Our workshops and conferences are all-volunteer produced to help craft brewers save water and save money. With many water utilities in the Great Lakes region increasing fees by 25% or more in the next year, the conference will pay for itself through practical systems for water savings.
The next workshop will be held Friday, February 21, 2014, Grand Rapids, MI, before the Michigan Brewers Guild's Winter Festival.
The 2012 conference was held October 4-5, 2012, in Chicago, IL, at the Goose Island Wrigleyville Pub. Presentations covered water quality, water conservation and water monitoring systems, with presentations by speakers donating their time and expertise. Participants included John Hall, Ian Hughes and Tom Korder, Goose Island Beer Co.; Randy Barr, New Glarus Brewing Co.; Larry Bennett, Brewery Ommegang; Jarett Diamond of the Green Brewery Project with Arbor Brewing Co. and Corner Brewery; Michael Kallenberger, Tropos Brand Consulting; Brandon Weaver and Pete Carmichael, New Belgium Brewing Co.; Heather West, brewery sustainability researcher and Karen Hobbs of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
John Stier of the Antea™Group presented as keynote speaker, covering the Brewers Association's new sustainability initiative.
Thank you to our host and sponsor, Goose Island Beer Co. and Wrigleyville and Clybourn Pubs, and sponsors Briggs of Burton, Inc., the Louis Glunz Beer Co., KegCraft Keg Management Service, the Antea™Group and System Plast™/Emerson Industrial Automation. Thank you to donors Hopsteiner/S.S. Steiner and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.
Briggs of Burton, Inc.
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The Goose Island Beer Co.
Louis Glunz Beer Company, Inc.
KegCraft - Keg Management Service
Antea™Group
SYSTEM PLAST™
Past presentations and panels cover systems for water conservation, water auditing, rain water harvesting, wastewater treatment and recycling, invasive species in the Great Lakes river basin, and alternative energy installations.
Why should you participate? Water policy in the Great Lakes region - the source of 20 percent of the world's supply of available freshwater - is changing rapidly.
The Great Lakes Compact requires all water-intensive businesses within the watershed to implement water conservation practices. Invasive species affect water quality and tourism, both key to the hospitality industry.
A short documentary about the 2009 conference's beer and cheese tasting is posted on YouTube here. Here's an article dated March 25, 2010, published by the Great Lakes Echo about water conservation and craft brewing.
Sponsorships are welcome, as there are no vendor exhibits or platforms. Thank you to participating speakers who donate their time and travel.