The Utah Brewers Guild recently convened at Uinta Brewing Co. in Salt Lake City to elect board members and discuss legislative and fundraising opportunities. The Brewers Association’s (BA) Pete Johnson also attended to update guild members on BA’s national programs and to connect with Utah small brewers at their breweries.

The newly-elected/reelected Executive Committee (pictured above from left to right): Beckie Britter, Uinta Brewing Co. – Treasurer; Isaac Winter, Uinta Brewing Co. – Education Ambassador; Erika Palmer, Utah Brewers Cooperative – Communication Director; Mike Smith, Uinta Brewing Co. – Vice President;  Phil Handke, Epic Brewing Co. – President

In other guild business, President Phil Handke updated members on past and upcoming events. Two 2014 events netted the guild over $5,000 in funds, with the full year tally close to $8,000. Upcoming 2015 events include a spring festival, Utah Craft Beer Week and two other events, including the Park City Food and Wine Classic where the guild receives a portion of the price from every ticket sold.

In legislative news, the guild is supporting a bill to allow breweries, wineries and distilleries to offer samples to customers on the manufacturing premises. Samples would be limited and must be sold to patrons in a specifically designated area of the facility.

Clearly, the Utah Brewers Guild understands the value of events and fund raising as a means to promote Utah’s small brewers and to advance a legislative agenda beneficial to small brewery businesses. Building on the successes of 2014, the guild is poised to make 2015 an even stronger year for delivering value to its members.