The original Good Beer Week was sparked by a desire to create a series of events for beer lovers around the 2011 Australian International Beer Awards Gala Dinner, which was bringing its annual influx of brewers and beer people to Melbourne from across Australia and further afield. Since then, the awards have continued to grow and adapt to the changing beer landscape, while the festival is well on its way to becoming established as the key event for beer lovers in the annual calendar.
And now the relationship between the AIBA and Good Beer Week has taken another step forward with the festival announcing its sponsorship of one of this years trophies. The day after the two parties hosted a pair of Meet the Judges events at The Alehouse Project and the Royston, Good Beer Week has revealed it will be presenting the 2013 Best IPA Trophy.
A media release from the festival today states:
Does anything excite today’s beer lovers more than a beautifully balanced, hoppy IPA? The team at Good Beer Week doesn’t think so, which is why the festival is thrilled to be sponsoring the trophy for Best IPA at this year’s Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA).
The third Good Beer Week features 140 events at 115 venues across Melbourne and Victoria from May 18 to 26, including the AIBA Gala Dinner on May 23. This is the first time the festival has sponsored a trophy at the awards, which are now in their 21st year.
âThe IPA – or India Pale Ale, to give the beer its full name – is a beer that has played a major role in the craft beer revolution that’s sweeping the globe,â said Good Beer Week co-founder James Smith. âIt’s come a long way from its origins in the days of the British Empire, with brewers today creating amazing variations on the style and beer lovers in thrall to the best of them.
âAs such, when the opportunity arose to sponsor a trophy at this year’s awards, we were only too keen to put the Good Beer Week name to that of Champion IPA.â
The first Good Beer Week took place in May 2011, with a program of more than 50 events centred around that year’s AIBA Gala Dinner. The not-for-profit festival has since grown to become Australia’s leading celebration of the beer world and has continued to work closely with the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria that runs the awards.
RASV CEO Mark O'Sullivan said: âThe Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria is committed to working in collaboration with industry and Good Beer Week in promoting and celebrating excellence in beer and brewing. We are delighted that the relationship between the AIBA and Good Beer Week this year is strengthened by their new sponsorship of the Best IPA Trophy.â
This year’s Good Beer Week program features degustations at some of Victoria’s top restaurants, live brews, international guest brewers, weeklong showcases, walking tours, beer launches, masterclasses and much more. The awards continue to grow too, with a record number of entries received from all over the world.
âThe growing success of Good Beer Week as well as record entries received into this year’s AIBA, are testament to the enthusiasm within both the Australian and international brewing industry and the interest of consumers in drinking good beer,“ added Mr O’Sullivan.
