Beyond Beer Innovation
In this session, we’ll look at what those trends are right now, and how brewers and beverage makers are designing beverages to appeal to this expanded universe of customers.
While “Beyond Beer” was once coded language for “hard seltzer,” today the category continues to expand while seltzer’s growth has plateaued, and even older categories like cider have been gaining steam again alongside more diverse beverages that include everything from hop water to hard tea to gluten-free fruited sour. Today’s craft beer taprooms serve communities with varied tastes and interests, and breweries’ product lineups continue to evolve to serve those communities. In this session, we’ll look at what those trends are right now, and how brewers and beverage makers are designing beverages to appeal to this expanded universe of customers.
Panelists include:
Paul Schneider, Cofounder & Head Brewer, Cinderlands
Ben Kehs, Innovation Brewing Manager at Deschutes Brewery
Ben Kehs is the Innovation Brewing Manager at Deschutes Brewery, where he leads new beer development and brewing innovation. Over more than 20 years in the brewing industry, he has held a variety of roles at Deschutes, including Assistant Brewmaster, Barrel Manager, Cellar Manager, and Head Brewer of the Portland Public House. A graduate of the UC Davis Master Brewers Program, Ben brings deep technical expertise and a passion for advancing the craft of brewing.
Justin Solomon, Marketing Director – Alcoholic Beverages, ADM
After years of developing consumer-loved innovations for CPG companies, Justin joined ADM five years ago to lead our business-to-business strategy, innovation, and trends for the alcoholic beverage segment. Justin leverages consumer insights, data, macro trends, and deep category knowledge to develop innovative concepts that anticipate what consumers will be looking for in the future to help drive market success. In this challenging time for the alcoholic beverage segment Justin continues to identify opportunities for category success beyond the traditional market segments – leveraging customer capabilities to find success in the marketplace.
Nic Bortolin, Brewmaster, Amoretti
Nic has enjoyed a 15-year career as a Head Brewer throughout Southern California, two decades of homebrewing experience, and is a graduate of the American Brewers Guild Brewing Science and Engineering program. His dedication to quality and innovation has earned him a total of 8 GABF and World Beer Cup awards, recognition as California Craft Brewery of the Year, and numerous local and international awards, showcasing his commitment to excellence in craft fermentation.
Nic's long-standing relationship with Amoretti as a customer for over a decade speaks volumes about his trust in the brand and its products. As the Brewmaster and Brand Ambassador for Amoretti, Nic enjoys guiding brewers on how to optimize the use of Amoretti’s extensive and industry-leading catalogue of premium brewing ingredients. He plays a crucial role in the research and development of new products and is a free resource for brewers looking to develop new award-winning recipes.
Jamie Bogner, Cofounder & Editorial Director, Craft Beer & Brewing
