Opening Keynote
Jason Perkins
Allagash Brewing Co, Brewmaster & VP of Brewing Operations
Jason is the Brewmaster and Vice President of Brewing Operations (encompassing the departments of Warehouse/Supply Chain, Production, Packaging and Quality) at Allagash. Jason has been a part of Allagash since 1999. He has been a member of the MBAA since 2000. He currently sits on the board of the Brewers Association, American Malt & Barley Association, Maine Grain Alliance and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation. He is the Chair of the Brewers Association's Technical Committee, a former board member of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas-New England as well as the Maine Brewers’ Guild—and is the recipient of the 2016 Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing.
State of the Industry
Dr. Bart Watson
Brewers Association, President & CEO
Bart Watson is President and CEO of the Brewers Association (BA). He started with the BA in 2013 and held the roles of Chief Economist and VP of Membership and Strategy prior to becoming CEO. Prior to his position with the BA, he was a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley and a visiting assistant professor at the University of Iowa.
State of the Industry
A high level overview of the shifting consumer, market, and competitive landscape creating challenges and opportunities for brewers. We'll dive into headwinds and pockets of growth and try to examine how brewers can still thrive in a more mature marketplace.
Closing Keynote
Barbara Stone
Abstrax Hops, Sales Director
With 20 years of experience across sales leadership, supply chain, and beverage manufacturing, Barbara brings a unique, full-spectrum perspective to the industry. Currently serving as Sales Director at Abstrax Hops, she leads high-performing sales teams and oversees national and international distribution strategies, helping beverage brands unlock new possibilities in flavor innovation. Before joining Abstrax, Barbara worked for organizations such as John I. Haas, Ninkasi Brewing, Oregon Ice Cream, Ciao Bella Gelato, and Will Leathergoods in both sales and operations leadership roles. In addition to her professional work, Barbara is actively engaged in industry leadership and advocacy. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Brewers Guild and is a member of the University of Oregon Brewing Innovation Program Advisory Board. Today, Barbara is known for bridging the gap between innovation and execution—helping beverage companies of all kinds, from craft brewers to global producers, bring cutting-edge flavor solutions to market while maintaining quality, consistency, and sustainability.
Raising the Bar: Innovation That Builds Stronger Breweries
An optimistic exploration of how innovation in brewing goes far beyond creating new beers. Blending humorous, real-world stories from time in the industry with practical examples from breweries across the country, the talk expands the definition of innovation to include process improvements, workplace culture, employee retention, and customer connection. It highlights how breweries can drive growth and resilience by empowering their teams, learning from peers, and embracing collaborative problem-solving. Attendees will leave with a fresh perspective—and a simple, actionable framework—for building stronger, more innovative breweries from the inside out.
More Speakers to be Announced!
Our complete lineup of industry experts, master brewers, and technical session presenters is currently being finalized. Check back soon for updates.
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