ACSA CONVENTION
Developed for the community of craft spirits producers, the ACSA Distillers’ Convention and Vendor Trade Show brings together distillers and suppliers to harness the energy of the industry. In the past years, ACSA has educated 1000s to strengthen the safety and prosperity of the trade and has provided a platform to network and explore products and services from our suppliers. See what convention is upcoming and take a peek at what you might have missed.
QUICK LINKS
JOIN US IN LOUISVILLE
When: December 4-6, 2021
Where: Kentucky International Convention Center
Host Hotel: The Galt House Hotel
We’re back on track! FINALLY. No ZOOM calls here.
Get ready to join fellow producers and other industry experts to network, learn, and toast our incomparable, vibrant industry in Derby City. ACSA’s planning a stellar conference that will showcase our LEGACY and demonstrate our GRIT. Over two and half days, you will gain from tailored educational content from top professionals and be given opportunities to mix and mingle with suppliers and friends in our craft spirits community.
As the health and safety of our attendees will continue to be our main priority, expect a release of COVID-19 precautions shortly.
All prior exhibitor and attendee registration fees from the July 2021 event will automatically roll over and be applied to the December dates. If you need to check registration status or have any immediate questions, please contact Teresa McDaniel at (502) 807-4249 and/or teresa@americancraftspirits.org.
Now, off to the races!
Member Attendee Registration
Member Attendee: $625
Additional Member Attendees (1-5): $425 per person
Additional Member Attendees (6+): $100 per person
*Members must be logged in to access member registration link.
Non-Member Attendee Registration
Non-Member Attendee: $825
Additional Non-Member Attendees (1-5): $625 per person
Additional Non-Member Attendees (6+): $120 per person
If you register as a voting member, you’ll receive discounts on convention registration and competition fees, free webinars (including our archives), and more. Sign-up here to join ACSA’s craft spirits community!
Exhibitor Registration
10×10 Single Booth: $2,099
10×20 Double Booth: $3,450
If your an ACSA Affiliate member, email Teresa McDaniel at teresa@americancraftspirits to receive your 10% discount on vendor trade show booth.
Book Your Stay At Our Host Hotel: The Galt House
On 4th & Main, the Galt House is where guests come to immerse themselves and delight in Louisville’s winning spirit. No other hotel can grant guests access to the city like The Galt House can, from its central location in the heart of the business community, museum district, cultural center and Urban Bourbon Trail, to its unique waterfront location. Even better, we’ve negotiated some fantastic rates.
1 King Deluxe Room: $189 per night plus tax
2 Queens Deluxe Room: $189 per night plus tax
1 Bedroom Suite with 2 Queen Beds: $209 per night plus tax
To book your room, call 502.589.5200 or use the booking link below. Use the code: 021821ACS.
Sensory Pre-Convention Class
Cost: $399 for ACSA members; $699 for non-members
When: Friday, December 3 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
New Distillery Start-Up 101 Pre-Convention Class
Join seasoned members of the craft spirits community as they highlight technical/distilling, business/finance, and sales/marketing content geared toward those just starting out. This one-and-a-half-day class will address topics including basic distillery safety, equipment selection, oak extraction and aging, material selection, flavor chemistry and biochemistry, TTB compliance, pros and cons of tasting rooms, working with distributors, building a sales team, general business management, and MUCH MORE!
Cost: $299 for ACSA members; $459 for non-members
When: Thursday, December 2 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday, December 3 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Safety Pre-Convention Class
Cost: $199 for ACSA members; $299 for non-members
When: Friday, December 3 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Pre-Convention Registration
*Members must be logged in to access member registration link.
If you register as a member, you’ll receive discounts on convention registration and competition fees, free webinars (including our archives), and more. Sign-up here to join ACSA’s craft spirits community!
Virtual Convention Education Program
ACSA Members: $249 (per business up to 3 people), 4th person and up is $199 per person
Non-Members: $499 per person
When: Wednesday, November 3 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM ET & Thursday, November 4 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM ET
Sessions include:
- Turning Stillage into Value: One Aspect of the Sustainability Journey – Kurt Rosentrater (Iowa State/Distillers Grain Technology Council)
- Safety Topic TBD – Gary Yurt (Industrial Safety & Training Services)
- Naked Malt Whiskey – Jamie Burns (Family Jones) and Dr. Brigid Meints (Oregon State University)
- How is Your Relationship With Your Distributor: Are You a Partner or a Pain? – Melissa Katrincic (Durham Distillery)
- How to Develop a Digital Presence That Drives Sales – Josh Jacobs (Speakeasy Co.)
- A Crash Course in Distillery Branding – Isaac Arthur and Cody Fague (CODO Design)
- The Ever-Changing Face of the On-Premise – Matthew Crompton (Nielsen CGA)
- Five Key Elements in Growing an Effective Safety Culture – Matt Stinchfield (Whalen Insurance/Brewers Association Safety Ambassador)
*Members must be logged in to access member registration link.
