Cheers to the Third Annual California Craft Beer Summit!

More than 6,000 attendees gathered over three days in Sacramento for the CCBA’s third California Craft Beer Summit and Festival, showcasing the enthusiasm, energy and strong sense of community found here in California.

Kicking off on Thursday, September 7 and running through Saturday, September 9, the Summit is an annual gathering for the beer community – with ample opportunities for education, food and beer pairings, networking and business development – ending in the largest craft beer festival in the state.

Keynote speakers included Charlie Papazian, David Walker, Ken Grossman, Averie Swanson and California ABC’s new director, Jacob Appelsmith.

Educational sessions included tasting, selling, distributing, brewing and business tracks targeting a large amount of the craft brewing community – from retailers to distributors to brewers to beer lovers. Plus a growing Culinary Marketplace and Chef Demo stage brought in delicious food and beer pairing components, with tastings provided by chefs and brewers from across the state.

From a Brewers Breakfast on the steps of the California State Capitol to the Summit Beer Festival hosted on Capitol Mall with a spectacular view of the capitol city, Saturday’s closing festivities were a testament to the vibrant craft beer industry across the Golden State.

If you missed the Summit this year, make sure you ask your friends about their experiences and mark your calendar for next year!