Create Opportunity for Veterans in Brewing & Distilling

Subscribe to get notified about new events!

Coalition to Represent American Flavor & Tradition (CRAFT)

CRAFT champions American craft spirits by connecting veteran-owned brands with consumers. We celebrate tradition, community, and the stories behind each bottle, fostering a vibrant culture of appreciation for unique flavors and the artisans who create them.

A CRAFT 2026 Silent Auction &mdash; Gear Built for the Mission, On and Off Duty Official RulesCoalition to Represent American Flavor &amp; Tradition (C.R.A.F.T.) is a veteran-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, 7615 Cervantes Ct, Springfield, VA 22153.Eligibility: Open to legal residents of the United States who are 21 years of age or older at time of bid. Employees, officers, and directors of CRAFT and their immediate family members are not eligible to bid or win.How to bid: Place a bid through the official bidding platform linked above. Bids must meet or exceed the posted minimum bid and any posted minimum increment for that item. Bids are not final until the auction closes.Auction window: Bidding closes September 24, 2026, at the Tampa Marriott Water Street, Florida Ballroom, Tampa, FL. The highest bid on each item at close of bidding wins that item, subject to the reserve price terms below.Reserve prices: Some items carry a confidential reserve price, the minimum amount CRAFT will accept for that item. If the highest bid at close of auction does not meet the item&#39;s reserve, the item will not be awarded. Unclaimed reserve items will instead be carried forward to CRAFT&#39;s next event auction. Reserve prices are not disclosed to bidders during the auction.Winner determination: The highest bidder on each item at the close of the auction is the winner, provided any applicable reserve price has been met. In the event of a tie, the earliest-placed bid at that amount wins.Notification: Winners will be announced online and notified by email on September 25, 2026, using the contact information provided at bid registration.Prize claim: All items must be claimed in person by the winning bidder with valid government-issued photo ID. Winners have 30 days from notification to complete payment and claim their item before it may be offered to the next-highest bidder.Payment: Winning bidders will be invoiced for the full winning bid amount through the bidding platform. Items will not be released until payment is received in full.Taxes: A silent auction bid is a purchase, not a gift, up to the fair market value of the item. Only the amount paid in excess of an item&#39;s stated fair market value may qualify as a tax-deductible charitable contribution. Winners are responsible for any applicable federal, state, and local taxes on items received. Where required by law, CRAFT will issue appropriate tax documentation.Right to substitute: CRAFT reserves the right to substitute an item of equal or greater value if an advertised item becomes unavailable.Questions: <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:connect@supportcraft.org" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">connect@supportcraft.org</a>

The Loadout

Frontline Tastings: Tampa is your chance to come out and support veteran-owned brands as they showcase some of the finest adult beverage products in the country. Join us for an incredible evening filled with premium spirits, craft beverages, cocktails, non-alcoholic products, THC beverages, networking, storytelling, and real connections with the people behind the brands.&nbsp;Meet the founders.Hear their stories.Take pictures.Sample products.Share the moment. This is more than a tasting event. Frontline Tastings is a platform built to empower veteran-owned brands and create real business opportunities across the beverage and hospitality industry. Through media exposure, partnerships, hospitality relationships, and community support, we help brands grow beyond the event itself. Hosted by C.R.A.F.T. Brewing &amp; Distilling, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, every ticket sold directly supports our mission to create more opportunities for veteran and first responder entrepreneurs across the adult beverage industry.This year&rsquo;s event will feature 20+ veteran-owned and allied brands from across the country representing spirits, wine, beer, RTDs, mixers, non-alcoholic beverages, THC beverages, and more. Whether you are a consumer, creator, retailer, distributor, hospitality professional, or simply someone who enjoys great drinks and great people &mdash; Frontline Tastings is where stories, brands, and communities come together.