Convention Schedule
| THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2ND | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET | Heritage Loads Exhibit Hall | ||||
| 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET | Pre-Convention Master Class: New Distillery Start-Up 101* | ||||
| FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3RD | |||||
| 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM ET | Registration Desk Open | ||||
| 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET | Vendor Set-Up | ||||
| 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET | Distillery Tours | ||||
| 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET | Pre-Convention Master Class: New Distillery Start-Up 101* | ||||
| 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET | Pre-Convention Safety Session* | ||||
| 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET | Pre-Convention Sensory Session* | ||||
| 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET | TTB Boot Camp | ||||
| 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET | Consumer Committee | ||||
| 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET | PAC Committee | ||||
| 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM ET | PAC Fundraiser at Bourbon Museum TBD | ||||
| 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET | Stogies Meet Spirits TBD | ||||
| SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4TH | |||||
| 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM ET | Registration Desk Open | ||||
| 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM ET | DtC Committee | ||||
| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET | Education & Safety Committee | ||||
| 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET | Vendor Set-Up | ||||
| 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET | Mix & Mingle: New Members/First Time Attendee Morning Coffee Klatch | ||||
| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET | American Single Malt Whiskey Commission | ||||
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET | Women of the Vine & Spirits | ||||
| 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET | ACSA Board of Directors | ||||
| 1:00 PM – 1:55 PM ET | The Science of Whiskey Maturation – Jason Parker (Copperworks Distilling) | The Partner Distributor, Not The Problem Distributor: Navigating The Complex Relationships Between Producer and Distributor to Create a More Equitable Future for All – Chris Schmid (Prestige-Ledroit), Scott Harris (Catoctin Creek Distilling Co.) | Do You Really Own Your Brand? An In-Depth Look at Trademark and Other Intellectual Property Issues in the Distilling Industry – Zachary Hiller (William Price Distilling Company) | IMMINENT ARRIVAL: Building and Fire Code Changes Coming to Your Town – Colleen Moore (Dalkita Architecture & Construction) | |
| 2:00 PM – 2:55 PM ET | Tips and Tricks – Johnny Jeffery (Bently Heritage), John McKee (Headframe Spirits and Manufacturing), other panelists TBD | Distribution Topic, Title TBD – Karen Hoskin (Montanya Distillers) | A Distillery Disaster: How to be Prepared – Rob Pinson (Waller Law), Paul Steele (Martin & Zerfoss) | Developing a Strategy to Operate your Distillery Safely – Gary Yurt (ISTS) | |
| 2:55 PM – 3:00 PM ET | Break | ||||
| 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | STEPUP Board of Directors | ||||
| 3:00 PM – 3:55 PM ET | Microbiological and Biochemical Considerations for Optimized Distillery Operations – Pat Heist (Ferm Solutions) | Finding the Best Distributor Fit – Michael Wangbickler (Balzac Communications), David Brown (Independent Distributor Network), Jean Arnold (V26 Consulting) | Legal Topic, Title TBD – Corey Day (Stoel Rives) | The Fire Protection and Life Safety Challenge – Michael Reardon (Reardon Fire Consulting) | |
| 4:00 PM – 4:55 PM ET | Title TBD – Kurt Rosentrater (Distillers Grains Technology Council) | How is Your Relationship With Your Distributor: Are You a Partner or a Pain? – Melissa Katrincic (Durham Distillery) | Effective Brand Marketing & Trademark Compliance – Aaron Wais/Daniel Hayes (Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp), David Bourne (Ignite Beverage Branding) | Five Key Elements in Growing an Effective Safety Culture – Matt Stinchfield (Whalen Insurance) | |
| 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET | Exhibit Hall Open/Ribbon Cutting & Holiday Party | ||||
| SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5TH | |||||
| 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET | Registration Desk Open | ||||
| 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM ET | Guild Roundtable | ||||
| 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM ET | Breakfast | ||||
| 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM ET | Keynote | ||||
| 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM ET | Exhibit Hall Open | ||||
| 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM ET | The LIVE Stage | ||||
| 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET | Lunch | ||||
