More than 13,500 manufacturers and suppliers to the craft brewing industry are expected to attend the 33rd Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) & BrewExpo America, which will take place May 3-6 at the Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia. The annual event will feature a keynote address from Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane. 

Presented by the Brewers Association (BA), Boulder, Colo., the CBC offers a platform for exhibitors and buyers to develop profitable business relationships, while brewing and brewery restaurant professionals can find products and solutions that best fit their needs, the association says.

As demand for craft beer increases, the CBC brings the community together in a collaborative and educational environment, the BA says. More than 600 exhibiting companies and 125 presenters will be present to address a range of topics, including brewery operations, brewpubs, export development, government affairs, packaging breweries, quality, safety, selling craft beer, start-ups, sustainability and technical brewing.

BA Director Paul Gatza will host a welcome reception at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on May 3. The two-and-a-half day BrewExpo America tradeshow will commence May 4 with a keynote address from Beane on the bestselling book and subsequent movie “Moneyball.” Beane will share his innovative, winning approach to management and leadership, and how the Moneyball philosophy can be adopted for the craft brewing industry.

Chief Economist Bart Watson is scheduled to deliver the annual State of the Industry address May 5.

Additionally, the World Beer Cup, which honors top beer styles, will take place during the CBC.