2024 Michigan's Great Beer State Conference & Trade Show
Presented by Michigan Brewers Guild,
Michigan State University Extension and
Master Brewers Association of the Americas - District Michigan
January 10-12, 2024
Kalamazoo Radisson Plaza Hotel & Wings Event Center
This event is for those 21+. ID required.
REGISTRATION DETAILS:
- Member Price: $345 full conference, until 11:59pm on 1/3/2024.
(Late Registration Rate: $395). Includes:
- Access to Trade Show (Wed.)
- Sensory Evaluation Workshop (Wed.)
- All conference sessions (Thurs. & Fri.)
- Great Beer State reception dinner (Thurs.)
- All other Conference meals (note: some meals on own, check schedule for details)
- Non-Member Price: $395 full conference, until 11:59pm on 1/3/2024. (Late Registration Rate: $445). Includes all features outlined above.
- 1 Discounted ($150) BREWERY Member Registration: Brewery Members receive one discounted conference registration as a benefit of MBG membership. To use this benefit, simply register for the "Discounted Member Registration" type by Jan 3. Discounted registration includes all features outlined above.
- Group Discount: A 10% discount is available for 5 or more full paid conference registrations. Enter the discount code group24 at check-out.
- Trade Show Only: $105 until 11:59pm on 1/3/2024. (Late Registration Rate: $130).
- Includes access to the Trade Show on Wednesday, Jan. 10 only.
- Does not include access to Conference sessions (1/11-12), meals, Great Beer State reception dinner and/or Sensory Evaluation.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
Schedule subject to change.
Wednesday, January 10
- 11:00 am - 12:15 pm - Malt Sensory Evaluation
- PRESENTERS: Kevin Payne - Bell's Brewery, Craig Taheny - Bell's Brewery
- 12:30-1:15 pm - MBAA District Meeting
- 1:00-6:00pm Trade Show at Wings Event Center
- Transportation sponsored by Discover Kalamazoo
- Chinook Cup Competition
- 8:00-9:00pm Viewing of A Two Hearted Tale directed by Rory K. McHarg and Bret Miller
- 9:00-11:00pm Katie Hardy with Six Feet Over - A relaxed conversation centered around the topic of suicide and mental health. Beer will be provided.
- 9:00pm MBAA Bierstube Suite Opens
- 9:00pm MBG Hospitality Suite Opens
Thursday, January 11
- 9:00 am - MBG Annual Meeting
- 9:00 am - Hop Growers of Michigan Meeting
- 11:00 am-12:00 pm - KEYNOTE – Charlie Bamforth, Sierra Nevada Brewing
- Noon - Lunch
SESSIONS
1:15-2:15
- Brewing: Processing Aids Beyond the Brewhouse
- PRESENTER: Ashton Lewis - Brewer Supply Group (BSG)
- Business: Creative Problem Solving in the Tap Room (Roundtable Discussion)
- MODERATOR: Kris Spaulding - Brewery Vivant & Broad Leaf Brewing + Spirits
- Hops: 2023 Season Recap - Hop Grower Panel
- MODERATORS: Erin Lizotte - MSU Extension, Dr. Rob Sirrine - MSU Extension
- PANEL: Rick Kawalski - Hop Head Farm, Jim Mikesell - Dog Star Hops, Rose Stahl - Mr. Wizard’s Hops, Brian Tennis - Hop Alliance
- Barley: Malt Supply Issues? Taming Malt Quality Variability in the Brewhouse
- PRESENTER: Vince Coonce - Malt, Beer and Food Process Engineer & Consultant
2:30-3:30
- Brewing: Pushing New Possibilities - The How and Why Behind Genetically Engineered Yeast
- PRESENTER: Laura Burns - Omega Yeast
- Business: Bringing Beer to the People | A panel discussion around Self Distribution
- MODERATOR: Fred Bueltmann - Red Horse Center for Collaborative Leadership
- PRESENTERS: Kevin DeGrood - North Center Brewing, Jeff Knoblock - Trail Point Brewing, Jef Smith - Loaded Dice Brewery
- Hops: Innovative Marketing to Improve the Sustainability of Your Hop Farm
- PRESENTER: Josh Mayich - Island Hop Company
- Barley: Winter Barley Agronomy and Disease Management in the Upper Midwest
- PRESENTERS: Jill Check - Michigan State University, Dr. Martin Chilvers - Michigan State University, Dr. Manni Singh - Michigan State University
3:45-4:45
- Brewing: MiOSHA’s Heavy Hitters - Complying High Hazard High Consequence Regulations
- PRESENTER: Dave Huizen - Grand Valley State University
- Business: Promoting Your Small Brewery - Showcasing your Brand Online when you Don't have a Marketing Manager
- PRESENTERS: Dave Cicotte - Batch Brewing Company
