THE 2023 AWARD CATEGORIES
Young Brewer Of the Year
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It comes as literally no surprise that there are some incredibly talented young brewers working in the Canadian brewing industry.
Some young brewers are running their own operations, others are cutting their teeth working at established outfits. Regardless, these brewers are making their mark on the industry and are certain to have a long, successful career in the field.
Young is, also, a subjective term. You are only as old as you feel, of course. But for the purpose of this category, a young brewer is anyone under the age of 33. Tell us about your responsibilities and successes in the last 18 months.
Maybe a recipe you developed, or the impact you’ve had on the company’s packaging operations, or improvements to quality and consistency thanks to the work you carry out in the lab. We’d also like to you provide a maximum of two references from employers, collaborators, peers, colleagues or educators.
*** 2023 CBCAs nomination period is now closed. Thank you to all who nominated. The winner will be announced on JAN. 31, 2024 during the Dinner Presentation.
Brewer Of the Year
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One of the finest qualities many brewers boast is humility.
So this category is likely to need some convincing/persuading/forcing when it comes to ensuring these excellent brewers are considered. We want to acknowledge a brewer that is truly an industry tour de force.
What sets you, or them, apart from the rest? Is it the beers they create, expansion they’ve overseen or a team they’ve built. Maybe it’s all of those.
We’d like you to provide a maximum of two references from employers, collaborators, peers or colleagues.
*** 2023 CBCAs nomination period is now closed. Thank you to all who nominated. The winner will be announced on JAN. 31, 2024 during the Dinner Presentation.
Brewery Of the Year
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To contend this award, we are looking for an overview of the business success you’ve had in the last 18 months.
Please showcase any key moments for the business such as new investments you’ve made, perhaps new distribution deals you’ve struck or successes you’ve had in exporting your beer to other countries. Tell us about your brewery’s approach to facets of business such as its work in the community, and its commitment to training and developing its staff.
What investment have you made in the laboratory side of the brewery, and tell us about your relationships with the wider industry.
*** 2023 CBCAs nomination period is now closed. Thank you to all who nominated. The winner will be announced on JAN. 31, 2024 during the Dinner Presentation.
New Brewery Of the Year
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Some excellent new breweries have opened in the last 12 months. Some of these outfits have focused on the art of Lager, some IPA, some mixed-fermentation sours and some a mix of each. Regardless, each tread their own different path in the industry of brewing.
We want to hear about those early landmark points for the business. Maybe you’ve offered employment to local people, it could be the investments you’ve made, securing deals for your first beers with pubs, bars or restaurants. It could be all of the above or anything in between.
Tell us about your brewery’s approach to facets of business such as its work in the community, commitment to training and developing its staff, relationships with the broader industry and your approach to issues such as sustainability.
*** 2023 CBCAs nomination period is now closed. Thank you to all who nominated. The winner will be announced on JAN. 31, 2024 during the Dinner Presentation.
Branding Of the Year
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Let’s be clear, great branding helps sell beer.
Now that we have that revelation out of the way, we want this category to showcase the stunning array of design that breweries leverage to brand their beers.
From the striking to the subtle, modern beer is blessed with some truly impressive branding; from the work that graces bottles and cans to keg founts, cask badges and beyond. Show us what you got!
*** 2023 CBCAs nomination period is now closed. Thank you to all who nominated. The winner will be announced on JAN. 31, 2024 during the Dinner Presentation.
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New Beer Of the Year
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In a matter of seconds we can think of a dozen, or rather dozens, of truly fantastic beers that have been produced in recent months.
Some riff on classic styles, some attempt to refine them, some forge their own path. But it’s that variety that makes everything so exciting. In this category, we want to recognize the beer that has made its mark on the landscape in a relative short time.
In your entry, you should tell us the name of the beer, the style of the beer, ABV%, and overview and also any tasting notes.
*** 2023 CBCAs nomination period is now closed. Thank you to all who nominated. The winner will be announced on JAN. 31, 2024 during the Dinner Presentation.
Beer Of the Year
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Beer is a thing of beauty. That’s something we can all agree on, as we wouldn’t be here otherwise.
We want to celebrate the very best that Canada has to offer. We’re not looking at dozens of different categories here, instead recognizing one beer: The Brewers Choice Beer of The Year.
It could be a new beer you’re super proud of, or an existing beer that is its finest form to date following months or years of working on the recipe and dialling it right in.
With a panel of industry experts, we’ll be judging the beer on Aroma, Taste, Appearance and Marketing. In your entry, you should tell us the name of the beer, the style of the beer, ABV%, and overview and also any tasting notes.
*** 2023 CBCAs nomination period is now closed. Thank you to all who nominated. The winner will be announced on JAN. 31, 2024 during the Dinner Presentation.
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE Of the Year
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- Carbon footprint reduction
- Energy-saving products and/or methods
- Adoptions of schemes that have made a difference in attitudes and behaviours of staff, and resulting in a benefit to the environment
- New partnerships that demonstrate tangible evidence of environmental use,
Or anything similar to the above! Sustainability initiatives can be a single project, across a series of projects, or through a change process that has occurred within the last 18 months.
*** 2023 CBCAs nomination period is now closed. Thank you to all who nominated. The winner will be announced on JAN. 31, 2024 during the Dinner Presentation.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVE Of the Year
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- Creating employment opportunities for individuals in the local community, particularly those facing barriers to employment and those that are underrepresented or marginalized groups in the community
- Hosting events or initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the local community
- Providing support for local businesses or farmers by using locally sourced ingredients in your beer production, providing promotional spaces for small business, or B2B mentorship opportunities
- Offering mentorship or training programs to aspiring brewers or others in the industry
- Collaborating with other local businesses to support economic development and promote tourism while also providing opportunities and safe spaces
*** 2023 CBCAs nomination period is now closed. Thank you to all who nominated. The winner will be announced on JAN. 31, 2024 during the Dinner Presentation.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
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The Canadian brewing landscape remains in a state of transition. We’ve seen brewing operations spun off, sold or closed. We’ve seen fantastic brewers retire and move on. We’ve seen brewers do what they’ve always done and that’s play their part in producing excellent, reliable beer that forms such an important part in many people’s lives.
The Brewers Choice Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a brewer that has played an integral role in the Canadian brewing industry. To nominate a peer for the award please email with the subject line Brewers Choice Lifetime Achievement Award to: awards@brewersjournal.ca