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Water and wastewater management challenges can present economic and environmental barriers to growth for craft spirits producers, whose water-intensive processes generate large volumes of high-strength stillage. Challenges are further augmented in drought-stricken regions and in small towns where municipal wastewater treatment plants with aging infrastructure are nearing capacity.  Distributed, onsite wastewater treatment solutions alleviate these challenges, offering a progressive, cost-effective, and sustainable approach to water and wastewater management that allows craft spirits producers to realize their growth potential. Explore the various benefits associated with transitioning away from traditional, centralized wastewater treatment solutions.

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Briess, working with Michigan State University, performed several collaborative studies in 2011 and 2012.  First, the impact on spirit yield was examined between two different grind profiles of malted barley. Then, the flavor and yield impact of several different specialty malts (Munich, Victory, C60, and Black Malt) were examined. Learn about the design and findings of the studies, as well as the implication for the craft distiller. Samples of the distillate with the different specialty malts can be provided for tasting and smelling.

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As craft distilleries grow and seek differentiation, one area of focus is the idea of place. Can we extend this idea into farm-to-glass? This question is pondered (and answered) through a somewhat scientific study of whiskeys distilled from rye grain sourced around the continent. The “rye project,” is a way to engage and educate consumers, keep ourselves on our toes, and learn more about our craft.

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Fermentation is one of the most important aspects of distilling. The production of flavors during the fermentation process can contribute to a deliciously unique and consistent product. Discover how you can control yeast to make the flavors, aromas, and yields you seek.

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Learn the art of sensory evaluation from both the physiological side, and what the best practices are, for doing sensory evaluation. Led by Dave Dafoe, founder of Flavorman, and Moonshine University’s director of spirits education, Colin Blake, you’ll get a solid foundation on how to perform sensory evaluation on spirits and give helpful, meaningful feedback when performing the art of sensory. Learn best practices for picking environment, glasses, nosing, tasting, what proof to do sensory at, building sensory vocabulary, and how to enhance your sensory over time.

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Get up to speed on market innovation and product development, development timeframes, time to market and continuous improvement.  Hear new ideas regarding eco-efficiency and social responsiveness while educating and sharing the connection between natural cork, its environment, and those caretakers of this important resource. Examine new materials, decoration technologies, assembling techniques, and learn about anti-counterfeiting solutions.

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Gain valuable insight and knowledge of alternative finishing techniques currently being used in the industry and learn more about flavor compounds found in aged spirits, the processes of maturation, and the effect barrel treatments have on an aged product. Highlighting several finishing techniques such as double barrel aging and the use of oak adjunct products, you’ll enjoy a short tasting of six to eight samples of identical aged spirit, each being finished in a different manner to showcase certain flavors.  We will present a complete chemical analysis of each sample and highlight key points of differentiation created by the finishing techniques.

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A very complex, though simply elegant, series of chemical reactions, the Maillard reactions dictate much of the flavor of distilled spirits, particularly during the toasting and charring of barrels used for maturation and finishing. Get a fuller understanding of overall spirits flavor production while we will simplify the chemistry and demonstrate reactions related to selection of raw materials, barrel making and choice of barrels.

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The management of the production environment and final products is of the utmost importance to distillers. Beyond legal compliance and safety issues, there is a need to gather data to inform as to the performance of the various production processes and to help understand the conformance or otherwise of the final products and by-products. Here we explore what information is required by the distiller and identify options to gather data that enables that information to be extracted. We will consider instrumental, sensor and sensory data sources, and discuss the relevance of particular analyses particularly in terms of cost-benefit. This will lead on to a consideration of the feasibility of a $1000 laboratory for the craft distiller.

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The site of the recently opened O.Z. Tyler Distillery housed distilleries for nearly 130 years. Prior to being purchased by Terressentia Corporation (parent company of the O.Z. Tyler Distillery), it had not produced Kentucky bourbon since the 1990s. The 26-acre site underwent major renovations from new controls to a state-of-the-art grain handling facility to a processing center capable of barrel filling and dumping up to 32,000 barrels of bourbon annually.  From past to present, discover what went into making a thoroughly modern distillery on a historic site.

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Having worked with Jim Beam and Diageo in the past, Process Engineers Haskell-Blenheim brings real world experience in planning and execution of capital projects for spirits producers.  Haskell will use their “Project Delivery Model” as a guide to illustrate how to effectively scope and execute projects, while timing financial investments for optimal benefit and certainty of outcome. Using real info from past projects, you’ll learn what to consider when working with engineers, how to select equipment for future needs at the outset or expansion planning, building and process flow considerations, throughput calculations, and excess capacity planning.

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Not sure how to get your product to Helsinki? Intimidated by shipping to Shimizu?  Little players can win big in the overseas market.  Serious advantages exist for small craft distillers to ship their goods abroad – for starters, excise taxes that can be as high as the sale’s price are eliminated.  Representatives from two US organizations and a spirits importer from Japan will unlock the mystery of the export.

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As the world’s second largest economy, the EU positions itself as a key market for American craft distillers. The union of dozens of states proves to be complex, with varying regulations and barriers to entry in each country. Learn strategies for exporting from the US and entering key states within the EU, including commercial and industry trends, growth strategy, development and execution, EU market industry insights, distribution options and overall guidance.

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Prepare now for the challenges of growth!  Focusing on legal and regulatory compliance issues spirits companies face when expanding their business, we’ll explore important tips on fundraising (including loans and crowdsourcing), entering international and non-traditional markets, new distillery construction and equipment, contract distilling and private label concerns. Discover the hazards of non-compliance, how to avoid problems, and potential growth opportunities awaiting your business.

