XVII Beer&Craft Drink Forum: Strong Breweries, Strong Brands, Strong Ukraine

On October 22–23, 2026, the XVII Beer, Distilling and Beverage Producers Forum — Beer&Craft Drink Forum — will take place in Rivne. It is one of the most authoritative professional events in Ukraine’s brewing industry, bringing together beer, spirits and other beverage producers, technologists, equipment, raw material and packaging suppliers, as well as representatives of academia, retail and the hospitality industry.

The second day of the Forum, October 23, will take place in the format of a business tour and will focus on practical insights into real production processes. Participants will visit the production facilities of some of the key enterprises in Rivne and Volyn regions — Volynsky Brovar Brewery, Riven Brewery, and the Museum of Hops and Brewing of Historic Volyn.

The main idea of the Forum is: “Strong Breweries. Strong Brands. Strong Ukraine.”

Despite all the challenges caused by wartime, Ukraine’s craft and independent brewing industry continues to develop, invest in new technologies, create modern Ukrainian brands, and explore new opportunities for growth. That is why professional dialogue, the exchange of practical experience, and the joint search for effective business solutions are particularly important today.

Over the years, Beer&Craft Drink Forum has become one of the leading professional platforms for Ukraine’s brewing industry. It is a place where new technologies and equipment are presented, key market trends are discussed, partnerships are established, new projects are launched, and solutions are developed to help Ukrainian breweries grow and remain competitive.

The numerous requests from brewers, partners and regular participants became the reason to return to the traditional format of holding the Beer&Craft Drink Forum twice a year.

The industry is changing dynamically, technologies are developing rapidly, and producers need regular professional communication, exchange of experience and practical solutions. That is why the media group “Technologies and Innovations” and the professional magazine “Drinks & Beer. T. I.” are once again holding the Forum in spring and autumn, creating a permanent platform for the professional community to develop businesses, implement innovations and strengthen partnerships.

The Forum is traditionally organized by the media group “Technologies and Innovations” and the journal “Drinks & Beer. T. I.”, which have been systematically working for many years to develop Ukrainian brewing, promote modern technologies and support independent producers. Holding two Forums annually is a logical continuation of this work and a response to the demand from the professional community.

On October 22, participants will be welcomed at the Optima Collection Bergshloss Hotel in Rivne. Throughout the day, there will be a large-scale exhibition of equipment, technologies, ingredients, packaging solutions and materials for the production of beer and other beverages. New products will be presented, as well as product tastings from Ukrainian producers and food partners, professional networking and business meetings.

The central part of the Forum will be an extensive conference program dedicated to the most relevant issues concerning the development of Ukrainian brewing.

The first day’s program includes five discussion panels. During the first discussion panel, participants together with leading producers, experts and industry associations will discuss the current state of the Ukrainian beer market, whether craft brewing remains a profitable business, how consumer preferences and purchasing behavior have changed, and which strategic decisions will determine the development of the industry in the coming years.

The next panel discussion will focus on the economics of production. Experts will explore practical tools for reducing production costs, improving energy efficiency, automating manufacturing processes, optimizing the use of raw materials, modern water treatment systems, CO₂ recovery, and digital enterprise management.

One of the most topical discussions will focus on non-alcoholic beer and next-generation beverages. Participants will discuss global trends in the development of the NoLo segment, modern technologies for producing non-alcoholic beer, the creation of functional beverages, kombucha, natural lemonades, as well as new opportunities for business diversification.

The fourth panel will focus on branding, packaging, and modern packaging technologies. Today, the success of a product depends not only on its quality but also on the producer’s ability to create a recognizable brand, position the product correctly, and make effective use of modern solutions in design, labelling, and packaging.

The conference programme will conclude with a strategic discussion on the diversification of the brewing business. Participants will examine practical experience in the production of spirits, cider, mead-based and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as selected examples of developing winemaking projects based on brewing companies. Particular attention will be paid to technological solutions, the economics of new business areas, and the creation of multi-brand beverage companies.

