The Beer Culture Summit is the Beer Culture Center’s annual flagship conference and a reflection of one of our core beliefs: beer is more than just a beverage.

Throughout history, beer has been a powerful cultural force - bringing people together, shaping communities, inspiring creativity, and influencing change. Today, a growing international community of researchers, brewers, industry professionals, museum leaders, writers, and curious enthusiasts is working to better understand beer’s historic legacies and contemporary significance. The Beer Culture Summit is where those conversations happen.

Launched in 2019 in partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the Summit has evolved into a multidisciplinary, hybrid gathering unlike any other. Blending the best of a conference, cultural forum, and community gathering, it brings together diverse voices from across industries and around the world for thoughtful conversation, shared learning, and meaningful connection.

These are the kinds of conversations that define the Summit and distinguish it from any other beer event. Whether exploring beer’s role in migration, agriculture, design, science, politics, identity, or community, participants come together to examine the many ways beer has shaped humanity - past, present, and future. Over the years, the Summit has welcomed participants representing dozens of countries, states, and disciplines, helping to make it one of the most diverse, educational, and accessible gatherings in the beer world.

We invite you to join us for the 9th Annual Beer Culture Summit happening in Spring 2027. Until then, follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our newsletter to stay connected and be the first to hear about dates and session proposals.

THE ARCHIVE

Over the past eight years, the Beer Culture Summit has featured dozens of thought-provoking sessions has brought together voices from around the world to explore the many ways beer intersects with history, culture, science, and society.

We invite you to browse the Summit Archive to discover the topics, presenters, and conversations that have shaped each year's gathering. Together, these sessions offer a remarkable record of the questions, discoveries, and stories that continue to define the field and inspire new ways of thinking about beer and its place in our world.