NEW YORK STATE BREWERS ASSOCIATION INC

What NEW YORK STATE BREWERS ASSOCIATION INC does

The New York State Brewers Association Inc. (NYSBA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 2013 to represent the interests of New York's craft brewing industry. It serves over 500 member breweries, positioning New York as the second-largest craft beer market in the United States, and operates across three core functions: legislative advocacy, industry education, and consumer promotion. The association's most visible policy achievement is the Craft New York Act of 2014, and it has continued to shape state-level rules, including executive orders during COVID-19 that permitted to-go alcohol sales for members.

The association's product surface spans consumer festivals across multiple New York cities (Syracuse, Albany, Buffalo, Long Island, Rochester), a beer competition program, merchandise, and the NY Craft Beer mobile app, which functions as a virtual passport/check-in tool across the brewery membership. It also runs corporate and private tasting events, virtual happy hours and tastings, master tasting experiences, and an international brewery tour program, with named corporate clients including Spotify, Akamai, and Cowen. Partnerships with Savor NY (tourism), Half Time Beverage (logistics), and BMI/Gigmor (music crossover) extend its reach beyond pure beer programming.

Its business model is a multi-stream non-profit revenue mix: brewery membership dues, festival ticket and merchandise sales, sponsorship from ingredient and energy suppliers (e.g., 1886 Malt House, Marathon Energy, NY Hop Guild), corporate private-event fees, and donations. Leadership consists of Executive Director Paul Leone, President Chris Ericson, Vice President Rich Vandenburgh, and Marketing & Communications Manager Chloe Kay, supported by an annually disclosed board of directors.

Name

NEW YORK STATE BREWERS ASSOCIATION INC

Legal name

New York State Brewers Association Inc

Website

https://thinknydrinkny.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The New York State Brewers Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that supports more than 500 New York craft breweries through legislative advocacy, multi-city consumer festivals, the NY Craft Beer mobile passport app, and corporate and virtual tasting events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Festival & Event Revenue: The association produces multiple craft beer festivals including NYS Craft Brewers Festivals, BriteVibes Beer & Music Festival, and virtual tasting experiences. 100% of proceeds from these events benefit the association's mission to support NYS breweries.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Think NY, Drink NY branded merchandise including apparel and accessories. Proceeds benefit the NYSBA.
3. Corporate Private Tasting Events: Private virtual and in-person tasting experiences for corporate clients. $65 per participant with minimum requirements. Additional revenue from swag bags and food add-ons.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship opportunities at festivals providing brand visibility, digital placement, and association with the craft beer community.
5. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from supporters of NYS craft beer industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA) is a non-profit trade association that supports 500+ licensed New York craft breweries through legislative advocacy, education, and consumer-facing marketing. Its sellable offerings include the official NYS Craft Beer mobile app with a virtual passport rewards program, multi-city craft beer festivals (NYS Craft Brewers Festivals, BriteVibes), private virtual and in-person corporate tasting experiences, the annual NYS Craft Beer Competition, and Think NY Drink NY branded merchandise.

Product overview

The New York State Brewers Association operates as a non-profit 501(c) organization that serves as both an industry association and consumer-facing marketing entity. Its core offerings include the Official New York State Craft Beer App (a mobile passport/rewards application with brewery mapping), multiple annual festivals (NYS Craft Brewers Festivals, BriteVibes Beer & Music Festival), virtual and in-person tasting experiences (Private Virtual Tasting Experiences, Master Tasting Experiences, NYS 3-Way Collab events), and the annual NYS Craft Beer Competition. The association also sells Think NY Drink NY branded merchandise as a revenue stream. The organization's mission focuses on advocacy, education, and promotion for over 500 NYS craft breweries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Official New York State Craft Beer App Free mobile app mapping every licensed brewery in New York State, featuring a virtual passport program where users collect stamps from breweries they visit to earn Think NY Drink NY branded merchandise rewards. Includes brewery hours, events, menus, festival listings, retail locator, and brewery discounts.
• NYS Craft Brewers Festivals Multi-city in-person craft beer tasting festivals held across New York State (Syracuse, Albany, and other locations) featuring over 150 specialty craft beers from 60+ NYS craft breweries poured by the brewers themselves, with food pairings and live entertainment. 100% of proceeds support NYSBA's mission.
• BriteVibes Beer & Music Festival A beer and music festival produced by NYSBA that combines craft beer tastings with live music performances.
• Private Virtual Tasting Experiences Corporate team-building and client entertainment experiences where participants receive 64 oz of beer from NYS breweries delivered to their doorstep and attend a 90-minute hosted Zoom session with professional moderation, brewery tours, and craft beer education. Priced at $65 per participant with a 50-participant minimum.
• NYS 3-Way Collab & Virtual Imbibe Virtual tasting experience featuring collaboration beers from three NYS breweries. Participants receive a craft beer box with 192oz of beer from participating breweries, cheese and charcuterie pairings, and access to an interactive 2-hour Zoom tasting session with brewers.
• Master Tasting Experiences Educational workshops for 25-50 people focused on craft beer culture, brewing process, and NYS beer history. Designed for sales incentives, team building, and customer relationship events.
• NYS Craft Beer Competition Annual beer competition organized by NYSBA, recognized as the second-largest state competition in the US. Includes the Governor's Excelsior Craft Beer Cup awarded to Best of Show, with multiple categories and medals awarded to winning breweries.
• Think NY Drink NY Merchandise Branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, and promotional items sold through the Think NY Drink NY e-commerce storefront. Proceeds benefit the New York State Brewers Association and support the craft beer industry.
• New York Craft Beer Day An annual celebration of craft beer in New York State, officially declared by the Governor. A statewide day dedicated to promoting and celebrating NYS craft beer across breweries.

Quantifiable outcome

• NYS is #2 craft beer market in US with $5.4B economic impact
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2022Music industry partner collaborating with Gigmor and NYSBA for 'Taste of Nashville' songwriter tour of NYS breweries.
• GigmorminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2022Music industry platform partnering with BMI and NYSBA to bring Nashville songwriters to NYS breweries.
• Fifth Hammer BrewingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2022One of three NYS breweries featured in the 3-way collaboration virtual tasting experience. Contributed exclusive beers and hosted virtual brewery tour.
• Tin Barn BrewingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2022One of three NYS breweries featured in the 3-way collaboration virtual tasting experience. Contributed exclusive beers and hosted virtual brewery tour.
• Prison City Pub & BrewerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2022One of three NYS breweries featured in the 3-way collaboration virtual tasting experience. Contributed exclusive beers and hosted virtual brewery tour.
• Half Time BeveragecoreOthersLogistics partner for shipping beer to virtual event participants. Enables shipment of beer boxes to participants in 7 states for NYS 3-Way Collab events.
• 1886 Malt HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for the NYS Craft Beer Competition.
• Marathon EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAwards ceremony sponsor for NYS Craft Beer Competition.
• NY Hop GuildminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for NYS Ingredient Award category recognizing beers using NYS hops.
• WeVowminorOthersSafety reporting tool integrated into festival policies for attendees to report harassment or safety concerns.
• Brewers Space GuildminorOthersIndustry association membership joining brewers guilds across the country to advocate for craft beer-friendly laws including direct shipping and franchise reform.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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