The Board of Australia’s Craft Beer Industry Association (CBIA) has announced that from 2016, the Australian Craft Brewers Conference and Craft Beer Awards will be combined into one week-long event.
While the details of the 2016 event are yet to be confirmed, it is expected that the event will take place between July and August and for the first time, will be held in a city beyond Melbourne or Sydney.
The CBIA will also be working with local breweries, venues and beer enthusiasts to create a fringe festival event to complement the Conference and Awards program.
"As a national representative body, it has always been the CBIA’s intention to take the Conference and the Awards ‘on the road’, to create maximum opportunity for our members in all parts of Australia to attend from time to time,” said Peta Fielding, CBIA Chair.
"The timing of other industry events in 2016 presented a number of challenges to the Australian Craft Brewers Conference proceeding in May, so after consultation with a number of stakeholders – and in particular a survey of our members, which provided overwhelming support for the idea – we have decided to progress our plans and make the leap next year.”
"We would like to acknowledge Melbourne’s Good Beer Week and Sydney Craft Beer Week for welcoming the CBIA events to date as part of their programs and we look forward to moving the celebration further around the country."
An announcement of the timing and host city will be made in December.
