State brewers guilds and associations are nonprofit trade organizations formed to provide an effective, united voice for protecting and promoting the interests of brewers in a given state or region. All 50 states have some form of brewers guild. Many states also have regional or city-based guilds organized to address local issues and promotional endeavors.
Guilds stand at the front lines of a powerful and organized movement to promote and successfully implement, protect, and maintain beer policies at the state and federal levels. They function each day to ensure the protections necessary to fairly license, regulate, tax, and enforce the legal sale of beer in a safe and beneficial way within their local communities. A single, unified state brewers guild is the most effective way to engage on alcohol beverage issues at the state capital.
Whether promoting local beer or advocating for favorable laws and lower excise tax rates, the collective voice of a guild can speak louder than that of individual brewers alone. Guilds host festivals and city or state beer weeks to bring awareness to consumers and sponsor educational conferences to provide professional development and networking opportunities for breweries of all sizes.
Joining a state brewers guild is essential in today’s rapidly changing world to protect and maintain a brewery business and livelihood. For enthusiasts, retailers, wholesalers, and other allied industry partners, joining the state brewers guild supports important business and community relationships and in turn, the success of the guild and local independent brewery businesses.