| 1:30 PM – 2:25 PM ET | Minnesota Department of Agriculture Rye Study Follow-Up – Mike Swanson (Far North Spirits) | On Premise Topic, Title TBD – Matthew Crompton (Nielsen CGA) | Title TBD – Andrea Meriwether (TKT & Associates) | What to do When You Have an Unusual Product – Chris Thiemann (TTB) | |
| 2:30 PM – 3:25 PM ET | Naked Malt Whiskey – Jamie Burns (The Family Jones) and Dr. Birgid Meints (Oregon State University) | How do You Grow a Challenger Distilling Brand in a Three-Tier Sales Market, Where the Big Brands Have All the Power and All the Share? – Jason Barrett and Jeff Fairbrother (Black Button Distilling) | Media Topic, TBD – Alexandra Clough (Gather PR) | Creating a New Spirits Category – Christian Krogstad (Westward Whiskey), Colin Keegan (Santa Fe Spirits), and Jared Himstedt (Balcones Distilling), Randy Hudson (Triple Eight Distillery), Steve Hawley (American Single Malt Whiskey Commission) | |
| 3:25 PM – 3:40 PM ET | Break | ||||
| 3:40 PM – 4:35 PM ET | What’s the Big Deal About Glycosidic Nitrile (GN)? – Geoff Fischer (Country Malt Group) | 2020/21 Spirits Industry M&A Year in Review: Factors Driving Robust Investment Activity – Kevin O’Brien (Zepponi & Company) | Partnering With Charities & Organizations That Align With (and Elevate) Your Brand – Rob Cordes (Garrison Bros.) | Cannabis Today – Paul Hletko (FEW Spirits), Austin Stevenson (Vertosa), Adam Stites (Mirth Provisions), Ryan Malkin (Malkin Law) | |
| 4:40 PM – 5:35 PM ET | Technical Topic TBD – Andrew Fratianni (DuPont) | Craft Spirits Data Project –Harry Kohlmann (Park Street) | The Financial Returns of Operating a Sustainable Distillery – Connie Baker (Marble Distilling Co.) | Making the Rounds With Gin – Where Are We Headed Next? – Gary Spedding (BDAS LLC) and panel | |
| 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM ET | Repeal Day Celebration | ||||
| MONDAY, DECEMBER 6TH | |||||
| 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM ET | Yoga | ||||
| 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET | Registration Desk Open | ||||
| 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM ET | How to Utilize and Blend Unique Barrels to Improve Product Quality and Target Specific Flavor Developments in Barrel Aged Spirits – Andrew Wiehebrink (Independent Stave Company) | Malt Flavor and Aroma Creation and Translation to Spirit – Tyler Schoales (Great Western Malting) | From Bee to Bottle – Keith Seiz (National Honey Board) | ||
| 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM ET | Breakfast + Town Hall: Meet the Officers, Board of Directors, Membership | ||||
| 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM ET | Exhibit Hall Open | ||||
| 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET | The LIVE Stage | ||||
| 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET | Lunch Inside Exhibit Hall | ||||
| 1:45 PM – 2:40 PM ET | Increasing Yield, Throughput and Quality of Production – (Lallemand) | Enhancing Your Digital Transformation Strategy – Emily Pennington (Park Street) | Direct to Consumer – The Catalyst for Growth of Small Distillery Businesses | A Crash Course in Distillery Branding – Isaac Arthur & Cody Fague (CODO Design) | |
| 2:45 PM – 3:40 PM ET | Enzymes to Improve Profitability – (Lallemand) | How to Develop a Digital Presence That Drives Sales – Josh Jacobs (Speakeasy Co.) | Direct to Consumer – The Catalyst for Growth of Small Distillery Businesses (Continued) | Managing Supply Chains, While Managing a Startup – Mike Root (Copper Sky Distillery) | |
| 3:45 PM – 4:40 PM ET | Fermentation Optimization to Increase Profitability and Quality – (Lallemand) | Measuring Social Media ROI – Susan Mooney (Spirits Consulting Group) | Direct to Consumer – The Catalyst for Growth of Small Distillery Businesses (Continued) | TTB Reporting 101: Federal Reporting Basics – Caroline Calhoun & Brandon Seaman (FIVE x 5 Solutions) | |
| 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM ET | Happy Hour Inside Exhibit Hall | ||||
| 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM ET | Craft Spirits (Packaging + Member) Awards Banquet | ||||
| 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM ET | Sips of Spirits | ||||
| TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7TH | |||||
| 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET | Departures and Move Out | ||||
| 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM ET | Board of Directors Meeting | ||||
| 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET | Craft Spirits Data Project Media Briefing | ||||
*Additional Fee
Convention schedule is subject to changes.
PAST ACSA CONVENTIONS
2019 Convention
Distillers’ Convention & Vendor Trade Show
February 10-12, 2019
The Hyatt Regency, Minneapolis, MN
2018 Convention
Distillers Convention & Vendor Trade Show
March 5–6, 2018
Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2017 Convention
Distillers Convention & Vendor Trade Show
February 16–17, 2017
Renaissance Nashville Hotel, Nashville TN
2016 Convention
Distillers Convention & Vendor Trade Show
February 29–March 2, 2016
Palmer House Hilton Hotel, Chicago, IL
2015 Convention
Distillers Convention & Vendor Trade Show
February 14–16, 2015
Austin, TX
2014 Convention
Distillers Convention & Vendor Trade Show
March 14, 2014
Denver, CO
