In Preview: Craft Beverage Expo

If you’re reading this, odds are you’ve thought at least once of how awesome it would be to open a cidery. To pack up the box from the boring 9-5 job you hate, and start doing the thing you love: making amazing booze.

With the domestic sales of cider tripling since 2007, it is clear that the craft beer market is ripe for the plucking. Money to be made. Dreams to be accomplished. It’s going to be great!

But wait! You just remembered you have absolutely no experience in owning your own business, and this lack of knowledge will probably lead to your failure. Rules and regulations, state laws, county laws, health codes…the list is truly massive.

It is to this problem, that the Craft Beverage Expo was formed. Currently entering its second year, the Craft Beverage Expo offers attendees the opportunity to learn and be inspired by nearly 200 exhibiting companies. The event has one aim, to impart knowledge of how to start and maintain your own craft beverage company.

The three-day event is set to take place May 6-8 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California, and will feature lectures, informational sessions and an exhibition hall featuring some of the industries leading professional. Founders and industry insiders from national leaders in their respective crafts, from Firestone Brewing Company, Golden Road Brewing, Huber’s Orchard, Winery and Vineyard, Black Rock Spirits, and many more, will be on hand to speak during informational panels. The range of topics goes from the general to the very specific, covering topics like marketing, branding, rules and regulations, and much, much more. Representation from the five leading American beverage guilds will also be on hand to offer classes and seminars.

Last year the first Craft Beverage Expo brought in over 1,300 visitors, and is this year expected to surpass that. New for this year, Craft Beverage Expo is also partnering up with the National Restaurant Association, to give you even more insight into the ins and outs of featuring alcohol at your restaurant, or marketing your alcohol product for the restaurant scene.

The Craft Beverage Expo || 5001 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA || craftbeverageexpo.com