The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has unveiled a line up of high profile, engaging speakers for its BeerX event in Sheffield this March.
The speakers, who will address BeerX on Thursday 13 March, are: Tim Martin, founder of JD Wetherspoon; Dr Charlie Bamforth, UK and USA brewing industry guru; Steve Grossman of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Nicky Morgan, economic secretary to the treasury.
SIBA chief executive Julian Grocock said, “We’re delighted with this speaker programme, which represents everything that matters to our members and to the wider British beer industry: brewing expertise and innovation, pub retailing and the political significance of beer and pubs, which will be of particular interest given BeerX’s proximity to the 2014 Budget.
“We’re also pleased to have attracted presenters who are acknowledged as the leading authorities in their field, something which speaks volumes for the increasing importance of the UK’s independent brewing sector and the high regard in which SIBA is now held both within the drinks industry and outside it.”
BeerX will also include presentations by Fuller’s head brewer John Keeling and Roger Ryman of St Austell Brewery, who will share their brewing expertise with SIBA brewers, as well as a panel of brewers already running successful pubs giving advice to delegates considering the move. At the same time, SIBA brewers looking to export will benefit from a series of seminars and sessions with buyers from export markets, organised specially for BeerX in conjunction with UK Trade & Investment.
BeerX takes place from 11-15 March and will bring together an estimated 300+ delegates from across the UK brewing industry including brewers, licensees and suppliers, while the Festival of Beer, open to the public, will showcase around 300 SIBA regional award-winning beers as they are judged in the UK’s biggest national beer competition.
Grocock added, “Our goal for BeerX is to present British beer at its best to a wide ranging audience. With a line up of high quality speakers, a programme of seminars from respected industry experts, a Festival of Beer, as well as the announcement of our brewing and business award winners, BeerX 2014 looks set to build on the success of last year’s inaugural event.
“We look forward to welcoming the brewing industry to Sheffield in March.”
BeerX 2014 is being held at iceSheffield, just outside the city centre. Tickets will be available soon from http://siba.co.uk/beerx/
BEERX – PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
Tuesday 11 March:JUDGING DAY
- Final judging of all SIBA National Beer Competitions: Cask, Bottled and Craft Beer in Keg
Wednesday 12 March:SIBA AGM AND MEMBERS’ DAY
- SIBA AGM and briefings from SIBA executive
- Seminars for SIBA members
- Chairman’s reception
- Opening of BeerX Festival of Beer to public (evening)
- Announcement of SIBA’s National Beer Competition winners by BBC food and drink presenter Nigel Barden
Thursday 13 March:INDUSTRY DAY
- Key speakers
- Meet the Brewer event
- Meet the Buyer event: buyers from a number of export markets
- Presentation of the SIBA Business Awards 2014
- Festival of Beer open to public (evening only)
Friday 14 March: UKTI SEMINARS
- Festival of Beer open to public all day
Saturday 15 March: FESTIVAL OF BEER
- Festival of Beer open to public all day, Rugby Six Nations screened in afternoon
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Issued on behalf of: Society of Independent Brewers
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