The theme of this year’s conference was “Championing Craft’s Future,” to provide some much-needed hope to Canadian brewers.

“It’s no surprise and no secret that beer is down across the board,” said Troy Burtch, senior manager of sales and marketing at Great Lakes Brewery and spokesperson for OCBC. “Not significantly, but consumption per capita is down. This year’s event was about bringing everyone together – the breweries, the vendors, the supporters – and saying there is a future. We wanted to champion that with these speakers and these presenters, and get breweries, sales teams and packaging teams to the conference to reinvigorate the industry.”

OCBC 2024 attracted over 1,000 attendees, including brewery owners, operators, brewers, investors and industry champions from Canada and the United States. A highlight of the event was the Suppliers Marketplace, which featured more than 120 leading-edge industry suppliers. This made it one of the largest craft brewing trade shows in Canada, offering attendees the chance to explore innovative products and services tailored to the needs of the craft brewing community.

A packed agenda

The conference agenda offered a rich blend of educational sessions, networking opportunities and social events spread across several days:

• Tuesday, Nov. 5: Supplier load-in and attendee pre-registration, followed by a kickoff party at Clifford Brewing and a Czetch pub takeover at Merit Brewery.
• Wednesday, Nov. 6: The opening day featured keynote presentations, breakout sessions and the bustling trade show. Next came a tour of Hamilton craft breweries. The day concluded at Mills Hardwear with Blood Brothers Brewing and Town Brewery.
• Thursday, Nov. 7: The final day included additional sessions and continued exploration of the trade show. OCBC 2024 concluded with a vibrant after-party at Collective Arts Brewing to cap off the event.

Educational highlights

OCBC 2024 included robust educational programming, featuring insights into the latest trends, technologies and strategies shaping the craft beer industry. Expert-led sessions covered a diverse array of topics, including brewing techniques, business development, marketing innovations and regulatory updates. Both emerging and established brewers left with valuable knowledge to navigate the ever-evolving craft beer landscape.

For Burtch, one of the standout moments from the conference was the fireside chat with Peter Bulut, owner of Great Lakes Brewery, who reflected on his 37 years in the industry. “We heard a lot of good feedback from people who have a two-year-old to a 10-year-old brewery, who saw the progression of one of Ontario’s legacy brewers,” he said.

Another standout moment was the keynote with Ben Edmunds, brewmaster at Breakside Brewery in Portland, Ore. “He just had a fantastic presentation. It was motivational, inspiring, yet it made you look inwards at yourself and your business to see how you can do better,” said Burtch.

We’ve already started talking about what we’re going to do next year in terms of keynote speakers, education sessions and, as we do every year, we ask ourselves how we can make things better for the attendees.

Troy Burtch, Great Lakes Brewery

The trade show also received positive feedback from attendees. “There was so much energy,” said Burtch. “A lot of the vendors said that this is the best trade show they’ve been to in 2024, and that they had a lot of face-to-face time with the key decision-makers. It didn’t hurt that there were hundreds of different varieties of Ontario craft beer available for us to sample, too.”

Strengthening the craft brewing community

Beyond its formal programming, OCBC provided numerous opportunities for attendees to connect and collaborate. Networking events and informal meetups allowed participants to share ideas and forge meaningful relationships. Many attendees remarked on the value of the community-building aspect of the conference, with new partnerships and friendships formed over shared experiences.

Hosting the event in Hamilton also gave participants the chance to explore the city’s burgeoning craft beer scene. Known for its mix of industrial heritage and artistic vibrancy, Hamilton is home to a diverse array of craft breweries that reflect the creativity of Ontario’s brewing culture. Many attendees took time to visit local breweries, further immersing themselves in the region’s plentiful beer offerings.

The future of OCBC

The conference will return to the Hamilton Convention Centre on Nov. 4–6, 2025. “We’ve already started talking about what we’re going to do next year in terms of keynote speakers, education sessions and, as we do every year, we ask ourselves how we can make things better for the attendees,” said Burtch.

OCBC 2024 was more than just an event; it was a celebration of the community that defines the craft brewing industry. From educational sessions and trade show exhibits to social events and brewery tours, attendees left with fresh insights, valuable connections and renewed inspiration to drive the craft beer movement forward.

