Industry steps up to support International Brewing Awards 2015
The International Brewing Awards are gearing up for their return to Burton-on-Trent, where judging for the next competition will take place in February 2015.
Championship winners from the 2013 competition with chair of judges Bill Taylor of Lion (middle row, right)
Several sponsors from the global brewing arena have already stepped up with support. Leading packaging and filling technology manufacturer Krones have signed up as headline sponsors, while brewing process aid manufacturer AB Vickers is again an industry sponsor.
Gamko is providing the fridges to store the hundreds of bottles and cans expected to compete in the smallpack categories, while Centriflow Services is providing the cask cooling system.
Molson Coors is again consolidating delivery of all the competitor beers and managing the keg installation at the National Brewery Centre, where the judging takes place. On the other side of the world, the Japan Craft Beer Association has confirmed its partner status and will help its member breweries to enter and judges to participate.
Ruth Evans, director of Brewing Technology Services, which organises the competition, said, “We brought the International Brewing Awards back to the UK in 2011 and we were delighted then with the support we received from the industry, both in the level of entries and the offers of sponsorship and partnership that ensured the competition’s success.
“To see this support continue for the 2013 competition, and to be confirming partnerships for the 2015 Awards almost a year ahead of the competition, is testament to their growing stature. Most of our industry supporters have been with us since our start in Burton, and we’re grateful for their loyalty. This is the oldest international brewing competition still running and it clearly commands a lot of esteem, and affection, among the global brewing fraternity.
Last year, the International Brewing Awards included a cider competition for the first time in many decades. Attracting 60 entries which were judged by a specially-assembled panel of respected judges, the competition was hailed a success and in 2015 will run as a discrete event, the International Cider Awards, running alongside the beer contest.
Chair of judges Bill Taylor said, “We have re-established the Awards as a credible competition for cider makers as well as brewers.
“Last year we learned a lot about cider judging from our expert judges, and ahead of the next competition, our judges committee is reviewing the categories to ensure their relevance. We are confident that the 2015 Awards will be one of the leading platforms for cider makers from around the globe to gauge the quality of their product.”
Entries to the International Brewing Awards, incorporating the International Cider Awards, open on 1 August this year and close on 31 December. Judging will take place in Burton-upon-Trent from 10-12 February 2015. Brewers and cider makers are invited to register their interest now on the competition website www.brewingawardsorg.
