to help you find it.

SESSION TWO - 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.

Technical Brewing Track - Beer Hall

Haze for Dayz: Unlocking Haze Stability in NEIPAs

Discover what really holds haze in suspension—and what causes it to drop out. This session covers biotransformation, protein-polyphenol interactions, water chemistry, yeast selection, and dry hopping techniques that can make or break your NEIPA’s signature look and mouthfeel.

BUsiness Track - Fest hall

Maximize Your Event Space: What Planners Really Want

Your taproom could be doing more than pouring pints—it could be hosting weddings, milestone birthdays, and corporate events. But what are event planners actually looking for in a venue? This panel will feature professional party and event planners who will walk through the must-haves for booking private events: event layout maps, vendor lists, pricing clarity, inclusive packages, and visual highlights for social media (think: photogenic spots for a wedding couple or birthday backdrop).

We’ll also share the top websites and tools to make sure your brewery is showing up in event venue searches. Attendees will leave with a checklist to elevate their private event program and boost their bottom line.

Lunch, Vendor Exhibition, Hop Education
12:30 to 2 p.m.

Keynote Two - 2 to 3 p.m.

Beer Hall

State of the Industry: Where Craft Beer Stands and Where It’s Headed

Led by Dave Williams, President at the Bump Williams Consultancy and analytics czar, this talk will deliver a customized, data-driven look at both national and Massachusetts-specific trends. Topics include:

Total U.S. vs. MA beer performance
Craft beer trajectory and future risks
The rise of RTDs, spirits, and cannabis competition
NA beer trends and shifting consumer behavior
Survey insights, distributor changes, and opportunities for brewers

This presentation is designed to equip breweries, of any size or go-to-market model, with the intel they need to adapt to market changes and make smarter, more informed decisions.

SESSION FOUR - 3:10 to 4:10 p.m.

TECHNICAL BREWING TRack - Beer Hall

Sensory Smarts: Engaging Teams and Customers in Quality on a Budget

Think sensory programs are only for large breweries? Think again. This hands-on workshop will show you how to build and sustain an effective sensory program at your brewery—even with a small team and a limited budget. Learn practical steps to implement quality-focused sensory evaluation in-house, then explore creative ways to involve your customers in the process. You’ll walk away with strategies to transform everyday taproom feedback into actionable insights for quality assurance and product development.

BUSINESS TRACK - Fest Hall

Knowing When to Call Last Call: Lessons in Selling, Merging, or Closing a Brewery"

Running a brewery is a passion—but it’s also a business. As the industry faces tightening margins, shifting consumer preferences, and market saturation, more brewery owners are confronting hard questions: Should we scale back? Merge? Sell? Or walk away before it’s too late?

In this candid and compassionate panel, former Worcester business owner Lynn Cheney shares her firsthand experience of navigating the emotional and financial realities of closing a beloved business. She’ll be joined by Nathaniel Davis, CEO at Barrel One Brewing Co., and Rory Z. Fazendeiro, Partner at Bowditch, a versatile corporate and real estate attorney with deep experience guiding clients through sales, mergers, and strategic transactions. Together, they’ll unpack how to assess your business’s viability, recognize red flags, and prepare for an exit on your own terms—whether that’s through a sale, merger, or orderly wind-down.

The conversation will be moderated by Sam Hendler, Co-Owner of Hendler Brewing Co., who will guide panelists through both the practical and personal sides of making these difficult but necessary decisions.