MEDIA RELEASE PR37693
South American Beers to Head Down Under for International Awards
MELBOURNE, Jan. 5 /Medianet International-AsiaNet/ --
The Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) has kicked off its annual search for the world's best beers,
with South American brewers encouraged to enter the second largest beer competition of its kind, joining the
global battle for beer supremacy.
The AIBA offer South American exhibitors the chance to test their brewing skills against the best brewers in
the world. In 2009, a record 1,140 entries were received, including 72 entries from South American nations
such as Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Brazil - the fourth biggest producer of beer in the world*. Brazil and Chile
were particularly strong in 2009, with entry numbers rising 225 per cent and 300 per cent respectively on 2008
figures.
Award organisers expect the number of entries from these and other Latin American countries will continue
to increase in the coming years, assisted by greater expansion in the local market. Largely attributed to Brazil,
the region has enjoyed a strong resurgence in beer production in recent years, recording a three per cent
increase in beer sales in 2008*.
"Since its inception in 1993, the AIBA has grown in stature to become one of the most highly regarded
awards of its industry, attracting a remarkable number of high quality and innovative beers from around the
world," said AIBA Chairman Peter Manders.
"We expect South American breweries to attract strong attention from the judges once again in 2010, with
two major trophies at the 2009 AIBA awarded to a brewery from the Central/South American region, namely
Cerveceria Hondurena SA de CV. The brewery was awarded the Champion Lager Trophy for their Imperial
lager and took out the Champion Large Brewery Trophy.
The annual AIBA judge beers in a variety of classes. In addition to awarding the coveted gold, silver and
bronze medals in each class, judges award 16 prestigious Championship Trophies, including a new Champion
Gluten Free Beer Trophy.
Presented annually by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria in conjunction with the University of
Ballarat, the event will culminate in a gala awards presentation dinner at Crown Palladium, Melbourne,
Australia on Thursday, 20 May 2010.
* Beer market grows despite economic crisis. Canadean. October 2009.
For all media inquiries: Cara Norden, Wrights -
+61 421 549 408
cnorden@wrights.com.au
SOURCE: Australian International Beer Awards
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