Beer Industry Associations

• Beer industry associations benefit those who make and sell beer products. These associations help advance the interests of the industry by working with legislators and informing members about the laws that affect their businesses. Beer industry associations also give members the opportunity to meet other people in the industry, get information from industry leaders and read the latest news and research about beer production.

Brewers Association

• The Brewers Association, which was originally called the Small Brewers Committee, was founded in 1942. The association, which has over 19,000 members, represents the needs of small and independent brewers.

  Members of the Brewers Association benefit from the organization's publications such as The New Brewer journal, The Brewers Association Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery, the North American Brewers' Resource Directory and the Brewers Association Guide to American Craft Beer.

  The Brewers Association is also involved in government affairs to promote the needs of its members to lawmakers. The association tracks legislation around the country, connects with legislators, drafts position papers that lay out the organization's stance on different political issues and updates its members through monthly legislative briefs.

Master Brewers Association of the Americas

• The Master Brewers Association of the Americas, also known as the MBAA, was founded in 1887 to benefit those who work in brew and malt production jobs. The association offers its members several benefits including networking events, such as meetings and conferences; publications such as The MBAA Communicator and Technical Quarterly; and awards that recognize excellence in the field.

National Beer Wholesalers Association

• The National Beer Wholesalers Association, or NBWA, was founded in 1938 to represent the needs of independent beer distributors around the country. The association has over 2,850 members including brewers, consultants and importers.

  The NBWA organizes an annual convention for its members where they can network with other members of the industry, take education classes and learn about the latest tools of the trade from the convention's exhibitors. The association also has a legislative conference, where members can learn about the legal issues that affect their businesses. The organization also offers several publications, including cookbooks on how to prepare meals with the beer and how to conduct business in an ethical manner.