The Indie Beer Can Festival: 2016, launched by trade association The Can Makers in partnership with the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), will be judged by four industry experts including Ben Hulme, Head of Beers, Wines and Spirits at Lidl UK.
Independent brewers can enter the competition here and vie for the opportunity to showcase their brews in a canned packaging format at the festival final.
Brewers can choose to enter one of three categories: ‘Best Ale’, ‘Best Lager’ or ‘Best ‘Other’.
Finalists will automatically be eligible for an additional category: ‘Best Design’ and one beer will be crowned overall ‘Best in Show’.
There is no limit on the number of beers each brewery can enter, and applications are welcomed from beers already in a can as well as those not yet canned.
Entries close at midnight on 11 December after which a first round of judging, based on written entries, will take place.
Alongside Hulme on the judging panel are Publican's Morning Advertiser contributor Adrian Tierney-Jones, and beer sommelier Annabel Smith, as well as the chairman of the panel, Martin Constable of the Can Makers.
Hulme said: “Consumer demand for independent beer is increasing year-on-year and I’m personally excited about how this market is continuing to evolve. For the last twelve months brewers and consumers have been dipping their toes into the canned beer market; now that market is preparing to go mainstream, I can’t wait to see where we are in a year’s time. It’s great to be involved in an event that is helping to drive this trend.”
The first round of judging will be followed by a blind taste-testing semi-final in January.Twelve beers will then proceed to the final on 12 May 2016
For each finalist whose chosen beer is not yet in cans, the Can Makers will arrange production of 100ltrs of their beer to be canned for the first time. Those brewers will also have the chance to work with the Can Makers’ in-house teams, and the Can Creator app, to create designs to decorate their cans.
Adrian Tierney-Jones said: “I had a fantastic time last year working with the emerging canned beer market and tasting a huge range of new and innovative brews. Some of the flavour combinations were truly remarkable. I can’t wait to see what we discover this time around – the entrants have a lot to live up to.”
Winners will be announced during the Indie Beer Can Festival on the same day as final judging.
Throughout the event every finalist will have the opportunity to have their beers sampled by guests from the industry supply chain, as well as media and market influencers.
Martin Constable said: “We are delighted to be working with SIBA again to champion the canned beer movement and to present our new judging line-up. Since the last competition some of our entrants have begun canning their beers full-time, for them and others interested in canning, we have launched the Indie Beer Can Advice service. Through this site, in combination with the competition, we hope to provide a chance for brewers to explore the benefits of cans and make the most of this fast evolving market.”
Mike Benner, SIBA managing director, said: “It is great to see more innovative independent brewers investing in canning and supplying flavoursome beers in a can. Cans are light, portable and quick to chill and therefore offer brewers new markets to enter. Add to that the incredible opportunity they provide for designers and brand owners to communicate the beer’s personality, and we can see why the can is gaining so many fans. SIBA is proud to support this fantastic event and we will be encouraging all of our craft brewing members to enter this prestigious competition."