Breweries
The Importance of Brewers Guilds (+List of All Guilds)
April 06, 2020
Craft brewing is more than a business venture, it’s also a lifestyle and passion. That is reflected in how tight-knit the craft brewing industry is.
What We’ll Cover in This Article
Opening a new brewery is intimidating, and it doesn’t stop at the grand opening. The daily operations of running a successful taproom is overwhelming.
That’s where brewers guilds and associations come in.
How Do Brewers Guilds Help Its Members?
Brewers guilds and associations help brewery owners and those who have an interest in the craft brewing industry in three main ways: protecting and promoting its breweries best interests in local politics, providing a community for its members, and to provide general beer and business resources for its members.
Guilds act similar to unions, as they promote equal laws for breweries, push more effective beer policies in local government, protect fair tax codes for taprooms, and protect owners and employees of craft breweries.
Guilds also provides a safe space for taproom owners, managers, employees, and influencers in its area to create a community of like-minded brewers. It allows guilds to facilitate conversations and introductions between its local members to learn from one another. This can include forums, webinars, member highlights, and more.
Many associations and brewers guilds have expanded their services to help their members gain more exposure and learn new skills. Guilds publish new content on their blogs with advice on how to run, promote, and manage a brewery, host in-person and virtual events for breweries, and offer advertising and marketing opportunities for products and services that target brewery owners.
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How to Join a Brewers Guild
Joining your local guild is a crucial step in forming strong relationships with others in the craft-beer industry who have faced the same challenges and problems you will encounter.
Here is how to join your state’s brewers guild:
Step 1 – Find Your Local Guild
You’ll first need to find the brewers guild that represents your state or region. Each state has at least one guild, with larger states having separate guilds for its larger regions.
You can find your local guild further down this article in our list of all US brewers guilds.
Step 2 – Get In Contact with Your Guild
Once you find your community’s guild, you’ll need to reach out to the member manager. Most guild websites have a form submission or contact email to reach out and get your brewery into their system – as well as a pitch on everything their guild provides for its members.
Step 3 – Pay Your Member Dues & Fees
Guilds are funded by member dues paid by its members. Fees can range depending on the guild, and some offer different levels of membership that each have their own price. Be sure to take care of your member dues, as you won’t benefit from your membership until that is paid.
Step 4 – Introduce Yourself
You’re now a part of your local brewers guild! Be sure to ask your contact how you can get the most of your membership – and be sure to introduce yourself to the entire guild community!
List of All Brewers Guilds in All 50 States
Alabama
Alabama Brewers Guild
- http://www.alabamabrewers.org/
- 256-724-5924
- Dan Roberts – droberts@albeer.org
Alaska
Brewers Guild of Alaska
- http://www.brewersguildofalaska.org/
- 907-748-5427
- Lee Ellis – lee@midnightsunbrewing.com
Arizona
Arizona Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.chooseazbrews.com/
- 450-365-9000
- Rob Fullmer – rob@craftbeeraz.com
Arkansas
Arkansas Brewers Guild
- 501-765-2469
- Sylvia Blain – executivedirectorabg@gmail.com
California
Bay Area Brewers Guild
- http://www.sfbrewersguild.org/
- 415-915-5173
- Joanne Marino – joanne@sfbrewersguild.org
California Craft Brewers Association
- http://www.californiacraftbeer.com/
- 916-228-4260
- Tom McCormick – tom@californiacraftbeer.com
San Diego Brewers Guild
- http://www.sandiegobrewersguild.org/
- 858-581-7368
- Paige McWey – paige@sandiegobrewersguild.org
Los Angeles Brewers Guild
- http://www.labrewersguild.org/
- 323-743-3726
- Frances Lopez – labrewersguild@gmail.com
Colorado
Colorado Brewers Guild
- http://www.coloradobeer.org/
- 970-708-4036
- Shawnee Adelson – shawnee@coloradobeer.org
Connecticut
Connecticut Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.connecticut.beer/
- 203-293-8622
- Phil Pappas – phil@connecticut.beer
District of Columbia
DC Brewers’ Guild
- http://www.dcbg.org/
- Paul Dean – Paul@dcbg.org
Delaware
Delaware Brewers Guild
- (302) 270-2705
- Kim Wilson – kim@ruggeriowillson.com
Florida
Florida Brewers Guild
- http://www.floridabrewersguild.org/
- (727) 804-2725
- Sean Nordquist – sean@flbrewersguild.org
Georgia
Georgia Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.georgiacraftbrewersguild.org/
- (404) 606-2536
- Jospeh Cortex – josephcortes@georgiacraftbrewersguild.org
Hawaii
Aloha Brewers Guild
Hawaiian Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.hawaiibeer.org/
- Cindy Goldstein
Idaho
Idaho Brewers United
- http://www.idahobrewers.org/
- (208) 761-1897
- Sheila Francis – sheila@idbrewers.org
Illinois
Illinois Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.illinoisbeer.com/
- (630) 287-0401
- Danielle D’Alessandro – danielle@illinoisbeer.com
Indiana
Brewers of Indiana Guild
- http://www.drinkin.beer/
- (317) 644-9826
- Rob Caputo – rob@drinkin.beer
Iowa
Iowa Brewers Guild
- http://www.iowabeer.org/
- (641) 202-6823
- Jay Wilson – jwilson@iowabeer.org
Kansas
Kansas Craft Brewers Guild
- (316) 440-4885
- Jeremy Horn – jhorn@wichitabrew.com
Kentucky
Kentucky Guild of Brewers
- http://www.kygbrewers.org/
- (502) 475-0379
- Derek Selznick – derek@kygbrewers.org
Louisiana
Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.labeer.org/
- (225) 929-7033
- Cary Koch – lacraftbrewersguild@gmail.com
Maine
Maine Brewers Guild
- http://www.mainebrewersguild.org/
- (603) 860-0685
- Sean Sullivan – sean@mainebrewersguild.org
Maryland
Brewers Association of Maryland
- http://www.marylandbeer.org/
- (410) 252-9463
- Kevin Atticks – kevin@marylandbeer.org
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Brewers Guild, Inc.
