TORONTO, ON – The Canadian Brewing Awards have announced a notable increase in entries for the 2017 edition of the competition.
According to organizers, this year saw a 40% increase in beverage submissions in 55 beer and six cider categories, as well as 20% growth in the number of participating breweries and cideries compared to 2016.
The announcement comes on the heels of news that two major CBA sponsors –Beer Canada and The Beer Store – have pulled their support due to a new rule stipulating that only Canadian-owned breweries and cideries were eligible to enter the competition. CBA president Rob Engman addresses this issue with the following statement:
The goal of the change is to ensure the awards reflect Canada’s growing industry by showcasing authentic Canadian products. We are committed to celebrating our industry’s growth focusing on Canadian talent, supporting business owners and their operations. We understood this would impact some relationships, we are grateful for the overall increase in partnerships and are appreciative of our sponsors who have supported us through this change.
The 2017 Canadian Brewing Awards & Conference will be taking place May 25-27, 2017 in Ottawa. Early bird tickets are available online now.