he first round of judging for the inaugural Indie Beer Can Festival competition has taken place and brewers within the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) have won the majority of finalist places. Of the dozen shortlisted beers in the competition, sponsored by the Can Makers, 10 are brewed by SIBA members.
The Indie Beer Can competition was launched earlier this year in partnership with SIBA and attracted more than 100 entrants. All 12 shortlisted beers, selected from paper applications, will now be canned – unless already available in a can – and judged at the Indie Beer Can Festival in September, where Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners will be announced.
Nick Stafford, SIBA commercial director, said, “We’re delighted that our members have impressed at the initial stage of judging. The finalists include brewers large and very small, and a wonderful diversity of beer styles, which will now be showcased to buyers, beer writers and other influencers at the Indie Beer Can Festival.
“Craft beer in cans is a growing trend in many markets, notably the USA, and we’re pleased to have been involved in this competition, which has generated huge interest in this packaging format and helped a number of our members to explore it.”
Graham Fenton, Chairman of the Can Makers, commented, “We have received a huge amount of interest in this competition; there were so many exciting and appealing entries, creating a shortlist was a tough challenge. Our judges spent a long time deliberating the qualities of each beer and we are confident that the best twelve have been chosen for the final in September.”
The Indie Beer Can Festival takes place on 11th September in London. Judges for the final include Tesco beer buyer Chiara Nesbitt; industry experts Adrian Tierney Jones and Jane Peyton; President of Cask Brewing Systems inc, Peter Love and Chairman of the Can Makers, Graham Fenton.
Further information about the Indie Beer Can Festival can be found on the Indie Beer Can Festival website www.indiebeercan.co.uk
The 12 finalists are:
Adnams: Ghost Ship (SIBA)
Arbor Ales: Breakfast Stout (SIBA)
Bateman’s Brewery: Orange Barley (SIBA)
Blacks of Kinsale: Kinsale Pale Ale
Butcombe Brewery: Butcombe Gold (SIBA)
Concrete Cow Brewery: Dirty Cow (SIBA)
Fyne Ales: Sanda Blonde (SIBA)
Purity Brewing Company: Longhorn IPA (SIBA)
Springhead Brewery: Roaring Meg (SIBA)
Thwaites:13 Guns
Wadworth & Co: Beer Kitchen Orange Peel (SIBA)
Windsor & Eton Brewery: Republika (SIBA)
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Notes to editors
The Can Makers
Members of the Can Makers work together specifically to promote the benefits of the drinks can and aid communications between the industry and its customers: the brewers and soft drinks manufacturers and the retailers, as well as the packaging industry, the media and consumers.
The Can Makers Information Service acts as the reference point for data and advice on the beverage can and the can manufacturing industry. Amongst its services is the issue of a regular newsletter and the publication of special reports on research activities. Consumer opinion and industry research forms an important part of the Can Makers programme.
The Can Makers was the first organisation in Europe formed to promote drinks cans. It is part of a European network set up under the auspices of Beverage Can Makers Europe (BCME), which includes similar country organisations across Europe.
The Society of Independent Brewers
SIBA was formed in 1980 as the Small Independent Brewers’ Association, to represent the interests of the emerging new wave of microbrewers.
With growing credibility and campaigning success, SIBA has come to represent the broad spectrum of the independent brewing sector. Renamed in 1995, SIBA is now one of the most authoritative and respected bodies in the brewing industry.
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For more information on SIBA, contact:
Ros Shiel
ShielPorter Communications
07841 694137 / ros@shielporter.com
For more information on the festival, please contact onechocolate communications
E: canmakers@onechocolatecomms.co.uk
T: 020 7437 0227