This is a past event. Replay all presentations and view upcoming events.
A Two-Day Event for Beer and Beyond
You are viewing a past event. Brewbound Live Winter 2019 took place on December 4th and 5th, 2019 at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Brewbound Live is a two-day business event for the beer industry held once a year in Santa Monica, CA. Upcoming conference dates can be found at brewbound.com/events. The 2019 Brewbound Annual Awards were announced at the event. See who came out on top:
Take Your Brewery to the Next Level
Craft beer retail sales account for over 24 percent of the more than $100 billion beer industry, and dollar growth grew by 7 percent in 2018. But traditional beer no longer accounts for the majority of alcohol servings in the U.S., so how do small beer thrive at a time when wine and spirits brands are increasingly capturing market share? And how will the relationship between independent craft breweries and strategic acquirers in search of new growth opportunities continue to evolve? As the marketplace gets more competitive, what will tomorrow’s partnerships look like?
With so much more to discuss in a changing industry, we introduced a second day to the conference last year. At Brewbound Live, we’ll examine strategies for growing beer sales while also exploring emerging categories such as hard seltzer, cannabis, cider, alcoholic kombucha and low- and no-alcohol offerings.
Some of the Companies Attending Brewbound Live this December
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Distinguished Professionals Speak on the Evolving Industry
We are honored to have trailblazers, trendsetters and rising stars join us on stage. They speak at Brewbound Live because they’re focused on the future of the beer industry. Our on-stage content is specifically designed with founders, C-level executives, and decision-makers in mind. 20+ industry leaders and innovators will speak at Brewbound Live this December!
20+ industry leaders and innovators will speak at Brewbound Live this December!
Winter 2019 Sponsors
Two Days, Two Tracks

The two tracks of Brewbound Live deliver actionable takeaways within an ever-changing industry.
Operations Track: Industry stars focus on building-blocks like marketing and differentiation in a crowded marketplace, the importance of intellectual property and the dos and don’ts of raising capital.
Acceleration Track: Experts share their best practices for growth, scale and optimization. Brewers walk away with methods to increase their revenue and profits. There are still opportunities to sponsor a talk and speak. Click here to contact us.
The new tiered production-based pricing allows you to bring more attendees to share the experience across tracks to move your business forward.
Pitch Slam: Reach a National Industry Audience
Brewbound Live Pitch Slam 11, presented by Craft Brew Alliance, supports the growth of startups within the beer, cider, hard seltzer, alcoholic kombucha and cannabis categories by opening doors and helping them achieve their next milestones
The business pitch competition, which has helped foster partnerships and led to a pair of deals, is a showcase for entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach. The Pitch Slam two-day experience exposes up-and-coming brands to a national industry audience and provides them with valuable education and feedback to grow their business.

DAY 1: EDUCATIONAL SESSION & SEMIFINAL PITCHES
The first day of the competition is a half-day of education and one-on-one interactions with the best in the business, which culminates in the semi-final round of pitches. Judges who have sampled the products provide initial feedback, deliberate and then select five finalists, who advance to the Brewbound Live main stage on the following day.
DAY 2: FINAL PITCHES ON THE MAIN STAGE
On the second day of Brewbound Live, finalists deliver an expanded pitch to the audience, judges and international livestream viewers. The judging panel provides additional feedback on the products and pitches, and the winner is announced at the end of the show. Following the conference, the Pitch Slam winner is interviewed on Brewbound’s Livestream Studio about the experience and their future plans.
Sample Bar: Product Spotlight & Discovery
Showcase innovative products to the industry over the course of two days. Attendees can taste offerings that will inspire discussion around styles, brewing techniques, trends, and more. This also gives brewers an opportunity to receive feedback from industry professionals and peers.
A Deep Dive into a Hot Emerging Category
The massive interest in -- and approaches to -- the incorporation of Marijuana, Hemp, THC and CBD as functional ingredients in food and beverage brands is shared by new companies and existing brands alike. Nevertheless, there is still much to understand. Food, beverage and beer professionals are invited to navigate an ambiguous cannabis market and explore how it could impact their businesses at the one-day forum.
Hosted on December 6th, the Friday after Brewbound Live, attendees of the conference will receive special rates to the forum.
Stay at the Le Méridien Delfina Santa Monica
Brewbound's winter event takes place in Santa Monica at the Le Méridien Delfina Santa Monica, just four blocks away from Santa Monica's famous beachfront. The discounted room block is available on a first come, first served basis for registered attendees. Register today to access the room block.
