Today is the last chance to make sure your beer is entered into the 2022 Independent Beer Awards, also known as The Indies.
This year’s awards feature new categories and trophy classes, as well as an integrated judge training and mentoring program, and a new scoring system of the flagship Champion Size and State trophies.
Independent Brewers Association CEO, Kylie Lethbridge, said the organisation had “listened to our industry” and as a result, was implementing a number of changes for this year’s competition.
Among these is ‘a revised trophy and class schedule welcoming new categories’, that responds to current beer trends and styles. These include: ‘Juicy-Hazy’, ‘NoLow’ and a more consumer-friendly name for the Hybrid and Mixed Culture category, ‘Fruit & Funk’.
There are changes to some of the smallest categories too, with Amber-Dark Ale being merged with Porter-Stout, creating the new ‘Amber-Dark Beer’ class.
The Indies is also introducing a new competition tech management system and improved feedback strategies, while creating a new Advisory Committee.
Probably the most important of the changes is a new scoring methodology for the Champion Size and State trophies, with the incoming method tracking a brewery’s total performance in the competition, not just its top beers.
Organisers have also asked expressions of interest from would-be judges, and that also closes today. The call is for those ‘the passion and experience to be part of the program’. Judging takes place over two days, from August 26 to Wednesday 28 at the Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne.
A hybrid virtual and in-person awards night will be held on October 13.
Enter the awards here, or submit a judging expression of interest here.