- Hops: Hop Harvest Windows, Harvest Timing and Their Impacts on Aroma
- PRESENTER: Alexandra Nowell - CLS Farms
- Barley: Deep Roots - How Barley Variety, Malting and Brewing Process Drive Beer Flavor
5:00-6:00
- Brewing: Best Practices for Canning Beer for the Small Brewer
- MODERATOR: Alec Mull - Bell’s Brewery
- PANEL: Brian Confer - Stormcloud Brewing Company, Perry Dickerson - Bell’s Brewery, Josh Gordon - Odd Side Ales, Dr. Eric Samp - New Belgium Brewing Company
- Business: Government Affairs
- PANEL: Kristin Beltzer - Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) Chair, Scott Breslin - Public Affairs Associates, Scott Newman-Bale - Short’s Brewing, David Ringler - Cedar Springs Brewing & Küsterer Brauhaus
- Hops: Fresh Hop Ale Festival - Benefits to hop growers, brewers and the local economy
- PRESENTER: Malissa Gatton - Yakima Valley Hops
- Barley: Dispelling the Myths of Local Malt - Exploring the benefits and challenges of regional and local malt supply chains
- PRESENTER: Zach Gaines - Proximity Malt
EVENING ACTIVITES
- 6:30-7:30 pm - Great Beer State Happy Hour & Awards Presentation - Sponsored by Briess
- Presentation of the Tom Burns Award, Michigan Beer Champion Award & Chinook Cup
- 7:30-10 pm - Michigan's Great Beer State Dinner - Sponsored by Argent Tape & Label
- 11:00pm MBAA Bierstube Suite Opens
- 11:00pm MBG Hospitality Suite Opens
- 11:00pm Hospitality Suite Sponsored by Red Horse Center for Collaborative Leadership
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12
- 8:00-9:00 am - Bloody Mary Bar Sponsored by Sandy Ridge Farms
- 9:00-10:00 am GENERAL SESSION: SAFE SPACES - Keeping You and Your Business Safe - An All-Hazards Approach with Sgt. Andrew Bachmann | Western Michigan University
SESSIONS
10:15-11:15
- Brewing: Brewery Management Software - Necessity or Luxury?
- MODERATOR: Brian Confer - Stormcloud Brewing Company
- PANEL: Andy Largent - Loco Boys, Michael Brower - Pigeon Hill Brewing, Brian Moran - Sister Lakes Brewing, David Manson - Blackrocks Brewery
- Business: The Importance of Philanthropic Collaboration Beers in Modern Craft Brewing (DEI Panel)
- PRESENTERS: Kim Collins - Guardian Brewing Company, Edwin Collazo - City Built Brewing, Linus De Paoli - 3 Gatos Brewing, Karen Forbes - Burzurk Brewing Co., Ciaran Leask - Brewery Vivant, Amy Martin - Stormcloud Brewing Company, Edward Stencel - Unexpected Craft Brewing
- Hops: 2023 Michigan Hop Trends and HGM Specialty Crop Block Grant Update
- PRESENTERS: Dr. Rob Sirrine - MSU Extension, Dianna Stampfler - Promote Michigan (representing Hop Growers of Michigan and Michigan Brewers Guild)
- Barley: Michigan Malt Panel - Meet the Growers and Maltsters Driving Innovation and Quality in Local Malt
- MODERATOR: Dr. James Dedecker, MSU Extension
- PANEL: Alison Babb - Empire Malting Co., Todd DeKryger - L & M Farms, Larry Judge - Mitten State Malt, Jeff Malkiewicz - Great Lakes Malting Co., Bill Terbrack - T3 Farms
11:30-12:30
- Brewing: Foam - A visual, scientific and technical delight.
- PRESENTER: Dr. Charlie Bamforth - Sierra Nevada Brewing
- Business: Running my business is getting in the way of making great beer!
- PRESENTER: Brian Calley - Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM)
- Hops: Single Michigan Hop Beer Tasting & Evaluation
- PRESENTER: Dr. Nicole Shriner - Michigan State University
- Barley: Supporting Adoption of Superior Spring Barley Varieties in Michigan
- PRESENTERS: Dr. James DeDecker - MSU Extension, Christian Kapp, Esq. - Michigan State University-UPRE
HOTEL RESERVATIONS:
A limited number of rooms are available at the Kalamazoo Radisson starting at $137 per night, plus fees and taxes. You must call the hotel directly at 269-343-3333 and reference Michigan Brewers Guild 2024. Self parking is $10 per night in the garage attached to the hotel (standard rates apply for valet parking).
TRADE SHOW EXHIBITORS:
Now open for MBG Allied Members. If you are not currently a MBG Allied Member, but are interested in joining to participate in the Trade Show, you can find investment levels and contact information here: https://allied.mibeer.com/alliedmembers
QUESTIONS:
Dianna Stampfler, MBG Publicist:
Media@MichiganBrewersGuild.org