SENECA CO., N.Y. — After a one year hiatus due to Covid-19, the 2021 Finger Lakes Beverage Conference is returning stronger than ever with nationally recognized speakers lined up for a Virtual Conference on the afternoons of April 14th and 15th, 2021. Registration is now open for the conference hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Seneca County to support the vibrant beverage industry of the Finger Lakes, New York State, and beyond. This year including the wine industry in addition to breweries, cideries, distilleries, and meaderies, craft beverage producers will benefit from experts focusing on the latest innovations and trends in the industry including the visitor experience, working with social media, and moving forward post-pandemic. Whether you are an established enterprise, are thinking about starting up, or just want to learn more about this industry, this conference will have something for everyone. A registration link is available for the conference at www.flxcraftbevcon.com.
Our Keynote Speaker this year is Jeff Alworth an internationally-recognized writer living in Portland, Oregon. His books include The Widmer Way, The Beer Bible, The Secrets of Master Brewers, and Cider Made Simple. His books have twice been cited by the North American Guild of Beer Writers as Best Book, and in 2016 The Beer Bible was named best wine, spirits, or beer book by the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). He also co-hosts the Beervana Podcast, where he and Oregon State University economics professor Patrick Emerson discuss beer and the economics of beer. Over the two afternoons following the keynote, participants will hear from a wide variety of experts providing current information on the state of the craft beverage industry as well as updates from the NYS Liquor Authority, Empire State Development and NYS Beverage Leaders. Learn how to maximize your use of social media with Content on Draft. A print media panel moderated by Leah Stacey features wine writer Maiah Johnson Dunn, Will Cleveland from The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, and Don Cazantre from the Syracuse Post Standard. You will also have the chance to learn from the lessons of your colleagues in the industry who are facing the same challenges and opportunities in the current environment. The complete conference schedule can be found by visiting the conference website at www.flxcraftbevcon.com.
Waterloo Container, a local business that has expanded with the Finger Lakes beverage industry to become a supplier of bottles, corks, capsules, wax and boxes for the entire East Coast, is once again the major conference sponsor. Also, Three Brothers Wineries & Estates, War Horse Brewing Company are sponsoring special Beer and Cider Tastings following the conference each evening at 5:30 PM for those with a paid registration by Monday, April 5th. Wednesday, April 14th will be a guided tasting of four beers with Pete Achilles, Head Brewer and April 15th will be a guided cider tasting of 4 ciders with Justin Paolicelli, Partner/ Production Manager.
A limited number of paid sponsorships are available to related craft beverage advertisers. More information and registration links are available at www.flxcraftbevcon.com. If you have questions, call 315-539-9251 or email Judy Wright, jlw24@cornell.edu.
The Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Conference, organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Seneca County, began in 2013 as a brewery and cidery startup workshop. In 2020, the name was changed to reflect the maturing beverage industry to include all the beverages: beer, cider, wine, mead, and distilled spirits, produced in the Finger Lakes. The Finger Lakes Beverage Conference provides participants an opportunity to seek and gather information they can use to improve their business.
With over 100 years serving the people of the County, Seneca County Cornell Cooperative Extension puts to practical use the scholarship and research of Cornell University and the national land grant system in the areas of agriculture and food systems sustainability; nutrition, food safety and security, and obesity prevention; 4-H youth development, and children, youth, and families; environment and natural resources, sustainable energy and climate change; and community and economic vitality. The office is located at 308 Main Street Shop Centre in Waterloo and the telephone number is 315-539-9251.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Seneca County
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