Call for Presentations
The Maine Brewers’ Guild is now accepting presentation proposals for the 11th Annual New England Craft Brew Summit, the Northeast’s premier educational conference for brewery owners, brewers, managers, and craft beer professionals.
We’re seeking engaging, practical, and brewery-focused presentations that provide attendees with actionable ideas they can immediately apply in their businesses. Whether your expertise is in brewing, operations, marketing, finance, leadership, sales, hospitality, or industry trends, we’d love to hear your ideas.
What We’re Looking For
Successful presentations should prioritize education over promotion and provide practical value for attendees. Strong proposals include:
• Actionable takeaways—not sales presentations
• Panel discussions representing diverse perspectives, led by a skilled moderator
• Real-world case studies and practical applications
• Brewery-specific data, research, or industry insights
• Step-by-step “how-to” guidance and best practices
• Downloadable resources, templates, or practical tools attendees can use after the session
Diverse Perspectives Welcome
Maine and New England breweries come in all shapes and sizes—from rural breweries and destination taprooms to urban brewpubs, production facilities, and regional distribution models. We’re looking for presentations that reflect this diversity and help breweries:
• Build stronger, more resilient businesses
• Reach new customers
• Improve profitability and operational efficiency
• Navigate today’s rapidly evolving craft beer landscape
Presentation Format
• 40–50 minute educational sessions
• Time for audience Q&A is encouraged when appropriate
• Presentations should be educational, informative, and free from overt product promotion
Submission Timeline
Proposal Deadline: December 11, 2026. All proposals will be reviewed by the Summit Education Committee. Presenters will be notified of selection decisions by December 18, 2026.
Complimentary Summit registration is provided to all selected presenters.
Submit Your Proposal
Complete the presentation proposal form linked here to be considered for the 2027 New England Craft Brew Summit. Questions? Contact us at info@mainebrewersguild.org
Registration is now open for the 10th Annual New England Craft Brew Summit!
Join the region’s craft beer community on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine, for the East Coast’s largest business-to-business conference dedicated to the craft brewing industry. Now in its 10th year, the Summit brings together brewers, suppliers, and industry leaders for a full day of learning, connection, and collaboration. The 2026 Summit is proudly presented by Allen Insurance and Financial.
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Calendar of Events
March 5th, 4PM: The Art of Collaboration, a Summit Kickoff Event. Join fellow brewers and industry leaders at Allagash Brewing Company from to open the 2026 New England Brew Summit with curated pours, meaningful connection, and the debut of an exclusive Allagash × Russian River collaboration. Tickets available now.
March 6th, 7:30AM: 10th Annual New England Craft Brew Summit + Expo. This year’s keynote speaker is Natalie Cilurzo, Co-Owner and President of Russian River Brewing Company, the brewery behind legendary releases like Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. With dozens of educational workshops, a bustling vendor hall, and hundreds of brewery professionals under one roof, the New England Craft Brew Summit is where New England’s craft beer industry comes together to share ideas, build relationships, and shape what’s next. Register now!
March 6th, 7PM: The Battle of the Brewery Bands. The official afterparty for the New England Craft Brew Summit on Friday, March 6th. Join us in returning to Oxbow’s Blending & Bottling location in Portland for an epic night of brewer-made sweet sweet music from an all-star lineup including bands from Allagash, Oxbow, SoMe, and more! This event will sell out, so grab your tickets quickly! Proceeds dedicated to support the Maine Brewers’ Guild.
2026 Sponsors + Exhibitors
Presenting Sponsor: ALLEN INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL
Premier Sponsors: CAN-ONE USA
Media Sponsors: BREWBOUND, MAINEBIZ
Supporting Sponsors: BANGOR SAVINGS BANK, BROADREACH PR, CROSS INSURANCE, LEBEL & HARRIMAN RETIREMENT ADVISORS, MAINE OXY
Bag Sponsor: AMHERST LABEL
Beer Table Sponsor: STOMPER’S WINE & BEVERAGE SUPERSTORE
Breakfast Sponsor: JOHN I. HAAS, INC.
Coffee Sponsor: CBIZ
Luncheon Sponsor: DIVERSEY, A SOLENIS COMPANY
EXHIBITORS: AEB BREWING, ALLIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, ALLEN INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL, AMHERST LABEL, ARRYVED, BERNSTEIN SHUR, BREWBOUND, BREWERY BRANDING, BRIESS MALT & INGREDIENTS, BROADREACH PUBLIC RELATIONS, CAN-ONE USA, COUNTRY MALT GROUP, CROSS INSURANCE, DALUM BEVERAGE EQUIPMENT, ESCARPMENT LABORATORIES, EVERGREEN CREDIT UNION, EVOLV TECHNOLOGIES, INTOUCH LABELS & PACKAGING, KENNEBEC SAVINGS BANK, LEBEL & HARRIMAN RETIREMENT ADVISORS, MAINE BREWERS’ GUILD, MAINE BUREAU OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES & LOTTERY OPERATIONS (BABLO), MAINE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURS, MAINE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR – SAFETYWORKS!, MAINE MALT HOUSE, MAINE OXY, MATHESON GAS, PAUL MUELLER COMPANY, QUALITY CONTROL COLLABORATORY (QC2), SAHM GLASS, STOMPER’S WINE & BEVERAGE SUPERSTORE, SMALL BATCH STANDARD, THE ROUX INSTITUTE AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, TRIPLESEAT SOFTWARE, WD MATTHEWS MACHINERY CO., YAKIMA CHIEF HOPS, ZAJAC LLC
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Why Attend?
“Overall, a great event and well worth my time. Two of us came from our brewery and split up for every break-out. We both came back with lots of notes to share and compare.”
2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the New England Craft Brew Summit, and there’s never been a better time to attend. This isn’t a day away from work. It’s a day to learn from and connect with the craft beer community, visit with suppliers, vendors, and brewers, and forge new connections.
The Summit brings together brewers, owners, suppliers, and service providers from across the region for a full day of learning, networking, and collaboration. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your technical skills, explore new business strategies, or connect with peers, this is where New England’s craft beer community comes to grow.
How Big is This Event?
In 2025, more than 400 brewers and industry professionals gathered for a day devoted to camaraderie, craft brewing, and the business of beer. Over 40 vendors from across the country filled the hall with everything from hops and malt to sustainability solutions and brewing science.
In 2026, we’re planning to build on that momentum. With a dozen-plus workshops and a vendor hall integrated with meals and beer samples, this is more than a trade show. It’s a celebration of what makes our industry thrive.
