Craft Beer Con returning August 8

The San Diego Brewers Guild (SDBG) will host Craft Beer Con 2023 on Tuesday, August 8 at MiraCosta College’s San Elijo campus in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. The annual half-day conference that celebrates San Diego as The Capital of Craft and discusses trends in the local craft-beer industry is open to the general public.

The conference begins at 11 a.m. and includes three education tracks, a trade show that runs throughout the day and beer tastings which start at 4 p.m. Food trucks will be on hand during the lunch hour. Last year’s conference sold out, and tickets can be purchased online ($60 for the general public and $50 for SDBG members).

“While some of the topics are nuanced for experienced brewers and brewery owners, this is a tremendous opportunity for anyone interested in our industry to learn more and get involved,” said SDBG Board Member Erik Fowler. “Craft Beer Con has become our best networking event for both Guild members and newcomers, and we can’t wait to celebrate all that is good about the local craft beer scene.”

The three education tracks are Production, Sales & Marketing and Business. Attendees can learn from such topics as hopping techniques for modern beer styles, marketing to a non-beer drinker, the world of a beer buyer and leadership development. Speakers from some of the most well-known San Diego breweries will be on hand as part of the panels, including representatives from AleSmith Brewing, Belching Beaver Brewery, Pizza Port and Stone Brewing.

Craft Beer Con is co-produced by MiraCosta College’s BrewTech Program, a 210-hour course that trains students to become production brewers and is the only Master Brewers Association of the Americas-recognized brewing program in the State of California.