Recent Event Updates
Brewbound Live 2019: Hard Seltzers on Pace for $1.5 Billion in Off-Premise Dollar Sales, According to Nielsen
Off-premise dollar sales of hard seltzers are on pace to hit $1.5 billion by the end of 2019, Nielsen’s beverage alcohol practice team shared earlier this month during the Brewbound Live business conference in Santa Monica. Nielsen’s beverage alcohol practice team members Danelle Kosmal and Caitlyn Battaglia shared that hard seltzers now account for 5% of all beer category dollars.Brewbound Live 2019: The Lost Abbey’s Tomme Arthur on Finding an Authentic Alternative
Lost Abbey co-founder and chief operating officer Tomme Arthur announced plans to launch a new line of canned sour beers called Tiny Bubbles, which he called his company’s “authentic alternative,” in his opening address earlier this month during the Brewbound Live business conference in Santa Monica.Hard Seltzer Less Seasonal in 2019; Drinkers Spend Nearly 2x as Much on Alcohol Than Average Consumers
The tidal wave of hard seltzers shows no signs of slowing down, market research firm Nielsen’s beverage alcohol practice team shared Thursday during the Brewbound Live business conference in Santa Monica.Watch Live: Brewbound Live Winter 2019 Main Stage Presentations, Attendee Interviews
Can’t make it to Santa Monica this week? Don’t miss the two days of strategic beer industry discussions and attendee interviews. We’re making a free livestream of the two-day event available, thanks to the support from our friends at Live Oak Bank. The broadcast kicks off at 1:30pm PST on Wednesday, December 4th, and continues through Thursday, December 5th.Brewbound Pitch Slam 11: Meet the Semi-Finalists and Judges
We’re excited to reveal the Brewbound Pitch Slam 11 semi-finalists and judges. The competition is a microcosm of the overall beer industry, as companies turn to malternatives, hard seltzers, canned cocktails, and other offerings to diversify their portfolios and find growth.Brewbound Live Parties Presented by YETI, CANarchy, The Dude’s Brewing & Ball
Brewbound has partnered with YETI, CANarchy, The Dude’s Brewing and Ball Corporation to bring Brewbound Live attendees two evenings of networking, beers and fun. Returning to Santa Monica in just nine days, Brewbound Live will bring together hundreds of c-level brewery leaders and industry professionals to discuss differentiation strategies, the state of the marketplace and areas for growth.Brewbound Live: How Stone Brewing and Karl Strauss Use Scale in Turbulent Times
In 13 days the No. 9 and No. 40 breweries on the Brewer Association’s Top 50 craft breweries list will travel from their home bases in San Diego County to Brewbound Live in Santa Monica, Calif. Representing the two large craft breweries will be the ones steering their ships: Karl Strauss co-founder and CEO Chris Cramer and Stone Brewing CEO Dominic Engels.Brewbound Live Speakers Added: Diversity, Inclusion, Equality and Community
We’ve added two new speakers to the Brewbound Live Winter 2019 speaker lineup: Graci Harkema, the former diversity and inclusion Director for Founders Brewing Co., and Day Bracey, the co-founder of Fresh Fest. They will tackle the questions business owners ask when looking to build diverse teams and engage diverse consumers.How to Move Fast in Changing Business Currents with Bissell Brothers
Portland, ME boasts the highest number of breweries per capita in the U.S., providing the perfect microcosm of an increasingly crowded marketplace. Peter Bissell, the co-founder of Bissell Brothers, one of Maine’s most popular breweries, joins the Brewbound Live Winter 2019 speaker roster to share unconventional business advice, and the business lessons he has learned while building brewing, distribution and restaurant ventures.Finding and Selling Whitespace with MillerCoors, Deschutes and Taco Mac
In a crowded marketplace, how do you find whitespace? MillerCoors and Deschutes both believe it’s through innovation. At Brewbound Live Winter 2019, we’ll explore how the two breweries use product innovation to compete, as well as tap into how those products fit in retail through the lense of beer-focused restaurant chain Taco Mac.At Midnight Brewbound Live Winter 2019 Early Registration Ends
Less than 12 hours remain to take advantage of early registration prices for Brewbound Live Winter 2019. After today, ticket prices increase $200. Brewbound Live, the business conference curated for the needs of brewery leaders, is returning to Santa Monica this December 4th and 5th.Brewbound Live Agenda Announced: Lost Abbey, Bissell Brothers, MillerCoors, Karl Strauss Featured
Beer industry trailblazers, trendsetters and rising stars are highlighted on the recently released Brewbound Live Winter 2019 agenda. From emerging breweries such as Bissell Brothers to more mature operations such as Karl Strauss, the program features a range of brewery case studies.Emerging Breweries Discuss Differentiation Strategies at Brewbound Live Winter 2019
Reuben’s Brews, Monday Night Brewing, and Cape May Brewing are each growing rapidly in their respective corners of the U.S. What’s their secret to success? The founders of these emerging breweries will come together at Brewbound Live to discuss their varying business strategies and plans for future growth.Working Together for Beer Law Reform at Brewbound Live Winter 2019
This December’s Brewbound Live Winter 2019 business conference will bring together representatives from key parties -- the Texas Craft Brewers Guild and the Beer Alliance of Texas, as well as a member of the Texas Legislature -- to share how industry players in other states can work together to achieve legislative reform.Crash Course: Experts Share Tactics for Startups at Brewbound Live Winter 2019
Early stage companies can explore tactics to incorporate into their business strategy at Brewbound Live’s Crash Course. Seasoned experts will share best practices for capital raising, brand building, marketing, sales planning and trademark law. The classroom-style sessions will take place on the first half-day of the event.Former Beer Execs in the Cannabis Space To Speak at Brewbound Live Winter 2019
It’s no secret that forward-thinkers are eyeing the cannabis space as the next big boom. To provide a look into this budding category, we’re bringing together a panel of former beer executives who have transitioned to companies within the cannabis space.Beyond Beer: Explore Nielsen’s Insights at Brewbound Live Winter 2019
Hard seltzer -- it’s everywhere -- along with a surge of other FMBs. Have you explored expanding your portfolio with beyond beer offerings? Or are you considering it? What opportunities are there outside of traditional beer, and what do consumers actually want to drink? Nielsen is going to dive into the data to see how these emerging segments are developing and how they impact the beer industry.Pitch Slam 11: Present Your Brand at Brewbound Live
The Brewbound Live Pitch Slam, presented by Craft Brew Alliance, returns to Santa Monica, CA, during the Brewbound Live Winter 2019 conference December 4-5. The business pitch competition is designed to encourage entrepreneurship and build awareness for startups within the beer, cider, hard seltzer, and alcoholic kombucha categories.Brewbound Live Returns to Santa Monica in December
Brewbound, a leading trade publication covering the beer industry, today announced the return of its two-day business conference for professionals in the beer, cider, hard kombucha, and flavored malt beverage industries. Called Brewbound Live, the event takes place on December 4 and 5 at Le Méridien Delfina in Santa Monica, California.





















































