The Independent Brewers Association (IBA) has announced it will not be running its BrewCon conference or Indies Awards in 2025.
Due to the challenging economic climate experienced by independent brewers over the last year, the IBA said it had made the “very difficult decision” to put the Independent Beer Awards on hold in 2025.
“This hiatus gives us the opportunity to work with our stakeholders to reinvent ‘The Indies’ – to realise our commitment to pursue a more consumer-friendly program and to avoid duplication with other awards,” said IBA CEO Kylie Lethbridge.
Instead, two new trophies will be presented at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards in 2025 to recognise and celebrate independent breweries – Champion Australian Independent Beer and Champion Australian Independent Brewery.
“The Australian International Beer Awards are well respected as the largest annual beer competition in the world, where independent brewers are already acknowledged with medals and champion trophies,” Lethbridge said.
“So while we shelve the Independent Beer Awards for a year – these two new trophies will ensure that quality independent beer is still celebrated in 2025 and gives us an opportunity to come together at the presentation dinner to cheer our pals on.”
“Melbourne Royal are proud supporters of the Australian independent brewing industry and we are excited to judge the indies and present two trophies for the first time in 2025 as part of the Australian International Beer Awards,” said Kirrily Waldhorn, Senior Manager F&B Awards at Melbourne Royal.
The 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards will offer 14 major trophies, including the coveted Champion Australian Beer and Champion International Beer trophies, as well as 25 category trophies.
Entries to the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards formally open on 21 January 2025. The 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards trophy presentation dinner will be held on Thursday, 15 May 2025 at the Victoria Pavilion, Melbourne Showgrounds. Learn more here: melbourneroyal.com.au/beer
BrewCon cancellation
the IBA’s annual conference and trade expo for the Australian brewing industry, BrewCon has also been put on hold.
The IBA said in a statement: “It goes without saying that the industry is struggling to maintain the level of sponsorship required to deliver the plethora of industry and consumer events. We all go cap in hand to the same stakeholders and so we feel that it is important to take a leadership role in this space and to conserve as many resources as possible while still delivering maximum benefit.
“Events like BrewCon consume a significant amount of time, resources and money and are usually delivered by a large team or a commercial operation. We are neither, and so with 2.6 team members we must prioritise the activities that stand to benefit as many members as possible.”
“This means that we will not be running BrewCon in 2025 but instead will be taking the year to ensure its long-term sustainability and to plan for 2026. We feel very strongly that this is in best interests of the Association and its members as well as the industry overall.”
In 2025 the IBA’s focus will be on:
- State and federal advocacy efforts
- Providing resources that help brewers run and efficient and effective business
- Promotion of the Independent Seal to consumers to help them choose indie beer
- Coming together as a community as much as possible.