Finalists for the inaugural Indie Beer Can Festival award announced

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.

Growing trend​

“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, said: “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 11 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.