The Beer Culture Summit is our annual four day conference that embraces the idea that beer is more than a just a beverage. It includes scholars, industry experts, museum professionals, and everyday beer enthusiasts who equally contribute to the dynamic culture of beer. Over a short period of time, the Summit has become the most inclusive, educational, and non-traditional gathering in beer.
The first ever Summit debuted in 2019 and was presented in partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Over the course of four days, people from all over the country came together in Chicago to have conversations about the role beer has played in the human story.
While our second Summit in 2020 was completely virtual, it offered a safe and unique personal setting that brought people together to emphasize another important aspect of our mission: that beer is for everyone.
The third and fourth Beer Culture Summits were hybrid conferences - virtual sessions by day with one in-person evening event. As always, they included friends and colleagues engaged in cutting-edge research and beer-focused public projects. Discussions around diversity and equity took center stage offering a platform for lesser heard voices.
We invite you to explore the full archive of each year’s sessions, presenters, events, partners, and overall content.
Our fifth Beer Culture Summit took place from October 18 - 21, 2023. Virtual events were held throughout the days with a special, in-person event each night. As always, it included friends and colleagues engaged in cutting-edge research and beer-focused public projects. Discussions around diversity and inclusion as well as representation from people of all backgrounds have always been vital pillars of our work and this year’s Summit had more of that. The gathering was for everyone and is accessible to all.
Our fourth Beer Culture Summit took place from November 9 - 12, 2022. Virtual events were held throughout the days with a special, in-person event each night. As always, it included friends and colleagues engaged in cutting-edge research and beer-focused public projects. Discussions around diversity and inclusion as well as representation from people of all backgrounds have always been vital pillars of our work and this year’s Summit had more of that. The gathering was for everyone and is accessible to all.
Our third Beer Culture Summit took place from November 4 - 7, 2021. It was mostly virtual with one in person evening event happening each night. As always, it included friends and colleagues engaged in cutting-edge research and beer-focused public projects. Discussions around diversity and inclusion as well as representation from people of all backgrounds have always been vital pillars of our work and this year’s Summit had more of that. The gathering was for everyone and is accessible to all.
Our second Summit was completely virtual and happened amidst a difficult time in our nation and world. We felt that it was all the more critical to bring people together to have needed dialogue around beer and community.
With the virtual nature of this year’s conference, we are able to do something we weren’t able in 2019: take you to places around the globe. You’re going to hear from friends and colleagues engaged in cutting-edge research and beer-focused public projects and soak in industry wisdom happening in museums, breweries, and historical sites.
The first conference of its kind, the Beer Culture Summit brought together an ever-growing community of researchers, professionals, and everyday enthusiasts to the table for a pint and a discussion. It was a new public and scholarly gathering dedicated to exploring the ways that global beer history can fire the imagination, advance our understanding of the past, and help us grow.
This conference showcased cutting-edge research, beer-focused public projects, and industry wisdom in accessible spaces like museums, breweries, and taverns. Our audience was everyone—scholars, professionals, and the public—and our partners ranged from breweries to cultural organizations to local businesses. Our mission was simple: to enhance our cultural understanding of beer openly and candidly, in a friendly atmosphere fit for the world’s most important drink.