Brewery Membership

We contract with a high-level lobbying firm that provides daily monitoring at the state house during the legislative session with weekly summary reports issued to the membership. They have come to be known by our lawmakers as the go-to experts for any alcohol related legislation. Initiatives that require legal support are identified at the committee level and require board approval, but generally have been an approved use of VBA funds.

A strong and vetted list of over 40 business resources ranging from hop farms to accounting firms to lawyers to label companies all with the vision of helping craft breweries in VT.

Examples Include:

• Free energy walk-through with Efficiency VT
• Reduced rates on legal assistance and trademarks with Downs Rachlin Martin
• 10% off at Yipes! Auto & Graphics
• 20% off BMI fees for BA members
• Free consultation to review your insurance policy with GHM Insurance
• Educational scholarships and 25% discount code to all White Labs on-demand education courses. Opportunity to participate in White Labs R&D.

Featured on our popular digital and print Passport Program. The digital version has 17,000+ downloads, 15,000+ active users, and 1,000+ new users in 2023. There are 10,000 paper copies are printed each year. In 2023, we processed 600 prize rewards, 16,000+ digital stamps, and the average revenue per brewery (assuming $15/visit) was $3,687.92 driven by the passport program.

Inclusion in our poster that is a map of the state with the locations of all the breweries that are members of the VBA. These maps are sold on our online store and sent for free to members. Members are also included on brewery trails broken out by region and promoted on the digital app and VBA website.

Members are invited to all VBA events. This includes at least two brewer to brewer networking events a year, post-festival & conference brewers gatherings, harvest networking and educational event at Champlain Valley Hops, plus the annual meeting of the membership held in November each year followed by a membership holiday party in December.

The Technical and Education Committee puts on at least one half day conference to provide continuing education to our members. These are free to attend and include lunch and networking.

Members are invited to attend our Vermont Brewers Festivals. Our waterfront festival has been taking place for 31 years each July and has over 6,000 attendees over two days. This festival focuses on collaboration beers created with other Vermont brewers and specialty release beers.

As a VBA member, you’ll be offered an invitation to attend our Vermont Craft Brewers Conference in November for a discounted cost. The conference will be a 2 day event with three eductional tracks and an exhibitor hall. Tracks include: technical, business (marketing, finance, legal), and sustainability/safety. Members have the opportunity to showcase their beer during the networking portions.

Join a VBA Committee! Our committee work focuses on the 4 pillars of the VBA. Be a part of Government Affairs, Events & Marketing, Sustainability, Technical & Education, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committees. A chance to make a different in the industry, a chance to learn and connect with your counterparts at other breweries. Help plan our big events, have an impact on legislative issues, grow our educational offerings to our membership and expand opportunities for people in the industry. Committee work is a vital part of our association and we encourage all to join!

The VBA will promote your breweries activities, achievements and events on their social media channels. Send us an email with photos and information and we will schedule a social blast.

Stay up to date with the VBA’s newsletter that highlights new members, discounts, upcoming events, etc. Additionally, you will be added to the distribution list, you can email membership@vermontbrewers.com to send emails to the membership. (example – selling equipment, looking for product, etc)

In 2024, we launched a new website with an online portal for our member breweries to have access to VBA documents (meeting minutes, handbooks, bylaws, etc), resources created by committees, recorded meetings, media kits, etc all in one place. The membership portal also has a directory of members, a job board, announcement board, and a public event calendar!

Your business listed on the DigInVT website and part their e-newsletter. The Fresh Feed e-newsletter is steadily increasing with over 9,788 subscribers. In 2023, DigIn had 63,000+ visitors to their website, from cities ranging from Washington DC to Boston, with breweries being one of the top search categories.

Members have the opportunity to order co-branded merch with the VBA. You place an order on our online store, send us your logo, and we split the profit margins. You can sell this merch in your taprooms or online stores.

Member breweries have the right and are encouraged to use the Beer Worth Finding and VBA Logo on all glassware, menus, labels and cans. The more the logos are used, the easier it is for consumers to recognize and support VT craft beer.

Amy Todd of Bia Diagnostics, Vermont’s very own beer/cider testing laboratory, has partnered with the Vermont Brewers Association to provide a free 45 minute consultation, in person or via phone, to discuss your unique wants, needs, and concerns with operating your own lab. Send an email to amy@biadiagnostics.com to set up an appointment or ask any questions. Be sure to include that you are a member of the Vermont Brewers Association. Making great beer is hard work, setting up a lab doesn’t have to be. Amy can help with guidance on starting a lab in your brewery, what type of equipment would be most beneficial to your brewery, or what the next step should be in expanding your lab.