Webinar: Pouring Over Tax Reform- What the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Means for the Beverage Industry

Description

When:

Thursday, September 4th, 3-4 PM Eastern Time

How Much:

Free to ACSA members; $59 for non-members

What:

The highly anticipated “One Big Beautiful Bill” has passed, and with it comes sweeping tax changes that could significantly impact your business.

Join Blue & Co.’s Beverage team for a live webinar unpacking key provisions of this legislation.

Key Topics:

• Maximizing Your Depreciation Deduction
• Gain Exclusion for Small Business Stock
• Taking Advantage of the Income Exclusions On the Sale of Your Business
• How the New Rules On Tip and Overtime Income Affect You and Your Employees
• Other Opportunities for Businesses and Individuals

Guest Speaker

Derek Gray, CPA – Director and Co-Founder of Blue Beverage Services

Derek Gray is a seasoned tax consultant with over 25 years of public accounting experience, specializing in partnership taxation, mergers and acquisitions, and entity structuring. He serves a diverse range of beverage clients—including distilleries, breweries, non-distilling producers, barrel funds, brokers, RTD manufacturers, and cooperages. A former Director of Taxation, Derek currently serves on the firm’s Strategic Tax Group and Tax Training Committees, and co-founded Blue Beverage Services, a multidisciplinary team offering attestation, tax, valuation, and consulting services to the beverage industry. He graduated with Honors from the University of Louisville with a degree in Accounting and Finance, is a member of the AICPA and Kentucky Society of CPAs, and frequently speaks on tax legislation and technical topics for leading industry organizations including KDA, ADI, ACSA, and DISCUS.

Patrick Brown, CPA – Director and Co-Founder of Blue Beverage Services

Patrick Brown brings over 20 years of public accounting experience with a deep focus on the beverage industry. As Co-Founder of Blue Beverage Services, he advises a wide range of clients—including distilleries, breweries, non-distilling producers, barrel funds, brokers, RTD manufacturers, and cooperages—on critical financial matters such as M&A, inventory costing, purchase accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls. He also develops dynamic financial models to support strategic decisions around cash flow, expansion, and new business lines. A frequent speaker at ADI, ACSA, KDA, DISCUS, and other industry organizations, Patrick shares insights on topics including distillery life cycles, early-stage financial strategies, KPIs, and the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Emma Cochran, CPA – Senior Tax Accountant

Emma Cochran is a senior tax accountant with a focus on the beverage industry, providing consulting and compliance services to distilleries, breweries, non-distilling producers, barrel funds, RTD manufacturers, and cooperages. As a member of Blue Beverage Services, she delivers tax solutions for both businesses and their owners, and also works with clients in the real estate and construction sectors. Emma has presented on tax legislation and planning strategies, including “The One Big Beautiful Bill” for the Florida Craft Spirits Association. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Accounting from Murray State University and is a member of the AICPA and the Kentucky Society of CPAs.

Difficulty Level:

Intermediate – The webinar assumes attendees have a general understanding of tax and regulatory issues affecting the beverage industry but will dive into the specific implications of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” for distillers, brewers, and related businesses.

Intended Audience:

Owners, CFOs, controllers, finance leaders, and decision-makers within craft distilleries, breweries, and other beverage producers who want to understand how the “One Big Beautiful Bill” impacts tax planning, compliance, and business strategy in the beverage industry.