- http://www.massbrewersguild.org/
- (617) 640-6990
- Katie Stinchon – mbg.executivedirector@gmail.com
Michigan
Michigan Brewers Guild
- http://www.mibeer.com/
- (517) 327-5004
- Scott Graham – Director@michiganbrewersguild.org
Minnesota
Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.mncraftbrew.org/
- (612) 486-2752
- Lauren McGinty – lauren@mncraftbrew.org
Mississippi
Mississippi Brewers Guild
- (601) 985-7979
- Matthew McLaughlin – matthew@mclaughlinpc.com
Missouri
Missouri Small Brewers Guild
- http://www.mocraftbeer.com/
- (573) 824-2935
- Sherry Wohlgemuth – sherry@mocraftbeer.com
Montana
Montana Brewers Association
- http://www.montanabrewers.org/
- (406) 549-2848
- Matt Leow – matt@montanabrewers.org
Nebraska
Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.nebraska.beer/
- (402) 649-5486
- Gabby Ayala – gabby@nebraska.beer
Nevada
Nevada Craft Brewers Association
- http://www.nevadacraftbrewers.com/
- (775) 470-5996
- Matt Johnson – matt@imbibreno.com
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Brewers Association
- http://www.granitestatebrewersassociation.org/
- (603) 219-1723
- CJ White – cjwhite@nhbrewers.org
New Jersey
New Jersey Brewers Association
- http://www.njbeer.org/
- (856) 437-0709
- Alexis Degan – director@njbeer.org
New Mexico
New Mexico Brewers Guild
- http://www.nmbeer.org/
- (505) 288-4292
- Leah Black – director@nmbeer.org
New York
New York State Brewers Association
- https//newyorkcraftbeer.com/
- (585) 469-1012
- Paul Leone – Paul@NewYorkCraftBeer.com
New York City Brewers Guild
- http://www.nycbrewed.com/
- (212) 673-0699
- Ann Reilly – ann.nyccraftbeer@gmail.com
North Carolina
North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.ncbeer.org/
- (314) 406-0898
- Rich Greene – richard@ncbeer.org
North Dakota
North Dakota Brewers Guild
- http://www.ndbrewersguild.com/
- (701) 580-8934
- Angie Pelton – angie@shooterhospitality.com
Ohio
Ohio Craft Brewers Association
- http://www.ohiocraftbeer.org/
- (614) 403-1206
- Mary MacDonald – mary@ohiocraftbeer.org
Oklahoma
Craft Brewers Association of Oklahoma
- http://www.craftbrewersok.org/
- (405) 740-9926
- Patrick Lively – Patrick@livelybeer.com
Oregon
Oregon Brewers Guild
- http://www.oregoncraftbeer.org/
- (541) 390-8325
- Christina LaRue – christina@oregonbeer.org
Pennsylvania
Brewers of Pennsylvania
- http://www.brewersofpa.org/
- (570) 205-5181
- Dan LaBert – dlabert@brewersofpa.org
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Brewers Guild
- http://www.ribrewersguild.org/
- (401) 465-8809
- Gary Richardson – gary@ribrewersguild.org
South Carolina
South Carolina Brewers Guild
- http://www.scbeer.org/
- (843) 410-8712
- Brook Bristow – brook@bristowbeveragelaw.com
South Dakota
South Dakota Craft Brewers Guild
- (605) 789-3822
- Derek Fernholz – derek@fernson.com
Tennessee
Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.tncraftbrewers.org/
- (615) 601-2518
- Sharon Michie – sharon@tncraftbrewers.org
Texas
Texas Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.texascraftbrewersguild.org/
- (713) 501-8067
- Charles Vallhonrat – charles@texascraftbrewersguild.org
Utah
Utah Brewers Guild
- http://www.utahbrewersguild.org/
- (801) 971-2920
- Nicole Dicou – nicole@utahbrewersguild.org
Vermont
Vermont Brewers Association
- http://www.vermontbrewers.com/
- (802) 310-6942
- Melissa Corbin – melissa.corbin@vermontbrewers.com
Virginia
Virginia Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.virginiacraftbrewers.org/
- (804) 643-7489
- Betty Arnold – barnold@vacraftbrewersguild.com
Washington
Washington Brewers Guild
- http://www.washingtonbrewersguild.org/
- (425) 306-9350
- Annie McGrath – annie@washingtonbrewersguild.org
Washington Beer Commission
- http://www.washingtonbeer.com/
- (206) 787-1989
- Eric Radovich – eric@washingtonbeer.com
West Virginia
West Virginia Craft Brewers Guild
- (304) 376-3607
- Aaron Rote – info@wvbrewersguild.com
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Brewers Guild
- http://www.wibrewersguild.com/
- (608) 441-1992
- Mark Garthwaite – mark@wibrewersguild.com
Wyoming
Wyoming Craft Brewers Guild
- http://www.wyocraftbrewersguild.com/
- (310) 720-3769
- Michelle Forster – michelle@wyocraftbrewersguild.com
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