We’re less than 24 hours away from the 2016 Brewbound Session in San Diego, and it’s time to introduce our presenters and judges for Startup Brewery Challenge 7, our on-of-a-kind business pitch competition presented by Craft Brew Alliance. Six craft brewery entrepreneurs who have been on the market for two years or less will take the stage tomorrow to show off their business plans, sample one core product offering and receive immediate feedback from a panel of five expert judges.

We’re just 10 days away from the 2016 Winter Brewbound Session, happening on Thursday, Dec. 1 in San Diego, and the final agenda is now available for viewing. And, as always, we’ve saved one final surprise announcement for attendees. Joining next week’s full-day event will be Vann Russell, the founder of Arlington Capital Advisors.

Are you a new brewery owner? Do you want to win $5,000 and take an all-expenses-paid trip to Beervana? Interested in brewing a specialty batch of beer at the new Widmer Brothers innovation brewery? On Dec. 1, at the Brewbound Session conference in San Diego, six craft brewery entrepreneurs who have been on the market for two years or less will have an opportunity to participate in Brewbound’s one-of-a-kind business pitch competition — Startup Brewery Challenge 7, presented by Craft Brew Alliance.

Brewbound Session San Diego will take place this Thursday and, in addition to featuring a thought-provoking discussions with a stellar lineup of industry executives and entrepreneurs, we’ve also carved out plenty of time for attendees to enjoy some great beers and intimate conversations with one another. To kickstart the networking, registered Brewbound Session attendees are invited to join the official welcome reception, sponsored by Blue Horseshoe, taking place at the “Paradise Terrace” at Paradise Point on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 6:00 PM.

Pabst Brewing is the country’s fifth largest beer maker, but unlike competitors Anheuser-Busch InBev, MillerCoors, Constellation and Heineken — all of which have made significant investments in the craft space — the company has yet to enter an otherwise frothy craft beer market teeming with eager sellers. But it’s not because the company lacks a desire to get serious about the segment. In fact, Pabst CEO and chairman Eugene Kashper has publicly acknowledged the fact that a true craft brand is a “big hole” in the company’s portfolio.

Tomorrow, voters in five states will decide whether to legalize sales of recreational marijuana. And on December 1, Vivien Azer, Cowen and Company’s managing director and senior research analyst specializing in the beverage, tobacco and cannabis sectors, will discuss how a growing marijuana economy could impact companies in the alcohol sector.