ANNUAL REPORT
Presenting our 2024 Missouri Craft Brewers Guild Annual Report.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Fran Caradonna, The Saint Louis Brewery, LLC / Schlafly Beer, and President of the MCBG Board of Directors.
When my career led me to our industry in 1990, craft beer barely existed in Missouri. Boulevard Brewery had opened its doors the previous year, and Signature Beer began to distribute out-of-state craft brands from small, independent brewers. I never dreamed our little corner of the beer business would grow and blossom here the way it has.
Today Missouri is home to more than 160 brewers who employ 8,000 and contribute around $1.2 billion to our state’s economy. Consumers have embraced new products, and we see widespread acceptance of a variety of beer styles that hardly existed in the US twenty years ago.
With great success comes significant challenges, and most of us have faced both opportunity and difficulty arising from increased demand, added competition, new technology and more savvy consumers. Fortunately, small brewery leaders banded together in 2012 and created an alliance to share experience and build strength in numbers. Today Missouri Craft Brewers Guild is a strong and stable organization that exists to protect and promote our industry and our members.
The Guild’s effort to support and sustain craft beer falls into three categories:
We move ahead by participating together in 4 work groups:
If you’re not a member, please come to an event and consider joining. For more information about membership eligibility and dues, visit our website.
It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your president in 2024. Let’s make Missouri Strong again in 2025!
Cheers!
Fran Caradonna
The Saint Louis Brewery – Schlafly Beer
Today Missouri is home to more than 160 brewers who employ 8,000 and contribute around $1.2 billion to our state’s economy. Consumers have embraced new products, and we see widespread acceptance of a variety of beer styles that hardly existed in the US twenty years ago.
With great success comes significant challenges, and most of us have faced both opportunity and difficulty arising from increased demand, added competition, new technology and more savvy consumers. Fortunately, small brewery leaders banded together in 2012 and created an alliance to share experience and build strength in numbers. Today Missouri Craft Brewers Guild is a strong and stable organization that exists to protect and promote our industry and our members.
The Guild’s effort to support and sustain craft beer falls into three categories:
- Advocate – we serve as a collective voice for the industry and participate in the legislative process and educate policymakers.
- Collaborate – we facilitate the exchange of knowledge, expertise and experience, threading the needle between competition and collaboration in a way that both supports and protects.
- Promote – we use our combined influence to increase awareness Missouri Breweries and inspire people to visit our breweries and enjoy our products.
We move ahead by participating together in 4 work groups:
- Guild Legislative Task Force: with support from the Brewers Association’s advocacy experts, we meet with regulatory and legislative representatives to find ways to avoid undue burdens.
- Missouri Loves Company® Collab: brewers from across the state come together to brew a beer together. With support from our Allied Trade members, we pack and sell each beer to consumers, and the profits support the Guild.
- Guild Promotion Committee: members build consumer-facing branding, design and support events, and are planning to launch a Missouri Beer Competition in 2025.
- Annual Conference Team: Creates an event that offers a program to educate and inform members and provide time to network and socialize.
If you’re not a member, please come to an event and consider joining. For more information about membership eligibility and dues, visit our website.
It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your president in 2024. Let’s make Missouri Strong again in 2025!
Cheers!
Fran Caradonna
The Saint Louis Brewery – Schlafly Beer
A YEAR IN REVIEW
QUARTERLY GUILD GATHERINGS
This year, we hosted five Guild Gatherings across the Show-Me State, providing free, happy-hour-style networking events that were both casual and enjoyable. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, attendees could enjoy a couple of beers while connecting with new faces or catching up with familiar ones. Each gathering included a brief opportunity for sponsors to introduce their businesses, a Guild update on recent activities, and plenty of time for relaxed networking. These straightforward yet impactful events are essential for fostering connections within Missouri's craft beer community and keeping members actively engaged. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to this year’s brewery hosts and sponsors:
Our Guild Gatherings welcomed an average of 30 attendees per event, featuring a healthy mix of Brewery Members and Allied Trade Members. These events are also open to non-members, offering a great opportunity to introduce new faces to our organization and the benefits of being part of the Missouri craft beer community.
We also hosted a special "Missouri Meetup" at Hop Nuts Brewing in Las Vegas during the Brewers Association's Craft Brewers Conference. Sponsored by Wipfli, the event drew over 80 attendees who enjoyed exceptional beer, warm hospitality, and plenty of networking opportunities.
