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Attend a Beer Festival

2027 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 13-15, 2027
Kalamazoo Radisson Plaza Hotel

This event is for those 21+. ID required.

REGISTER NOW

REGISTRATION DETAILS:

  • Member Price: $370 + fees full conference, until 11:59pm on 1/5/2027. (Late Registration Rate: $420 + fees). Includes:
    • 3 Pre-Conference Sessions (Wednesday) geared toward Start-Up Breweries & Emerging Professionals
    • Sensory Evaluation Workshop (Wed.)
    • Access to Trade Show (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)
      ​
  • 1 Discounted BREWERY Member Registration: $175 + fees
    • 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 1/5/2027. Discounted registration includes all features outlined above.
       
  • Non-Member Price: $420 + fees full conference, until 11:59pm on 1/5/2025. (Late Registration Rate: $470 + fees). Includes all features outlined above.
     
  • Wednesday Only: $175 + fees until 11:59pm on 1/5/2027.
    (Late Registration Rate: $200 + fees). Includes:
    • Access to 3 Pre-Conference Sessions geared toward Start-Up Breweries and Emerging Professionals.
    • Sensory Evaluation Workshop (Wed.)
    • Access to Trade Show (Wed.)
      ​
  • Trade Show Only: $125 + fees until 11:59pm on 1/5/2027.
    (Late Registration Rate: $150 + fees).
    • Includes access to the Trade Show on Wednesday, January 14.
    • Does not include access to Conference sessions (January 15-16), meals, Great Beer State reception dinner and/or Sensory Evaluation.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
Subject to change.
 

Wednesday, January 13

8:00AM — Check-in Opens (Kalamazoo Radisson Lower Level)

Sessions Specific for Start-Up Breweries & Emerging Professionals

9-9:45AM

  • Powered Industrial Truck Safe Operation
  • Mental Health & Wellness Culture Roundtable

10-10:45AM 

  • Sanitation 101
  • Tap Room Roundtable: Staff Training

11-11:45AM

  • Brewers’ Roundtable:  3 + Moderator: What's the story behind your flagship beers?
  • Social Media + Internet Marketing

12-1:15PM  — Sensory Evaluation – Dr. Nicole Shriner, MSU

1-2PM — MBAA Meeting

1-6PM — Allied Member Trade Show

3-4PM — Chinook Cup Judging

7PM — Hospitality Suites Open Sponsored by ColdBreak, Red Horse Center, MBG/MBAA - Bierstube

Thursday, January 14

7-9AM — Breakfast Buffet (Lower Level)

9-10:30AM — Michigan Brewers Guild Annual Meeting

9-10:30AM — Hop Growers of Michigan Annual Meeting

11AM-12PM — Keynote Speaker: Jenna Arcidiacono. Chef/Owner Amore Trattoria

12-1PM — Buffet Lunch

1:15-2:15PM — Breakout Sessions

  • BREWING: European Farmhouse Brewing: Historic Beers with Classic Styles with Lars Garshol
     
  • BUSINESS: AI on Tap: Optimizing Your Brewery Communications for the Next Evolution of Brand Discovery with Dave Serino of TwoSix Digital and Eeva Redmond of Elder Piper Beer & Cider
     
  • AGRICULTURE: Dry-Hopping Evaluation with Dr. Nicole Shriner of Michigan State University

2:30-3:30PM — Breakout Sessions (Lower Level)

  • BREWING: Applications of pH & Yeast on Biotransformation with Laura Burns of Omega Yeast
     
  • BUSINESS: “Show Me the Money” - Splitting your P&L with Justin Buiter of Railtown Brewing
     
  • AGRICULTURE: Hop and Barley Trends & MSU Research Updates with Dr. Rob Sirrine, Dr. Brook Wilke & Dr. James DeDecker, MSUE

3:45-4:45PM — Breakout Sessions (Lower Level)

  • BREWING:Water Chemistry with Ashton Lewis
     
  • BUSINESS & AGRICULTURE: Selling and Celebrating Wet-Hopped Beers (Panel) with Matt Gallagher, Suncatcher Brewing Jeremy Kosmicki, Founders Brewing & Jeff Sheehan, Rockford Brewing

5-6PM — Breakout Sessions (Lower Level)

  • BREWING & AGRICULTURE: Functional Flavor: Mood Impact and the Science Behind the Isolated Botanicals we Love with Michael Wagnerof Abstrax Hops
     
  • BUSINESS: Government Affairs Panel

6:30-7:30PM — Happy Hour & Awards Ceremony

7:30-10PM — Great Beer State Dinner

10PM — Hospitality Suites Open Sponsored by ColdBreak, Red Horse Center, MBG/MBAA - Bierstube

Friday, January 15

7-8:45am — Breakfast Buffet

8-10:15AM — Bloody Mary Bar Sponsored by Sandy Ridge Farms

9-10AM — General Session: Session Topic TBA with Lars Garshol

10:15-11:15AM — Breakout Sessions (Lower Level)

  • BREWING: FAN: What Is It, Why Do We Need It, and How Do We Control It with Ashton Lewis
     
  • BUSINESS: Right Sizing Distribution - Navigating the World Outside Your Brewery Walls (Roundtable) with  Jon Cole, Old Nation Brewing & Max Trierweiler, The Mitten Brewing

11:30AM-12:30PM — Breakout Session

  • BREWING: Brewing Flavorful Low-ABV Beers (Panel) with Tori Fried, Lallemand, Zach Typinski, Urbanrest Brewing Co., Andy Farrell, Bell's Brewery & Matt Gallagher Suncatcher Brewing. Moderated by Brian Confer, Stormcloud Brewing
     
  • BUSINESS: Grant Writing for Brewers and Maltsters with Dr. James DeDecker & Dr. Rob Sirrine, MSUE

HOTEL RESERVATIONS:

A limited number of rooms are available at the Kalamazoo Radisson starting at $186 per night, plus fees/ taxes. You can call 269-343-3333 (Option 1) and mention the MiBeer Conference or use this link: https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/WE22I5.

The room block expires at 5:00pm on Monday, December 21, 2026.

Parking in the adjoining hotel ramp is $20 per night (a $5/night discount). Standard rates apply for Valet parking.

TRADE SHOW EXHIBITORS:

Registration is open now for current 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

Exhibitor rates are as follows:

  • MBG Member (w/o power): $550
  • MBG Member (w/ power): $600
  • Non-Member (w/o power): $825
  • Non-Member (w/ power): $875

SPONSORSHIPS:

For details on sponsorships, or for general Conference & Trade Show questions, contact Dianna Stampfler, MBG Publicist at Media@MichiganBrewersGuild.org.

Tickets

Presale (Enthusiast Members Only):

General Public Sales Start:

Purchase Tickets Here
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