Leading brewers and pub operators are among a line-up of high-profile speakers unveiled for March’s BeerX event run by The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).
Taking place in Sheffield on March 13, the speaker programme features JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin (pictured), UK and US brewing industry guru Dr Charlie Bamforth, Steve Grossman of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Nicky Morgan, economic secretary to the Treasury.
It will also include presentations by Fuller’s head brewer John Keeling and Roger Ryman of St Austell Brewery, who will share their brewing expertise with SIBA brewers. A panel of brewers already running successful pubs will give advice to delegates considering the move.
SIBA brewers looking to export will also benefit from a series of seminars and sessions with buyers from export markets, organised for BeerX in conjunction with UK Trade & Investment.
SIBA chief executive Julian Grocock said: “We’re delighted with this speaker programme, which represents everything that matters to our members and to the wider British beer industry: brewing expertise and innovation, pub retailing and the political significance of beer and pubs, which will be of particular interest given BeerX’s proximity to the 2014 Budget.
“We’re also pleased to have attracted presenters who are acknowledged as the leading authorities in their field, something which speaks volumes for the increasing importance of the UK’s independent brewing sector and the high regard in which SIBA is now held both within the drinks industry and outside it.”
The speaker programme will be held as part of the wider BeerX event which runs from March 11 to 15, which is set to bring together more than 300 delegates from across the UK brewing industry including brewers, licensees and suppliers.
At the same time, the Festival of Beer, open to the public, will showcase around 300 SIBA regional award-winning beers as they are judged in the UK’s biggest national beer competition.
Julian added: “Our goal for BeerX is to present British beer at its best to a wide-ranging audience. With a line-up of high-quality speakers, a programme of seminars from respected industry experts, a Festival of Beer, as well as the announcement of our brewing and business award winners, BeerX 2014 looks set to build on the success of last year’s inaugural event.”
BeerX 2014 is being held at iceSheffield, just outside the city centre. Tickets will be available soon at http://siba.co.uk/beerx/.
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