HARRISBURG, PA (3.13.17) – The Brewers of Pennsylvania (BOP), the state’s official brewers guild, is hosting MEETING OF THE MALTS VI, the association’s popular annual event that gathers the most acclaimed breweries to discuss the state of the craft beer industry. Meeting of the Malts VI, presented by Micro Matic USA, will take place Thursday, March 30 from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. EST at Artsquest Center at SteelStacks, 711 First St., Bethlehem, PA.

Meeting of the Malts VI will feature a star-studded cast of panelists including Dick Yuengling (D. G. Yuengling & Son), Jim Koch (Samuel Adams), David Walker (Firestone Walker Brewing Company), and Eric Wallace (Left Hand Brewing Company). The panel discussion will take place from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and will be emceed by industry icon, Bump Williams.

The four industry-respected brewers will also take part in a press conference at 5:30 p.m.

“Now in its sixth year, Meeting of the Malts has grown exponentially with over 500 attendees last year,” said Dan LaBert, Executive Director of the Brewers of Pennsylvania. “When you couple this year’s number of expected attendees with such a distinguished list of panelists from throughout the country, it’s clear that Meeting of the Malts has become one of the leading events in our industry.”

In 2016, Draft Magazine named Meeting of the Malts as the #12 (out of 101) rated beer experiences on the industry bucket list.  Meeting of the Malts VI, #supportPAbeer, will include panel discussions, keynote addresses, valuable networking opportunities, a silent beer auction, and the Pennsylvania BrewPub Festival. From last year’s event to this year’s, there’s been significant legislative changes in Pennsylvania that impact craft brewers. Those changes, and a host of other important issues will be thoroughly discussed at Meeting of the Malts VI.

“In an ever-changing industry, Meeting of the Malts is a great event to discuss what’s happening in the beer business, and particularly how it impacts Pennsylvania,” said Richard “Dick” Yuengling Jr., President of D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. “There are important issues facing the industry each year, and I enjoy sharing my perspective along with fellow iconic brewers.”

Both Yuengling and Koch participated in Meeting of the Malts V.  New to this year’s panel discussion is David Walker and Eric Wallace.

Walker is co-founder of California’s Firestone Walker Brewing Company. The company is one of two brewers in the world to maintain a variation of the commercial-sized Burton Union system, a system of fermentation in oaken barrels. Firestone Walker is California’s fourth-largest craft brewery, and was the World Beer Cup Champion Brewery for mid-sized breweries in 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2012.

“It is quite an honor to be sharing this grand evening with these accomplished brewers,” said David Walker. “It should make for great conversation.”

Wallace is president of 23-year-old Left Hand Brewing Company, one of the most honored and recognized breweries in Colorado, with over 28 Great American Beer Festival medals, 11 World Beer Cup awards, and 9 European Beer Star awards.

“I’m honored to be asked to be a part of the Meeting of the Malts to talk about, and drink, beer,” said Eric Wallace. “I’m happy to help my friends, the Brewers of Pennsylvania, in their mission to protect the brewing industry in the state and encourage brand diversity in the market.”

Following the panel discussion will be a four-course beer dinner from 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., each course being paired with a beer from D.G. Yuengling & Son, Samuel Adams, Left Hand Brewing, and Firestone Walker. During the meal, the BOP will host a Beer Silent Auction, an opportunity to bid on unique and collectible items from a variety of breweries including autographed, one-of-a-kind items from the country’s finest breweries.

After the dinner comes the Pennsylvania BrewPub Festival from 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.  Participating BOP members include: Barley Creek Brewing Co., North Country Brewing Co., Covered Bridge Brewhaus, Boneshire Brew Works, The Proper Brewing Co., The Brewery at Hershey, Round Guys Brewing Co., Free Will Brewing Co., Yards Brewing Co., Berwick Brewing Co., Butler Brew Works, Zeroday Brewing Co., and HiJinx Brewing Co.

#supportPAbeer#