The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has entered a new era with the organisation extending its membership to include homebrewers.
Homebrewer membership is open to all amateur brewers across the UK who want to improve their brewing skills. On offer is entry to SIBA’s new Homebrew Beer Awards, judged by professional brewers at the beer and brewing trade event BeerX. There will also be regular online Ask the Brewer sessions, giving homebrewers the opportunity to hone their skills.
As well as the awards, Homebrewer members will receive a quarterly brewing magazine with a dedicated home brew section, edited by Andy Parker of Elusive Brewing. There is access to SIBA’s brewing tools and advice, as well as access to regional and national SIBA events, and beer competition judging.
SIBA head of public affairs, Barry Watts, said: “I started as a homebrewer and know how important it is to get access to information and professional advice to improve how I brew. Having SIBA involved means we can help homebrewers get to the next level as well as offering support for those looking to become professional brewers themselves.
“Our new homebrewer membership offers a fantastic combination of resources, competitions, advice, and support, with entry to SIBA’s brand new Homebrew Beer Awards and BeerX on offer.”
Andy Parker added: “Homebrewing is a great way to learn about the process, improve your abilities, and brew some excellent beers at home. For me as a homebrewer, before starting Elusive, I used to knock on doors and chat to brewers to learn about their processes, and a scheme like this would have been invaluable at the time.
“The SIBA homebrewer membership helps to provide direct access to brewers, suppliers, advice, and expertise, which are key if you’re looking to improve as a homebrewer.”
SIBA has also extended its membership to include international brewers, and plans to launch a new bottleshop membership, offering advice, guidance, and government lobbying support.
• For more information on SIBA Homebrewer membership, click here.