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In many cases, Control States offer advantages for craft distillers that are not available in the general marketplace. Every state is different, and if you take the time to do the regulatory and operational research, you’ll find opportunities for sale and distribution exist in the unlikeliest environments. Explore the background of the control systems and the path to success from the viewpoint of a major supplier, a control state broker/distributor and an Alcohol Beverage Commission Director.

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Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more in-depth about classified electrical areas in distilleries – where they are, when they are needed, and special wiring methods (inside and outside the classified area). Myths will be dispelled, explosion-proof wiring will be dissected, and simple ventilation versus electrical upgrades will be compared.

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Capital is available to grow your business – particularly surrounding crowdfunding. The initial results to date for crowdfunding for the spirits industry has been positive, and the ability to raise equity increases a distiller’s chance of obtaining bank financing. Explore multiple case studies and asset-based lending capabilities for financing aged spirits.

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Taking “judge a book by its cover” and applying it to the packaging of spirits is exactly what happened when the experts at Nielsen conducted a recent study on spirits packaging for bourbon distilling members of the ACSA. Hear the results and learn why distillers need to care about this essential sales ingredient. Take away the four important roles and goals of package design and the five secrets to creating breakthrough design.

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Working productively with the media also requires an understanding of today’s media landscape. The often-overlooked beverage trade media and what were once smaller spirits bloggers have now found a large voice within the industry through their own portals and social media platforms. Spirits companies today can no longer overlook this demographic. Learn where we stand today and what the future holds.

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This panel of three distinguished craft distillers, moderated by journalist Wayne Curtis, explores an oft-observed trajectory among start-up distillers: the business plans distillers start out with are rarely the same plans they follow in year two or three. New distillers learn from their mistakes, grow from their experience, find soaring demand for products they hadn’t anticipated, lagging demand for others, and shortages of source material they assumed abundant. They redirect their energies, and, essentially, find that they’re launching all over again. How to prepare for and manage that shift? Three distillers who’ve experienced this first-hand will reveal how they directed their second act.

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Ignorance is bliss! An oft overlooked and under-appreciated function at both young and established distilleries, logistics has major impacts on cost and services, ultimately impacting revenue and profitability.  Covering the practical ins and outs of supply chain functionality, alternatives and best practices at the distillery, explore what needs to be considered in order to leverage and maximize your everyday enterprise efforts.

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With a disconnect between craft distiller goals and distributors’ goals, small craft distillers are finding the task of getting product to market ever more difficult. Join us for a lively discussion to determine how to get attention from distributors without very large marketing budgets, what collaborations between distillers would look like, and how - as an industry - we can take on the big brands that dominate access to the market.

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Competition is fierce and creative marketing can make or break a brand. It’s not enough to have a great product -- how you sell it to your audience will help you over the tipping point (or put you out of business). The absence of a Pernot Ricard-level budget doesn’t mean you can’t take your marketing to the next level.  Explore the challenges and obstacles then analyze solutions to overcome them to create a winning marketing campaign on a micro budget.

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The financial and sustainability issues of craft spirits distilleries play out much differently for larger spirits producers. Courtney McKee of Headframe Spirits will use its own percentages of income as a real-life example of experience, being an up-and-comer.  She’ll share good decisions you should consider, bad decisions you should avoid, and lessons learned in the growth process.

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Hear three entrepreneurs pitch live to a panel of investors – from within and outside the drinks industry – and get feedback on their propositions. The Distill Ventures team will then talk about the important elements of successfully securing investments - what investors are looking for and how to structure your pitch so that you can win the investment your business needs!

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Hooch: Politics and Mechanics at the State & Local Levels

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The Person At the Top of the Mountain Didn’t Fall to Get There

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The State of Your Association: What’s New within ACSA What’s New On Capitol Hill: The Fight to Reduce the FET

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A complete barrel storage code analysis for barrel warehousing, includes specific risk analysis associated with a high quantity of casks, requirements for various racking and stacking methods and current insurance industry research on barrel storage.

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A look at common hazards in distilling operations, the protection of property and life and what carriers look for during an inspection. Additionally, we will take a look at past distillery accidents and what they have in common.

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While American craft spirits are demonstrating notable growth, the true impact of the sector remains evidenced more by anecdotes than a viable data-driven fact base. The American Craft Spirits Association, the International Wine and Spirits Research, and Park Street have teamed up to launch a research project with the goal to provide a solid and reliable fact base for evaluating performance and trends in the craft spirits industry. The stakeholders for this data are all industry members, including but not limited to distillers, farmers, distributors, retailers, consumers, service providers, and regulators, both on the federal and state level. Additional stakeholders include investors and employees within and behind such entities. A more fragmented and decentralized industry will require larger investments by all stakeholders. The desired fact base will help all concerned to make their respective investment cases and vastly improve an understanding of the full impact at a regional, local, and federal level. The presentation will provide some background on the research project as well as preliminary findings.

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Explore the key contributors and metrics that make a craft spirits brand valuable. Discover the “6 P’s model” used to evaluate brands with tried and true success factors. Observations and experience from the sellers perspective.

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Millennials consume products and media differently than any other generation before them. He will discuss why you should care about this group of consumers who represents 1.87 Trillion in total spending power and why they represent the largest growth segment of the spirits market now and into the future. A look at how they spend their money on alcohol, what’s hot and what’s not and why big brands should be worried.

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Many of most successful drinks brands of the past decade have had brilliant liquids, compelling stories and used clever strategies to create passionate consumers. We will identify what you can learn from these successful brands & share our proprietary framework to help you identify what you can do you make your products win the hearts of more customers! ‘The 5 Bricks’ – The world’s 1st spirits ‘Accelerator’ focused on supporting new and growing drinks businesses, shares it’s unique 5 Bricks framework

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