By Andy Young
The Craft Beer Industry Association has announced that from next year the Australian Craft Brewers Conference and the Craft Beer Awards will be combined into a week-long event "celebrating Australian craft beer".
Although the exact timing is yet to be confirmed, the CBIA confirmed that it is aiming for July or August and that for the first time it will take place in a city "beyond Melbourne or Sydney".
Peta Fielding, CBIA Chair, said: "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.
"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 to confirm the timing and the host city will be made in December.