The New England Craft Brew Summit, the East Coast’s largest business-to-business conference for the craft brewing industry, will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine.
To mark this milestone, Natalie Cilurzo, co-owner and president of Russian River Brewing Company, will deliver this year’s keynote address. Natalie and her husband, Vinnie, took ownership of the brewery in 2003 from Korbel Champagne Cellars. Together, they launched the next chapter of the brewery in 2004, building it into one of the most respected craft breweries in the country. Known for iconic releases like Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, they’ve led with a commitment to quality, innovation, and community. Natalie will share insights from that journey as part of her keynote in Portland.
“It is a great honor for me to be delivering the keynote address at next year’s New England Craft Brew Summit! Having spent three decades in the craft beer industry, I hope to share some of the many experiences, insights and lessons learned along the way,” said Natalie Cilurzo, co-owner and President of Russian River Brewing Company. “I am especially looking forward to meeting and connecting with the New England craft beer community.”
Since its launch in 2016 by the Maine Brewers’ Guild, the New England Brew Summit has become the region’s leading event for the business of beer. The inaugural conference drew over 450 attendees and set a high bar for practical, industry-focused programming. Today, the Summit serves as a working day for brewery professionals to learn, connect, and collaborate. With more than a dozen workshops, a packed vendor hall, and hundreds of attendees, it continues to play a key role in moving New England’s craft beer industry forward.
Maine’s brewing sector has expanded rapidly over the past decade, and the Summit has grown in step. In 2016, the state counted just over 70 breweries. By 2018, that number had climbed to 122. Today, the Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations reports 176 active breweries statewide. While slightly below the 2023 peak of 184, the long-term trend underscores craft beer’s role as a major economic engine. According to the Brewers Association, Maine ranked second in the nation for most breweries per capita in 2024, with approximately 14.3 breweries for every 100,000 adults aged 21 and over, and an economic impact of more than $740 million. Maine breweries now generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually, supporting jobs and driving growth across agriculture, manufacturing, finance, tourism, and hospitality.
“Craft brewing has never been easy, and the challenges today feel sharper than ever. What sets us apart is how we continue to meet them with creativity, discipline, and heart,” said Sarah Bryan, executive director of the Maine Brewers’ Guild. “For ten years, the Summit has helped us strengthen the foundation of our industry. Marking this milestone with Natalie feels especially powerful. She and her husband, Vinnie, built Russian River by staying true to their values, and their story reminds us that our future depends on authenticity, community, and craft.”
The Summit now draws more than 500 brewers, brewery owners, and industry professionals each year. Programming includes sessions on technical brewing, sustainability, hospitality, and business leadership designed to equip attendees with tools to navigate a fast-changing industry.
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