1. Guild Activities

California Craft Brewers Association Celebrates 25 Years at Bi-annual Conference

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Acacia serves as Brewers Guilds Manager on the Brewers Association Government Affairs team. Acacia's focus is on supporting organizational development of small non-profit U.S. state and regional brewers trade associations (also known as brewers guilds). Currently based out of Missoula, Montana, Acacia’s roles include crisscrossing the country participating in guild member and board meetings, climbing Capitol Hill, contributing to various national and international beer conferences, attending association management and regulatory conferences, and of course, reveling at beer festivals nation-wide.

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The California Craft Brewers Association was established in 1989 and was the first state brewers guild. The organization toasted to 25 years of helping develop and protect California craft breweries at its annual conference, which took place in Santa Rosa, California in early November.

The association put together a two day conference of educational seminars including topics on trademark clearance, distributor relationships and quality control. The event drew a crowd of over 400 members of the brewing industry.

California Craft Brewers Association

The event concluded with the induction of inaugural members to the California craft beer hall of fame—Fritz Maytag, John Martin, and Ken Grossman. After the induction ceremony, Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing Co. led a discussion with the group on the history of the organization and of craft beer’s rise in the state.

At the end of 2013, California had 381 breweries—the most of any state in the U.S. It also ranked first in terms for economic impact. A strong association ensures that the California craft brewing industry continue to grow and contribute to communities across the state.