BeerX, the celebration of British beer staged by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) earlier this year, is set for a return to Sheffield in March 2014.
The five-day event, taking place from 11- 15 March, is unique in its representation of all facets of British brewing. BeerX 2014 will bring together brewers, licensees, hop growers, barley farmers and other suppliers, industry friends, politicians and, finally, drinkers enjoying the 300+ beers on offer at its Festival of Beer.
BeerX’s Industry Day, on 13 March, has become a ‘must attend’ fixture for anyone involved in brewing, inside and outside SIBA. One of the day’s confirmed speakers is Nicky Morgan, the new economic secretary to the Treasury, taking on the role previously held by Sajid Javid, who delivered the historic cut in beer duty in this year’s Budget.
Other speakers at BeerX include Fuller’s head brewer John Keeling and Roger Ryman of St Austell Brewery, who will share their brewing expertise with SIBA brewers, while a panel of brewers already running successful pubs will give advice to delegates considering the move. At the same time, SIBA brewers looking to export will be able to meet buyers from countries across the globe at a new forum, organised specially for BeerX in conjunction with UK Trade & Investment.
BeerX 2013 successfully combined the highlights of the SIBA calendar under one roof and next year’s event will again stage: the final judging of the National Beer Competition and the presentation to the winning brewers; the SIBA Business Awards and the SIBA Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Festival of Beer held at BeerX 2013 was the first of its kind in the UK, and returns next March to offer visitors an unparalleled diversity of cask, keg and bottled beers from across the country. The festival runs for four days, concluding on Saturday 15 March, when visitors will be able to watch the Rugby Six Nations tournament on big screens while they discover the delights of the BeerX bar.
Julian Grocock, SIBA chief executive, said, “BeerX 2013 was a huge success and we are confident that the 2014 event will be even better. We are delighted with the programme of speakers and seminars already lined up for our delegates and confident it will become even stronger as we confirm further guests over the coming weeks.
“Our goal for BeerX is to present British beer at its best to a wide ranging audience, from industry veterans who will be engaged by our top flight speakers, to new or growing brewers who will learn from our seminars and from the invaluable opportunities to network with their peers, to drinkers – beer enthusiasts and novices alike – who will be spoilt for choice by the beers offered at the festival.”
He added, “SIBA is, we believe, the only organisation who could credibly stage an event that brings together so many different groups, each with a different perspective on British beer but united in their love for it and desire to see it prosper.”
BeerX 2014 is being held at iceSheffield, just outside the city centre. Tickets for BeerX go on sale in January, but delegates can register their interest now at http://siba.co.uk/beerx/
BEERX – PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
Tuesday 11 March:JUDGING DAY
- Final judging of all three 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
- Programme of speakers:
- Presentation of the SIBA Business Awards 2014
- Festival of Beer open to public (evening only)
Friday 14 March: UKTI SEMINARS
- UKTI seminars on beer export
- Festival of Beer open to public all day
- Meet the Brewer event
Saturday 15 March: FESTIVAL OF BEER
- Festival of Beer open to public all day, Rugby Six Nations screened
-ends-
Issued on behalf of: Society of Independent Brewers
By: ShielPorter Communications
For information: Ros Shiel
07841 694137