Craft Connections: Beer Education, Hospitality & the Future of Craft Beer

What up, Brewsers! The Legendary Brew Crew is back, and this time we’re tapping into the world of beer education, hospitality, and the culture behind the pour with Rachel Benkowski and Allo Gilinsky, co-founders of Craft Connections: Beverage Education Summit.

We crack open some brews and get into their journeys through the beer world, from gateway beers and Belgian yeast to advanced Cicerone education, archaeology, history, and the simple idea that beer brings people together.

But the conversation goes way beyond what’s in the glass. We chop it up about why hospitality matters, what happens when your bartender doesn’t know the beer they’re serving, how better staff education can transform the taproom experience, and why beer deserves the same level of thought and appreciation we often give wine.

Rachel and Allo also break down their vision for Craft Connections, an interactive beer education summit built around networking, sensory education, and staff training. Instead of another sit-and-listen conference, they’re creating a hands-on experience designed to give brewers, taproom teams, hospitality professionals, marketers, owners, and beer lovers knowledge they can actually take back with them.

And of course, we get into the fun stuff: underrated beer styles, beer and food pairings, the history of beer, why “hoppy” doesn’t automatically mean “bitter,” and some seriously unexpected beer pairings.

Grab a brew, pull up a chair, and join the banter as we explore why good beer is only part of the experience — the people, knowledge, and hospitality behind it matter too.

Craft Connections: Beer Beverage Education Summit takes place February 16–18, 2027, in Tempe, Arizona.

🍻 What We’re Drinking:

New Glarus Lotta Peach 2026

Fieldwork Brewing Grapefruit Blonde NA

Abjuration Brewing Sour Era Blueberry Banana Peanut Butter Vanilla