The High Country Hop Technical Symposium - Presented by IBA

2025 High Country Hop Technical Symposium: Elevating Excellence in Australian Craft Beer

Tickets include lunch, refreshments, and a social beer session to close the day.

Join us for the ultimate gathering of independent craft beer professionals, enthusiasts, and innovators. The High Country Hop Technical Symposium offers a full day of thought-provoking sessions, industry-leading speakers, and opportunities to connect with the best minds in Australian craft brewing.

From exploring the latest in sustainable brewing practices and hop innovation to networking with like-minded professionals over a beer, this symposium is your chance to gain insider knowledge, discover emerging trends, and celebrate the vibrant future of craft beer. With featured speakers including Kylie Lethbridge (IBA), James Smith (Crafty Pint), Michael Capaldo (HPA), and more to be announced, this event is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Secure your ticket now and be part of the conversation shaping the independent craft beer industry in Australia.

HPA will be providing a guided tour of their Hop Gardens and processing facility on Thursday March 20, prior to the Symposium. To apply for a spot please use the following link 
 https://forms.gle/QETYwYwpedE285Yw7

Full Program:

High Country Hop Technical Symposium Program

8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
Registration & Welcome Coffee
Arrive, check in, and kickstart the day with a fresh brew.

8:50 AM - 9:00 AM
Acknowledgement of Country, Welcome
James Smith - Crafty Pint

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Keynote Address: "State of the Industry"
Kylie Lethbridge, CEO, Independent Brewers Association (IBA)

Sabina Kunz, Head of Industry Development (IBA).

9:45 AM – 10:30 AM
"Sustainable Brewing Practices"
Tommy Delmont - Zevero
Over 18 years in good beer, Tom has witnessed the best beer brands create significant organisational value with strong sustainability programs. Tommy will share how carbon accounting is part of the future and share actionable sustainability initiatives for brewers at any stage.

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Morning Break
Tea, coffee, and light snacks.

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM
"Aussie Hops!"

Speaker: Michael Capaldo - Hop Products Australia.
2025 crop update & hands-on analysis of Aussie hops in cone, pellet, and liquid formats.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
"Australia, the Land of the Duopoly?"
Panel Discussion - How can indie brewers sustainably navigate the duopoly squeeze?

Jodie Goldsworthy - Beechworth Honey.
DJ McCready - Mountain Culture.
Topher Boehm - Wildflower.
Martin Prebble - Marketing Consultant.

12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
Lunch Break
Buffet lunch provided.

1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
"Innovation in a Traditional Brewing Business"
Fergus Fitzgerald, Adnams Brewery - UK

Fergus has overseen immense modernisation and change during his time with Adnams. Hear about the evolution from a traditional cask beer brewery to a modern, energy-efficient facility designed for the future, which also encompasses a distillery and a dealcoholiser.

2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
"Boosting Your Hop Performance"
Jon Burridge

Yakima Chief Hops' advanced products, HyperBoost and DynaBoost, can enhance your hop additions. This presentation features brewing trial data analysis and sensory feedback from Yakima Chief Hops' Research and Development team, alongside brewers who visited the YCH taproom during the 2024 harvest.

2:20 PM – 2:45 PM
"Silos, knowing when you are ready to scale up"
Scott Bristow - Cryer Malt

Scotty will provide insights into the benefits of moving to bulk malt handling systems, using Australian based case studies exploring the possibility of having a bulk malt silo at your brewery.

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Afternoon Break
Quick refreshments.

3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
"Packaging Sustainability & Approaching Regulatory Change"
Rob Costelloe - Packtech

Rob Costelloe has years of experience across the Australian packaging landscape. He will provide data driven insights into the impact of your packaging on the environment. 

3:20 PM – 3:40 PM
"Creating NA Beer with Maltose Negative Yeast"
Dr. Tina Tran - AB Biotek

Dr. Tina Tran completed a Bachelors with Honours in Biotechnology and Microbiology followed by a PhD identifying genes which confer ethanol tolerance in yeast. Tina will explore the process and science behind crafting non-alcoholic beers using Pinnacle, a maltose negative yeast, offering insights into its benefits and applications in modern small scale brewing.

3:40 PM – 4:05 PM
Sensory Session: "West Coast IPAs in the New World"
Sam Bethune - Bintani

Taste two West Coast IPAs brewed with US-05 and Joe White Signature malt as the base, featuring the new Joe White Dextrin malt and showcasing new NZ Cryo Hops.

4:05 PM – 4:15 PM
Closing Remarks
Event wrap-up by Ben Kraus, Bridge Road Brewers.

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Social Beer & Networking
Enjoy a beer, mingle with speakers, and connect with fellow attendees.