As one of the largest gatherings of its kind in Canada, OCBC once again demonstrated its significance as a cornerstone event for the industry. Participants departed Hamilton energized and equipped to face new challenges, confident in the strength of the community they are proud to be part of – and ready to attend the conference once again in 2025.

Blood Brothers Brewing

Toronto, Ont.

Blood Brothers Brewing started in 2015 in an 800-square-foot unit located inside a larger industrial building, but by 2016 it had already outgrown the meagre space. The team knew that to make the brewery profitable, they would need to move.

Luckily, they found a post-industrial space in a century-old horse barn-turned-automotive-garage down the street. Pulling from their network of friends, and a shoestring budget, they hired Borien Studio for the buildout. Leaning into Blood Brothers Brewing’s request of cult, church and horror elements, Borien Studio built a bizarre yet gorgeous alter using brass, reclaimed materials and the Japanese technique of preserving wood through charring, called Shou Sugi Ban, to create a unique, grand space.

After a year or so, the Blood Brothers Brewing team added a large altarpiece of timber and brass behind the main bar, and a custom brass chandelier designed by friends and neighbours, Sixpenny Architectural Fabrication.

Submitted by Blood Brothers Brewing

Kilter Brewing Co.

Winnipeg, Man.

Kilter Brewing Co. creates tropical, exploratory beers. They wanted their taproom to reflect those elements in every possible way through the design. Customers are welcomed into the taproom by lush greenery and a wide variety of seating and décor options that cater to different preferences.

Their space features cozy couches, papasan egg chairs that swing and floor-to-ceiling wallpaper with tropical plants and flamingos. Their bar is completely canopied with green vines, plants and string lights. The back of the taproom features mix-and-match coloured tables surrounded by barrels filled with different beers that have been aging for several years.

The presence of a large glass overhead door at the front of the taproom creates an open-air environment that allows for a seamless integration between the indoor and outdoor space.

Submitted by Kilter Brewing Co.

Container Brewing Ltd.

Vancouver, B.C.

Container Brewing Ltd., located in East Vancouver, opened on Nov. 22, 2019. Container is a brewery that blends passion for craft beer with a commitment to community and diversity.

It was built largely in part by its co-founders Terry Brown and Dan Webster. The design’s intention was to create a bright, minimalist space with a West Coast feel. Incorporating reclaimed wood from the demolition and overhaul of the building, along with indoor planters, helped to realize this vision.

Hand-built tables and benches give warmth to the space, which is made up of unique socializing opportunities through a “nook,” group seating, a bar top and built-in tables for smaller groups. Exposed brick and rafters help bring an old-time industrial feel to the space and connect the lounge experience with the production that takes place on the premises.

Throughout the lounge there are artifacts from the construction of the brewery, which include photographs of found objects and equipment, old bottles and office items left behind. Anything of interest or novelty was incorporated into the aesthetic. Behind the bar is the sole literal nod to the name of the brewery. A corrugated cladding embodies a shipping container and serves as a magnetic menu board.

Submitted by Container Brewing Ltd.

Steam Whistle Brewing

Toronto, Ont.

Steam Whistle Brewing’s taproom creates a rustic feel that is authentic to the brand. The team used natural materials like wood to create a rustic and warm ambiance along with industrial elements like exposed beams, metal fixtures and concrete surfaces to reflect the idea of traditional brewing. They installed warm and ambient lighting to create a cozy atmosphere and showcase artwork of past beer cans along with memorabilia from the brand’s history.

Submitted by Steam Whistle Brewing.

Quidi Vidi Brewery Co.

St. John’s, N.L.

Quidi Vidi Brewery Co. was founded by Dave Fong in 1996. Before that, the brewery was a fish plant, a history which inspired the theme of its taproom.

Quidi Vidi Brewery sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is a 15 minute boat ride away from cod fishing. Fresh cod caught by the brewery’s team are prepared and served in the taproom, which can seat 220 people and consists of three sections: the main and original taproom inside the brewery – which includes the main bar with 16 beers on tap – the upstairs patio and deck, and the seaside deck.

The upstairs patio and deck has a clear roof and is weather-proofed with heaters so customers can sit “outside” 365 days a year and overlook the water. The seaside deck is the brewery’s lower deck, which is at water level. The light fixtures took some effort to source, but the ropes and hooks tie together the taproom’s connection to the sea.

Submitted by Quidi Vidi Brewery Co.