Samuel Adams Opens 15th Brewing & Business Experienceship Applications Through March 20

Samuel Adams’ Brewing the American Dream opened applications March 3 for the 15th annual Brewing & Business Experienceship, inviting emerging craft brewery founders to apply by March 20, 2026 for hands-on coaching, industry resources, a collaborative limited-edition brew at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery, and finalist access to the Crafting Dreams Beer Bash in New York City.

“The Brewing & Business Experienceship was built to help level the playing field for emerging brewers by providing access to mentorship, resources, and industry expertise,” said Jennifer Glanville Love, Director of Partnerships & Collaborations at Boston Beer Company, framing the program’s outreach as a direct benefit to startup brewers.

Now entering its 15th year, the Experienceship “provides one standout brewer with access to hands-on coaching, industry expertise, and resources to help grow and scale their business,” according to Samuel Adams’ program materials. Stocktitan described the initiative as a year-long program, and the application cycle positions one applicant to come to Boston to learn at the brewery founded by Jim Koch and to work side-by-side with Samuel Adams’ team of experts.

The Experienceship’s curriculum and supports extend beyond a single brew day; program listings cite a Bootcamp called Ready, Set, Pitch!, one-hour webinars on trending topics for food and beverage entrepreneurs, and partnerships with nonprofit lending partners that offer loan products and expertise to help winners hire staff, upgrade equipment, secure space and buy inventory. Applicants seeking more program details can contact hellobtad@samueladams.com or follow the program account @samadamsbtad.

Past program outputs illustrate the tangible rewards: 2025 winner Moor’s Brewing collaborated with Samuel Adams to produce an Apricot Altbier at 4.5% ABV that debuted exclusively in Boston and Chicago taprooms for a limited run aligned with Black History Month. The Experienceship itself traces back to 2012, while Brewing the American Dream has supported entrepreneurs since 2008, grounding the 2026 cycle in more than a decade of mentorship work.

Finalists from this application window will be selected and invited to attend the annual Crafting Dreams Beer Bash in NYC, where “they’ll have the opportunity to share their best brews and business stories with Samuel Adams leaders, media, and beer enthusiasts.” Applications remain open through March 20, 2026; press inquiries may be directed to btad@5wpr.com. Since its inception in 2012, the program has focused on breaking down barriers to entry in the brewing industry and on “welcoming winners into the Brewing the American Dream® family for ongoing mentorship well beyond the initial win.”