- The Goat Brewing Company, Lee's Summit - sponsored by CK Print & Design
- Last Flight Brewing Company, Jefferson City - sponsored by Brad Jenkins with AssuredPartners
- Crossroads Brewery, O'Fallon - sponsored by Belmark inc. - featuring a Tech Talk with MBAA District St. Louis
- City Barrel Brewing Company, Kansas City - sponsored by Hopsteiner - featuring a Tech Talk with MBAA District Great Plains
- Wire Road Brewing Company, Battlefield - sponsored by JJ Romines with COUNTRY Financial
Our Guild Gatherings welcomed an average of 30 attendees per event, featuring a healthy mix of Brewery Members and Allied Trade Members. These events are also open to non-members, offering a great opportunity to introduce new faces to our organization and the benefits of being part of the Missouri craft beer community.
We also hosted a special "Missouri Meetup" at Hop Nuts Brewing in Las Vegas during the Brewers Association's Craft Brewers Conference. Sponsored by Wipfli, the event drew over 80 attendees who enjoyed exceptional beer, warm hospitality, and plenty of networking opportunities.
MISSOURI LOVES COMPANY®
The Missouri Loves Company® collaboration beer series continues to be our primary Guild fundraising activity. This year, all four collaboration beers were strong ales. This "Missouri Strong" Series raised more than $25,500 for the Guild and created fun and educational opportunities for our members to get together in person - not to mention brewing some delicious beers!
Without the support and engagement from our host breweries and sponsors, this annual collaboration wouldn't exist. We are humbled by the collaborative spirit and enthusiastic participation from our membership.
HOST BREWERIES
SPONSORS
Our sponsors are really the superstars of this collaboration series as they donate either ingredients, supplies or cash to help keep the cost of brewing the collaboration beers very low. We are grateful for their generous support and appreciate their commitment to our Missouri brewing industry.
Without the support and engagement from our host breweries and sponsors, this annual collaboration wouldn't exist. We are humbled by the collaborative spirit and enthusiastic participation from our membership.
HOST BREWERIES
- Diametric Brewing Company, Lee’s Summit;
- Springfield Brewing Company, Downtown Springfield;
- Friendship Brewing Company, Flint Hill, and
- Logboat Brewing Company, Columbia.
SPONSORS
Our sponsors are really the superstars of this collaboration series as they donate either ingredients, supplies or cash to help keep the cost of brewing the collaboration beers very low. We are grateful for their generous support and appreciate their commitment to our Missouri brewing industry.
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Ingredients & Supplies
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Thank you also to Allied Trade Member, Lagom Design for creating beautiful can and social media promotion artwork this year.
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ADVOCACY
MISSOURI CRAFT BEER DAY AT THE CAPITOL
In February we organized a small group of Brewery Members to visit our Missouri legislators at the State Capitol in Jefferson City to share information about the craft beer industry in our fine state. We spent the day meeting with both House and Senate legislators in each of the districts represented by those attending. We dissused general economic impact of the craft beer industry, fair and equitable access to market, and a homebrewing bill that would allow homebrew clubs to host their meetings and sample their brews at a Missouri craft brewery.
Pictured at top from left to right: Sherry Wohlgemuth, Missouri Craft Brewers Guild; Josh Stacy, Public House Brewing Company; Chris Byars, Bee's Knees Brewing Company; Chris Courtney, Mother's Brewing Company; Scott Wuest, Turkey Creek Brewery; Megan Knaus, Side Project Brewing, and Senator Lincoln Hough.
In February we organized a small group of Brewery Members to visit our Missouri legislators at the State Capitol in Jefferson City to share information about the craft beer industry in our fine state. We spent the day meeting with both House and Senate legislators in each of the districts represented by those attending. We dissused general economic impact of the craft beer industry, fair and equitable access to market, and a homebrewing bill that would allow homebrew clubs to host their meetings and sample their brews at a Missouri craft brewery.
Pictured at top from left to right: Sherry Wohlgemuth, Missouri Craft Brewers Guild; Josh Stacy, Public House Brewing Company; Chris Byars, Bee's Knees Brewing Company; Chris Courtney, Mother's Brewing Company; Scott Wuest, Turkey Creek Brewery; Megan Knaus, Side Project Brewing, and Senator Lincoln Hough.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- The Promote Committee developed new branding and a full schedule of consumer and member activities for Show-Me Craft Beer Month in June. Events included Missouri Pint Day, releasing a Missouri Loves Company® collaboration beer, and a Guild Gathering.
- Speaking of Missouri Pint Day, it brought in $1,776 with 18 breweries participating. Thanks to Public Art Company for creating the artwork for the glasses.
Missouri Pint Day Artwork designed by Public Art Company
The Annual Conference Committee organized the 5th Annual Meeting & Conference October 28 and 29 at Urban Chestnut Brewing Company in Saint Louis. Presented by COUNTRY Financial, we had more than 150 attend. For the first time, we offered dual business and technical brewing focused education tracks, resulting in options for all areas of the brewery. We also used video conference technology to feature our Keynote Speaker, Fred Matt of Matt FX Brewing, and Matt Gacioch of the Brewers Association. Thank you to all our generous sponsors!
