We recently returned from a trip to Las Vegas, where we attended the annual Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) hosted by the Brewers Association. The conference, hosted by the Brewers Association, is a highlight in the calendar of every craft beer aficionado and industry professional, and this year was no exception. It was an unforgettable experience filled with learning and networking. 

The CBC was buzzing with over 10,000 attendees and hundreds of exhibitors. The conference was a blend of educational sessions, workshops, and keynote speeches from some of the leading figures in the industry. We gained insights on innovative brewing techniques, brewing education and sustainability practices.  

The BrewExpo America® was a major part of CBC, and it did not disappoint. Walking the floor, we had the chance to see up-close the latest advancements in brewing technology, ingredients, and packaging. 

Pete Menard, a member of our team and the Director of Engineering Technical Services, was thrilled with the enthusiasm he received at the expo. “It’s incredible to see the excitement and positive reactions from the brewing industry whenever we discuss UConn’s initiatives in brewing education.” he remarked. Suppliers are eager to assist to enhance the students’ understanding of brewing. 

In addition to the seminars and expo, the World Beer Cup is held annually in conjunction with the conference. The World Beer Cup was created in 1996. This year, there were 9,300 beers entered to the World Beer Cup, and 110 different categories. Each category has a gold, silver and bronze winner. Athletic Brewing Co. from Milford, CT won silver in the category soul sour.  

 

Jennifer Mathieu, the Program Director and Co-Founder of UConn Brewing Innovation, had a rewarding experience at this year’s CBC. “This was my first time attending the CBC and I felt inspired to be around so many industry experts in the craft brewing space. I sat in on many panels about the business side of craft brewing. I was able to engage in meaningful conversations about how marketing and consumer preferences impact the ability for breweries to innovate and expand product offerings – all of which impact their future success.” She is excited to pass on the valuable insights she gained to our students. 

As we headed home, our minds were overflowing with new ideas, tips, and contacts. The experience at CBC has energized everyone on the team to push to continue building our program at UConn!  

Last night, UConn Brewing Innovation launched a second collaboration brew with a Connecticut-based brewery, this time with Two Roads Brewing Company. The 1881 Series event sponsored by the UConn Foundation and hosted at Two Roads, brought in more than 150 people excited to try this collaboration beer. The event marked the culmination of a semester-long project with Two Roads, unveiling our limited release beer that we named Road 2 UConn.

Road 2 UConn is a tropical hazy IPA, with flavors of passionfruit, orange, and guava. This beer remains available at Two Roads for a limited time.

Our Brew Crew, an Interdisciplinary group of students, dedicated time to learning the intricacies of coming up with a beer style, naming, and how to market a beer launch thanks to VP of Marketing at Two Roads, Collin Kennedy, all while getting hands on experience of the brewing process from brewmaster Phil Markowski. The semester kicked off with a series of virtual seminars and two in person sessions hosted at Two Roads where students brewed and then canned the beer.

Cheers to the Brew Crew for their hard work, curiosity and enthusiasm during this process. And thank you to Two Roads for their guidance and support throughout this collaboration!