Guest Speaker: Chris Swersey, Brewers Association

Why Should Anyone Care About Quality Beer?

Today’s alcohol drinker has more beverage type and brand choices than ever before. Competition for share of stomach and share of dollars means that only the strongest will survive; brewers who ignore customer expectations do so at their peril. Fulfilling drinker quality expectations is essential for the long-term health of beer as a beverage and for individual beer brands. Brewers large and small have unique needs and means of satisfying those expectations. Communicating the quality imperative to motivate brewers and providing the right tools to help individual brewers measure quality progress are critical to keeping beer, breweries, and their brands competitive. In this standalone session, invited speaker Chris Swersey, technical brewing projects manager and competition manager for the Brewers Association, will address the craft brewer mindset, identity, and needs as they pertain to overall beer quality.