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Display Table Sponsors
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- Coordinated discounted group freight for breweries participating in the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival competitions.
FINANCIAL REPORT
REVENUES
The Guild is in a fairly good financial position in 2023 with revenue nearly split between Membership Dues and Non-Dues Income. We had a very successful Annual Conference and Collaboration this year. Additionally, the Guild continues grow funding resources through the Missouri Pint Day event and online merch sales through Spreadshop.
The Guild is in a fairly good financial position in 2023 with revenue nearly split between Membership Dues and Non-Dues Income. We had a very successful Annual Conference and Collaboration this year. Additionally, the Guild continues grow funding resources through the Missouri Pint Day event and online merch sales through Spreadshop.
EXPENSES
As the Guild grows, so do general expenses. Payroll continues to be the largest expenditure for the Guild. This year we saw increases in general operating costs and incurred a fairly large increase in expenses related to the Annual Conference.
As the Guild grows, so do general expenses. Payroll continues to be the largest expenditure for the Guild. This year we saw increases in general operating costs and incurred a fairly large increase in expenses related to the Annual Conference.
NET REVENUE DROP IN 2023
In 2023 we saw a significant increase in expenses in several areas. New or increased expenses included:
Additionally, membership renewals were down in 2023. We are estimating that could be in part due to the economy, but there is also a learning curve to using our new membership management system. We had a successful membership drive in June, bringing in 13 new members, but new member dues were discounted during that drive which caused an additional slight decrease in income.
In 2023 we saw a significant increase in expenses in several areas. New or increased expenses included:
- Adding directors & officers and liability insurance.
- Increased number merchant fees due to more credit card transactions.
- Increased travel around the state for events and collaborations.
- Significant increase in expenses related to the Annual Conference.
- An overall increase in software prices.
Additionally, membership renewals were down in 2023. We are estimating that could be in part due to the economy, but there is also a learning curve to using our new membership management system. We had a successful membership drive in June, bringing in 13 new members, but new member dues were discounted during that drive which caused an additional slight decrease in income.
MEMBERSHIP
We finished 2023 with a drop in Brewery Membership renewals, but gained 14 new Brewery Members and 1 new Brewery-In-Planning member. Allied Trade Membership also experienced a slight drop in renewals, but we gained 9 new members in that category. Retail also gained 2 new members. We lost a few enthusiast members, but wrapped up the year with 29 members. View the membership directory.
We finished 2023 with a drop in Brewery Membership renewals, but gained 14 new Brewery Members and 1 new Brewery-In-Planning member. Allied Trade Membership also experienced a slight drop in renewals, but we gained 9 new members in that category. Retail also gained 2 new members. We lost a few enthusiast members, but wrapped up the year with 29 members. View the membership directory.
DIGITAL STATS
SOCIAL MEDIA
We use Facebook and Instagram to share information about Guild-related events and activities, as well as to share industry news impacting our members and craft beer community.
WEBSITE
We continue to work to drive traffic to the Guild website by creating a Members Only content section, allowing brewery members to post their events on our community calendar, offering a brewery search tool, and information about the Missouri Loves Company® collaboration series.
Additionally, by incorporating MembershipWorks as our membership management software, members can now maintain/update their Membership Profile, renew their dues, and access content exclusively available to our Guild members.
Additionally, by incorporating MembershipWorks as our membership management software, members can now maintain/update their Membership Profile, renew their dues, and access content exclusively available to our Guild members.
BOARD MEMBERS & COMMITTEES
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Thank you to our Board of Directors members for their service in 2024. The Missouri Craft Brewers Guild leadership is made up of nine craft brewing professionals with decades of combined experience who help guide the organization. Members of the Board of Directors are elected annually by the general membership and can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.
BOARD OFFICERS
BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE
RETIRING BOARD MEMBERS in 2024
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COMMITTEES
Promote Committee - Chaired by Amber Ayres, Boulevard Brewing Company
Annual Conference Planning Committee
Promote Committee - Chaired by Amber Ayres, Boulevard Brewing Company
- Helen Anderson, Turn It Up Media
- Steph Harding, Full Pour Media
- Chad Melis, Turn It Up Media
- Bryant Vander Weerd, Full Pour Media
- Daryl Vander Weerd, Full Pour Media
- Scott Wuest, Turkey Creek Brewery
Annual Conference Planning Committee
- Megan Knaus, Side Project Brewing
- Curtis Marshall, Tie & Timber Beer Co.
- Brian Nolan, Friendship Brewing Company
PREVIOUS REPORTS
