San Diego Craft Beer Con is making its highly anticipated return, and this year’s lineup perfectly captures why our city earned the title The Capital of Craft.

When the San Diego Brewers Guild brings together industry professionals and craft beer enthusiasts for a half-day conference at MiraCosta College’s San Elijo campus, it’s the kind of event that celebrates both our brewing heritage and future innovation.

More Than Just Beer Talk

This isn’t your typical industry conference hidden behind closed doors. The event welcomes the general public, recognizing that San Diego’s craft beer culture extends far beyond professional brewers to include the passionate community that supports and celebrates local brewing.

As Brewers Guild Executive Director Erik Fowler puts it, “We welcome anyone and everyone who has an interest in craft beer. It’s one of the best professional development opportunities of the year for our industry, where you can meet key players, and, of course, have a great time socializing and sipping.”

The conference structure balances education with networking, featuring three distinct tracks—”The People of Beer,” “Your Beer,” and “Business, Sales & Marketing”—alongside a trade show running throughout the day. The happy hour with unlimited beer tastings provides that essential social element that makes industry events memorable.

Founding Voices Share Their Stories

The “Founding Voices of SD Beer” session brings together the pioneers who sparked San Diego’s craft beer movement, creating a rare opportunity to hear directly from the people who built our brewing reputation.

Paul Segura from Karl Strauss Brewing Company represents our post-Prohibition roots—Karl Strauss was San Diego’s first craft brewery when it opened in 1989. Tom Nickel of O’Brien’s Pub and Julian’s Nickel Beer Company, Tomme Arthur from The Lost Abbey Brewing Co., and former Ballast Point brewer Colby Chandler round out a panel that spans different eras and approaches to craft brewing.

These aren’t just nostalgic conversations—they’re insights from people who navigated the challenges of building a craft beer industry from virtually nothing to the 150+ independent brewery locations we have today.

Education That Actually Matters

The education tracks cover practical topics that matter, whether you’re industry-adjacent or just deeply curious about craft beer. Sessions on driving taproom event engagement, submitting beers to competitions like the Great American Beer Festival, and winning in distribution provide actionable insights.

The dedicated session on wet hop beers—brewed only once yearly during hop harvest season—offers specialized knowledge about one of craft brewing’s most time-sensitive and exciting processes.

Growing Industry, Growing Community

The numbers tell an impressive story: from 15 breweries in 1997 when the San Diego Brewers Guild was founded to more than 150 independent craft brewery locations today. That growth represents not just business success but community development, job creation, and cultural identity formation around craft beer excellence.

The partnership with MiraCosta College’s Craft Brewing Technician (BrewTech) Certificate program demonstrates the industry’s commitment to formal education and professional development, ensuring the next generation of brewers receives proper training.

See you there!

San Diego Craft Beer Con and The Capital of Craft prove that our city’s brewing excellence comes from combining innovation with community celebration.

📆 Tuesday, August 5, 2025 | 11:30 AM–5:00 PM
📍 3333 Manchester Ave, Cardiff
🎟️ Get your tickets here
ℹ️ More info here

See you there, San Diego!