Some Highlights From The 2016 Craft Brewers Conference

 

 

A convention is only as good as the stories and memories you come back with…And we came back from last week’s CBC in Philly with almost too many.

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The Opening Night Welcome Reception at the Philadelphia Museum of Art 

Remember Rocky… this was that place! The sold out evening was rocking when we arrived, with masses of CBC party goers in full-on party mode, and almost bacchanalian amounts a food and drink available all over the museum. 

The museum itself, one of the best in the world, remained open to CBC attendees only, so you step away from the crowds staking out the great halls of this impressive building (originally chartered in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition) and catch up with industry friends in quieter settings, surrounded by some of the world’s greatest art. 

The Craft Brewer Conference Welcome Reception is historically the unofficial launch to the CBC – the opening salvo to a week of learning and fun. And while everyone of them, that we’ve attended, have been pretty spectacular hangs – this celebration took things creatively to whole new level that’s going to be hard to top…just sayin’.

 

The CBC General Sessions 

This year’s CBC tried something new. They divided the morning General Session gathering into two separate mornings – a savvy move on their part. This “official opening” to the conference was a morning crammed full of almost too many activities. In addition to a big-name keynote address, there would be all the necessary Brewers Association introductions, followed by the always informative State of the industry discussion. That’s been a lot to digest first thing in the morning (especially after a night of drinking at the Welcome Reception).

Dividing the General Sessions into two mornings not only helped alleviate information overload, it brought everyone together for two unified mornings, and doubled down on your best opportunity to run into industry friends.

The Keynote address (this year the Oakland A’s Billy Beane – lots of fun) took up the lion’s share of the Wednesday morning gathering.

Thursday’s breakfast gathering in included a panel discussion led by Allagash’s Rob Tod and The State of the Industry helmed by the BA Director Paul Gatza and Chief Economist, Bart Simpson – and as always it was a killer presentation.

 

Drinking and Beer-Art at Amber Waves

Three years ago, when the CBC was in DC, Dogfish Head Introduced Amber Waves, a non-traditional art exhibit that’s fast become one of the CBC’s “must” events. It’s a drink-fueled celebration of the artistry behind American craft beer and one of the CBC’s best hangs.

Presented this year by Victory Brewing, the exhibit took place on the top floor of the American Jewish Museum, a beautiful setting with balconies overlooking Independence Mall, home to the Liberty Bell. 

26 of the nation’s best breweries came together for the night and each of them sponsored specially designed works of beer art, which were later actioned off to benefit the city’s Mural Arts Program. It was a fantastic evening of art, people and beer that was almost too much fun.

 

J Roddy Watson & the Business at the TLA

Music and parties are a big part of the nightlife that surrounds the Craft Brewers Conference and this year was no different, with special performances taking place all over the city. But one of our absolute favorites took place down on South Street where Oskar Blues took over the legendary TLA and where J Roddy Watson & the Business burned the house down. Southern rock meets psychedelia, meets Led Zeppelin, meets British folk, this was a night of serious beer and American rock and we we’re blown away by how good these guys were!