Craft brewers from across New England gathered in Portland, Maine, on March 7, 2024 for the eighth annual New England Craft Brew Summit. More than 450 attendees joined Governor Janet Mills and L.L.Bean President and CEO Stephen Smith for a day devoted to camaraderie, craft brewing and the business of beer.
This year’s summit theme was From Startup to Steady, with Smith kicking off the day with Five Business Lessons for Longevity. His talk touched on building your brand, staying lean, creating a shared purpose and vision, surrounding yourself with great people and protecting your time and energy.
The New England Craft Brew Summit was launched in 2016 by the Maine Brewers’ Guild as the first conference in the region to focus on the business of brewing, bringing brewers together with legal experts, hop farmers, bankers, maltsters and more. It has grown to be the largest craft beer conference in the Northeast and a signature event for the industry.
“We try to make sure that our event has something valuable for every type of brewery,” said Maine Brewers’ Guild board president Jenn Lever. “From a tiny brewery in rural New England to a big brewery in Portland, we’re all in this industry together and for the love of great beer.”
This year’s workshops included explorations of new hop trends, sustainability in brewing, succession planning, beer quality and more. The event also drew more than 40 vendors from across the U.S. and Canada- from digital beer can printers to insurance companies and hops farmers.
Maine Brewers’ Guild announces Sarah Bryan as executive director
Adding to the day, the Maine Brewers’ Guild announced Sarah Bryan as their new executive director. Bryan is a New Hampshire native and has held roles at Portsmouth Brewery, Smuttynose, Earth Eagle, Schilling Beer Co. and Twin Barns Brewing. She was most recently director of operations and branding for Après in Portland.
In addition to her experience in breweries and craft beverage businesses, Bryan played a part in member driven industry groups. She spent two years on the board of the New Hampshire Brewers Association and New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association.
“I look forward to working to furthering the legacy of the Maine Brewers Guild and executing the continued vision of brewers across this special state, from Arundel to Aroostook and the mountains to the sea,” said Bryan. “I have developed a nuanced understanding and love for the unique character of the Pine State– its dynamic process, personality, and palate inspired me not only to stay, but to find a way to work on behalf of my chosen craft beverage profession at a scale beyond individual institution.”
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