Top 3 Favorite Moments From Craft Brewers Conference
Posted May 25, 2023
Nashville was hopping at the beginning of May — and not just because Taylor Swift was in town. The Craft Brewers Conference burst onto the Music City scene, and there truly was something for every beer creator at this year’s show. We were there on behalf of the National Honey Board, and I was truly proud of the fun, beautiful booth (can we talk about the awesome honey dippers!?) and the inspiration we provided through honey tastings. There were a lot of standout moments during the week, but I’ve narrowed it down to three of my favorites.
Diversity Shines
The line in the women’s bathroom may be shorter than at other trade shows, but we spoke to a record number of women brewers who were either already dominating in their fields or were opening business within the next year. The National Black Brewers Association also made its official launch at CBC, determined to change the 1% of Black craft brewers in the country. The first-of-its-kind nonprofit organization’s mission is to “create a more inclusive and vibrant beer industry by providing Black brewers access to the resources, mentorships and networks needed to thrive.”
Honey Happy Hour
Once Day 1 of CBC ended, it was time to turn to distilling. The National Honey Board hosted a Honey Happy Hour at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, where guests enjoyed an even wider range of honey tastings and three delectable made-with-honey cocktails. We also raffled off an exclusive ticket to October’s Honey Alcohol Summit in Austin, Texas. The evening was filled with fun conversations about brewing and distilling with honey — one of my favorite topics.
Speaking of Honey …
I’m usually putting sneakers to the ground, walking trade show floors and visiting booths. This time around, I got to chat more in depth about honey varietals and usage at the National Honey Board booth. From avocado honey (an attendee favorite) to coffee blossom to mesquite, there was a buzz surrounding how to use these interesting varietals in the brewing process. I saw many a light bulb go off, and I answered a ton of technical and honey sourcing questions. It’s going to be an exciting year in the world of honey beer, and I can’t wait to see what new releases culminate … possibly at this year’s Honey Beer Competition.
Have an unanswered honey brewing question from the Craft Brewers Conference? Follow @honey4pros and drop us a DM.
Tags: beer, Brightly Creative, craft beer, Craft Brewers Conference, Honey Alcohol Summit, National Honey Board, Nelson's Green Brier
CATEGORY: Brightly Creative
