Your brewery has a story to tell; actually, it probably has quite a few of them. Those stories are what hook potential fans and help them and your established followers buy into what makes your brewery unique, but how do you get those stories in front of the people who will connect to them?

Maintaining a list of news outlets and reporters to send your press releases about new beers, upcoming events, and other timely news pieces is an important part of your media strategy, but it shouldn’t be the only part. Many writers who cover craft beer and the artisan food and beverage world don’t necessarily cover these news pieces, but might want to dive into the deeper stories of what your brewery is all about. But how do you identify what those stories are, and how do you build relationships with these writers?

In this talk, North American Guild of Beer Writers and British Guild of Beer Writers award-winner David Nilsen will talk about what catches his attention when seeking out stories, how breweries can identify the stories that already exist within their company, and how they can communicate these stories to writers efficiently and effectively.

David Nilsen (he/him) is a full-time beer writer and educator living near Dayton, Ohio. He's an Advanced Cicerone© and an award-winning member of the North American Guild of Beer Writers and British Guild of Beer Writers. He hosts the Bean to Barstool podcast, and is the author of the book Pairing Beer & Chocolate. He’s the co-founder and editor of Final Gravity, a print zine telling personal, human-centered stories from the world of beer. You can find him online at davidnilsenbeer.com and on Bluesky and Instagram as @davidnilsenbeer.

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Navigating wage-and-hour laws can sometimes feel like running a brewery during Oktoberfest—busy, complex, and full of moving parts. With local, state, and federal rules often foaming over into each other, it’s easy for even the most diligent employers to find themselves with a compliance hangover.

As your business grows, whether you’re just tapping your first keg or you’ve been pouring for years, wage-and-hour issues can sneak up like an unexpected aftertaste. Compensation structures, pay practices, and employee policies that once seemed straightforward can become muddled, especially when expansion brings new faces and new challenges. What starts as a small spill can quickly turn into a bigger mess, affecting more employees and opening the door to costly claims.

This session will highlight five common wage-and-hour mistakes that can leave employers feeling flat and offer practical ways to keep your operations crisp and compliant. We’ll cover timekeeping best practices, how to handle bonuses and commissions for hourly staff, the tricky business of classifying employees, managing work hours and breaks, and the use of independent contractors and temporary help.

Along the way, we’ll share real-life examples and tips for keeping your workforce happy and your business out of hot water—so you can focus on brewing success, not legal headaches.

After being exposed to Fair Labor Standards Act cases while clerking for a federal appellate court, A.J. began his legal career with a focus on developing an expertise in wage-and-hour compliance and litigation. That has led A.J. to a practice that spans the laws and courts of the country but centers on California’s uniquely challenging compliance and litigation landscape.

A.J. takes a creative, pragmatic, and business-first approach to managing the defense of complex wage-and-hour class and collective actions, working with clients not only to identify the best path to an efficient and effective resolution but also to adjust problematic practices and policies in a way that accomplishes the client’s business goals while mitigating the risk of future claims. As a member of Husch Blackwell’s Food Systems industry unit, A.J. regularly advises food and beverage producers on employment law compliance.

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Payment processing shouldn’t be a mystery. This session offers a straightforward look at merchant services for taprooms of all sizes. Whether you’re launching your first location or reevaluating your current setup, you’ll learn what to consider when choosing a payment partner that fits your business goals.

We’ll cover the basics of how merchant services work, compliant pricing programs, and the importance of clear, transparent fees. You’ll also explore omni-channel solutions that connect your taproom, web store, and events, and understand what quality service and support should look like when you need it most.

You’ll leave with practical tools to make informed decisions that save money, reduce stress, and keep your taproom running smoothly.

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