Frontline Tastings: Tampa

Real Conversations. Real Connections. Real Industry. Media &amp; Industry Day is social networking the way it was meant to be. Not heads down scrolling on your phone, but a drink in your hand, a good story, a warm handshake, and a connection that actually means something, whether it turns into a friendship or a business relationship. This is your chance to sit down and talk with the founders behind 20+ veteran-owned beverage brands. No formal pitch meetings, no scripts, just real conversations with the people who built these companies from the ground up. Whether you&#39;re a podcast host looking for your next great interview, a content creator capturing video and photos, or a supplier, vendor, or service provider who helps beverage brands grow (marketing, can sales, manufacturing, distribution, retail sales, label making, tasting and sampling, or anything else that moves a brand forward) this is your chance to get in the room with the people who make the buying decisions. Media &amp; Industry Day is still built around our 20+ beverage brands, but it&#39;s also a business networking event. We&#39;ve invited business leaders from a diverse range of industries to be part of this, to connect, share, and enjoy the moment alongside the founders and the CRAFT team. Our focus stays on the adult beverage industry and CRAFT&#39;s mission, and we&#39;re grateful to everyone showing up to support it. While you&#39;re there:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Drink stations throughout the event featuring the participating brands</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A cigar station, with cigars available for purchase</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Podcasters on-site interviewing beverage brand founders and CRAFT board members</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A few content creators and influencers around, mainly connecting with brands and board members, though they may stop to chat with you too. Being on camera is always your choice.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Casual, one-on-one time with founders from 20+ veteran-owned beverage brands</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Real conversations that can turn into real business: retail placement, distribution deals, hospitality partnerships, vendor relationships, or just a great story to tell</li></ul>This is what CRAFT and Frontline Tastings are all about: building meaningful connections. So sip something great, talk to somebody new, share your story, hear theirs, and enjoy the people around you. That&#39;s really what it&#39;s all about. Want to make a bigger splash?Beyond a ticket, sponsorship opportunities are available. Sponsors get dedicated marketing support to the participating brands, curated introductions, and help setting up the conversations that matter most to your business. A note on your ticket:C.R.A.F.T. Brewing &amp; Distilling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your ticket is a suggested $100 charitable donation supporting veteran entrepreneurship in the beverage industry. You&#39;ll receive a tax-deductible donation certificate, available on-site the day of the event or by request. We&#39;ll also have a silent auction running throughout the event, including digital previews of items available ahead of time. We&#39;d love for you to take part. Every bit helps us raise money for this cause, and we&#39;ll be sharing more details as we get closer to the 24th. Details:Invite required. Your ticket confirms your credentialed access.&nbsp;You must enter through the main entrance of Office Evolution.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1786101977/wysiwyg/uezhnieiyre9xedajruh.jpg" style="width: 276px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto 5px 0px; text-align: left; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 276px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto 5px 0px; text-align: left;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable"> Interested in sponsorship, or have questions about your invite or donation certificate?&nbsp; Reach out to <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:connect@supportcraft.org" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">connect@supportcraft.org</a> <a fr-original-style="" href="//supportcraft.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">supportcraft.org</a> Sip. Support. Share.

Frontline Tastings: Media & Industry Social

Your Invite Only Pass to Media &amp; Industry DayThis is your all-access pass to sit down and talk with the founders behind 20+ veteran-owned beverage brands &mdash; no formal pitch meetings, no scripts, just real conversations with the people who built these companies from the ground up.Whether you&#39;re a podcast host looking for your next great interview, a content creator capturing video and photos, or a supplier, vendor, or service provider who helps beverage brands grow &mdash; marketing, can sales, manufacturing, distribution, retail sales, label making, tasting/sampling, or anything else that moves a brand forward &mdash; this is your chance to get in the room with the people who make the buying decisions. What you&#39;ll walk away with:<ul fr-original-style="text-align: start;" style="text-align: start; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Casual, one-on-one time with founders from 20+ veteran-owned beverage brands</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A direct line to decision-makers if you sell products or services to the adult beverage industry</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Interview and content opportunities across bourbon, whiskey, gin, rum, wine, RTDs, THC beverages, functional drinks, and more</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Time with media and content creators covering the event, giving your business added visibility and publicity</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Real conversations that can turn into real business &mdash; retail placement, distribution deals, hospitality partnerships, vendor relationships, or just a great story to tell</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A front-row seat to the people, service, and craftsmanship behind every bottle</li></ul>Want to make a bigger splash? Beyond a ticket, sponsorship opportunities are available. Sponsors get dedicated marketing support to the participating brands, curated introductions, and help setting up the conversations that matter most to your business. A note on your ticket: C.R.A.F.T. Brewing &amp; Distilling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your ticket is a charitable donation supporting veteran entrepreneurship in the beverage industry. You&#39;ll receive a tax-deductible donation certificate &mdash; available on-site the day of the event or by request. Details: Invite required &mdash; your ticket confirms your credentialed access Interested in sponsorship, or have questions about your invite or donation certificate? Reach out to <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:connect@supportcraft.org" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">connect@supportcraft.org</a>&nbsp; supportcraft.org Sip. Support. Share.

