Details out for Ontario Craft Brewers Conference 2018
Toronto – The seventh annual Ontario Craft Brewers Conference & Suppliers Marketplace will be hosted Wednesday, November 7 and Thursday, November 8, 2018 at Beanfield Centre at Exhibition Place in Toronto.
“The OCB annual conference and trade show has become so significant, we expanded it to two days,” says Paul Corriveau of Railway City Brewing & chair of OCBC 2018. “We expect over 1,200 of our industry’s top brewers, decision-makers, thought leaders and supporters to attend this annual education, networking and sales event. With over 170+ exhibitors, it is Canada’s largest craft brewing industry conference and trade show.”
DAY ONE KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Kicking off the two-day event with an engaging keynote address will be U.S. craft brewing industry authority Julia Herz, Craft Beer Program Director for the Brewers Association, publisher of CraftBeer.com. Julia will share fresh and critical insight regarding the state of craft brewing in the U.S. with a focus on trends and key issues such as market access, beer labeling and advancement of the beverage of beer. Julia is co-author of the free CraftBeer.com Beer & Food Course, as well co-author of Beer Pairing (Voyageur Press). She is an award-winning homebrewer, BJCP beer judge and Certified Cicerone® and beer educator. She has been featured by The Splendid Table, The Food Network’s Unwrapped, CNBC’s Closing Bell and Good Morning America Live.
MASTER BREWERS ASSOCIATION of the AMERICAS (MBAA) TECHNICAL SESSIONS: The Ontario Craft Brewers Conference 2018 planning committee is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with the MBAA Ontario district. As leaders in brewing education and as OCBC’s official “Education Partner,” MBAA will organize technical content sessions and speakers.
“The Master Brewer’s Association of the Americas, Ontario District, is pleased to participate in this new educational collaboration with Ontario Craft Brewers,” says Ueli Schrader, LSI Control Systems Integration Canada and MBAATechnical Chair. “By organizing a day of technical sessions, we hope to bring our industry together in a new and collaborative way. United we brew!”
ONTARIO HOPS GROWERS (OHGA)
The OHGA is also an OCBC strategic partner, organizing a brewers’ hops exchange and providing an update on the BrewOn initiative launched at OCBC 2017.
“OHGA is pleased to once again participate in the Ontario Craft Brewers Conference,” says Albert Witteveen, President OHGA. “It’s a great place for our membership to connect growers with brewers, network and learn the latest trends, developments and preferences in our budding sector.”
ONTARIO CRAFT CIDER ASSOCIATION (OCCA) BREAKOUTS:
For the first time this year, OCBC will host the OCCA in a dedicated breakout room at the Beanfield Centre so the industry body responsible for supporting and promoting the interests of Ontario cider producers can hold cider-specific education and networking sessions.
“We are thrilled to come on board as an education partner of the OCB conference, as we look forward to share and exchange ideas with the craft brewers,” says Richard Liu of Ironwood Cider and Chair of Ontario Craft Cider Association. “Together, we hope to make a bigger impact in the craft beverage sector in Ontario.”
OCBC PRESENTATION TOPICS TO DATE: (check OCBC website for updates/revisions):
LCBO SESSIONS: Doing business with LCBO – Grocery Operations; How to do Business with LCBO – for new breweries only; How to build your business with LCBO; Quality Assurance Update.
MBAA TECHNICAL SESSIONS: Barrel Management, KEG Maintenance, Wastewater Management
HOPS SESSIONS: OHGA Hops rub; Hops Exchange; Update on BrewOn program
CIDER SESSIONS: Ontario Craft Cider industry update, education sessions.
SALES, MARKETING & TOURISM: Making Ontario a bucket list brewing region (Beer Sisters, John Scholl of Cicerone); Diversity & Inclusion in the Ontario’s Craft Brewing Industry; Online Retailing by Craft Breweries; Sales Training for On-Premise Success; LCBO/TBS retail data analysis; Packaging; Branding & Canning.
BUSINESS/OPERATIONS: Financing and grant funding; Trademark & IP; Impact of Bill 148; Interprovincial Trade Barriers, Export for Success; Government Lobbying, OCB Membership, Web, Technical, Marketing & PR Updates.
SPEED MENTORING: workshops with OCB Board and Member Breweries; more topics/speakers TBC…
EARLY BIRD TICKET RATE: Register here before August 15, 2018 to receive the early bird ticket rate. With a base ticket of $475 (plus tax and fees) for the two-day conference and trade show, early bird OCB members receive a 25 per cent discount and non-members 15 per cent off the two-day admission price.Ticket prices include: continental breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks and craft beer reception (Wed) and after party on Thursday.
ENGAGE & CONNECT ON PHEEDLOOP: All information about OCBC can be found on a one-stop-shop mobile event app and website. At registration, attendees are invited to join the Pheedloop community to receive all OCBC news and updates, engage with colleagues, speakers, suppliers, sponsors, build custom schedules.
For more information, visit the Ontario Craft Brewers.
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