A separate practical session will also focus on new products and technologies that may soon appear at Ukrainian breweries. Participants will learn about successful case studies, taste new beverage categories, discover modern technological solutions from equipment manufacturers, and explore the experience of Ukrainian and European producers.

The conference day will bring together leading experts, brewers, technologists, and representatives of companies implementing modern solutions for the brewing and beverage industries. The discussions will involve brewery and distillery executives, industry consultants, analysts, as well as manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, raw materials, and engineering solutions. The programme will feature thematic presentations, innovative technology showcases, practical case studies, and real-world production experience, helping participants stay informed about current industry trends, gain practical knowledge, and exchange professional expertise.

As is traditionally the case, the Forum will feature a Charity Auction in support of Ukrainian brewers who are currently defending their country in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the previous Forum in Ternopil on 2 April, UAH 100,000 was raised. All proceeds were allocated to restoring equipment for a special operations unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, where brewer Serhii serves. He is known for his work at Red Cat Brewery in Kharkiv, Drofa Brewery in Kherson, and Luchan Brewery in Lutsk.

Traditionally, the Forum will conclude with a Public Beer and Spirits Tasting featuring products from Ukrainian and international producers who are partners and participants of the event. It will be an excellent opportunity not only to explore the diversity of products but also to connect with colleagues, exchange professional experience, discuss current industry trends, and discover new ideas for development. It is precisely in such an informal atmosphere that new connections, partnerships, and joint projects are born.

On October 23, participants will go on a business tour to visiting a leading enterprises in the Rivne and Volyn regions — Volynsky Brovar Brewery, Riven Brewery, and the Museum of Hops and Brewing of Historic Volyn. Participants will have the opportunity to explore modern production facilities, meet and talk with owners and technologists, see the latest production solutions, and exchange practical experience.

The XVII Beer & Craft Drink Forum is more than just a conference. It is a professional platform where people meet for shaping the future of Ukrainian brewing. This is where new partnerships are created, technologies that define the development of the industry are discussed, and business decisions are made that help Ukrainian breweries become stronger and their brands gain recognition both in Ukraine and around the world.

The organizers invite representatives of breweries, beer factories, beer pubs, restaurants, and distilleries to cooperate and participate in the Forum.

Together, we promote Ukrainian craft beverages and national producers of beer, cider, and spirits, working for the development of the industry and Ukraine’s Victory.

You can register for the Forum by completing the registration form:

Registration form⁠

Organizer: Media Group “Technologies and Innovations”.

Main Information Partner: Drinks & Beer journal and the techdrinks.info website.

Main Organizational Partner: Association “Independent Breweries of Ukraine”.

Main Legal Partner: IP & Law firm “Pakharenko & Partners”.

Main Laboratory Partner of the Conference: “Donau Lab Ukraine”.

Main Technology Partner: Fermentis™.

Participation Fees

For brewing companies:

• Conference Day — UAH 3,000
• Business Tour — UAH 2,500

For technology companies:

• Conference Day — UAH 4,000

The participation fee includes:

• coffee breaks;
• lunches;
• reception;
• event catering and service;
• participation in the beverage and food tasting;
• a conference participant package with informational materials;
• a detailed post-event report with the final presentations of the speakers, sent by email.

Accommodation

Rooms can be booked at Optima Collection Bergshloss Rivne.

Tel.: +380 67 238 2778

For proposals regarding speeches and presentations, as well as for registration of participants and partners, please contact:

Anna: +38 097 759 25 83

Larysa: +38 097 96 89 516

Iryna: +38 096 49 166 92

Project Manager:

Nadiia Yashchuk

Tel.: +38 (068) 568-58-22

Email: rnadia@ukr.net

Creative Director: Kateryna Konieva, Editor-in-Chief / Founder of Drinks & Beer. TI journal. .