Media & Industry Invite - VIP

Kick off your evening early in Nashville with a fun, high-energy tasting experience celebrating the people behind the bottle.Frontline Tastings: Nashville brings together a select group of veteran-owned and veteran-allied brands for an intimate, guided tasting where you&rsquo;ll sample fantastic spirits, enjoy creative cocktails, and meet the founders and makers who built them.This is your chance to:<ul data-end="642" data-start="427" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li data-end="473" data-section-id="1yfgxyv" data-start="427" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sample standout spirits from unique brands</li><li data-end="506" data-section-id="kn24og" data-start="474" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Enjoy curated cocktail pours</li><li data-end="572" data-section-id="18u22jv" data-start="507" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Meet the founders of C.R.A.F.T. and the brands themselves</li><li data-end="642" data-section-id="159zbko" data-start="573" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connect with others who appreciate great drinks and great stories</li></ul>As we build toward America&rsquo;s 250th, we&rsquo;re highlighting the deep connection between service, tradition, and the craft spirits industry&mdash;right here in Nashville, a city built on culture, community, and great hospitality.Stay after the tasting as the venue opens and continue the experience with featured cocktails and new connections.Come for the drinks, stay for the stories, and show your support for the veteran-owned businesses shaping the future of craft.

Frontline Tastings: Nashville

C.R.A.F.T. is bringing our veteran community onto one of the biggest stages in American sports.On Sunday, February 21, 2027, our group will participate in the Honor and Remembrance Flag Unfurl during the pre-race ceremonies for the 69th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Before the green flag drops, participants will walk onto the track and help carry and unfurl the Honor and Remembrance Flag alongside NASCAR&rsquo;s giant American flag. The ceremony will take place during the National Anthem, surrounded by more than 100,000 fans in the grandstands, with a military flyover overhead and millions of viewers watching the national broadcast. The Honor and Remembrance Flag was created as a visible tribute to members of the United States Armed Forces who lost their lives in service to our nation. Carrying it onto the field is more than a pre-race experience&mdash;it is an opportunity to honor the fallen, stand beside fellow veterans and supporters, and represent the military community on a national stage. Following the ceremony, participants will experience the energy and tradition of the Daytona 500, known as &ldquo;The Great American Race.&rdquo; The event features 200 laps and 500 miles of racing at the iconic Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. This experience reflects what C.R.A.F.T. is built to do: bring veterans together, create meaningful opportunities after service, and connect our community with people and organizations that believe in honoring service through action. Event DetailsDate: Sunday, February 21, 2027 Location: Daytona International Speedway Address: 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Experience: Honor and Remembrance Flag Unfurl and Daytona 500 Participants: C.R.A.F.T. veterans, community members, partners, and invited supporters Important Registration and Ticket InformationC.R.A.F.T. will submit its final participant and ticket list to Daytona International Speedway on December 4, 2026. Daytona International Speedway will issue the official race tickets after receiving and processing that list. Tickets will not be issued immediately when you register with C.R.A.F.T. Do not wait to register. Ticket prices are increasing, and the race is expected to sell out. Registration is not complete until all requested participant information has been provided. All on-field participants must meet and enter with the C.R.A.F.T. group at the designated time and location. Participants will also be required to attend the group briefing, orientation, and flag-handling rehearsal before the ceremony. Anyone who does not arrive with the group or complete the required preparation may lose access to the on-field experience. Additional information&mdash;including arrival times, credentials, parking, required attire, security procedures, on-field instructions, race admission, and guest opportunities&mdash;will be provided to confirmed participants as details become available. Stand with us on the track. Honor those who served. Help carry their legacy into one of America&rsquo;s greatest sporting traditions.

Coalition to Represent American Flavor & Tradition (CRAFT)

Events

Events

C.R.A.F.T. at the Daytona 500 — Veterans in the Fast Lane

Get your tickets

Powered by