A look back at last week’s BeerX event, in Liverpool, organised by SIBA, which pulled in a record number of more than 3,680 trade visitors
The annual BeerX trade show, in Liverpool, is organised by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA). It attracts brewers and brewery employees, beer buyers and industry professionals to a two-day exhibition of brewing equipment and services, as well as talks, panel debates, and tutored tastings.
It brings together the British brewing industry under one roof and, as well as the trade exhibition, also includes awards for beer and brewing businesses, which were once again presented by Sunday Times beer columnist and author Pete Brown.
“It’s an honour to be asked each year to present the Business Awards and the Brewing Awards,” he said. “We hear so much about the challenges facing the industry at the moment and the bad news. For two days we focus on the positives and you realise that, amid the nightmarish conditions, independent brewers are still doing brilliant stuff and succeeding.”
BeerX, which was recently named event of the year at the Trade Association Forum Awards, hit some impressive and record-breaking numbers this year across a variety of areas:
- 3,680 trade attendees
- 125 exhibitor companies
- 265 beers available via the trade-only beer showcase
- 30 seminars, panel debates, and tutored-tastings from industry experts
- 20 business award winners, and
- 18 fringe events taking place in pubs, bars, and taprooms across Liverpool.
This year the event achieved an industry-leading 95% approval rating with exhibitor companies.
Christian Barden, chief executive of headline event partner eKeg, said: “BeerX was a fantastic showcase of positivity and resilience within the independentbrewing industry. Catching up with so many customers, collaborators, colleagues and friends was fantastic.
“The expanded European and North America appeal was welcome, too. Team ekeg were delighted to have the opportunity to launch the new brand and business at such an important event in the international industry calendar.
“All events need a payback, so for our commercial directors to grow our renting, servicing, and tracking pipeline with over 60 potential new customers was a big positive.”
He added: “BeerX UK was this year a truly international event, with a keynote address from Bart Watson, the president and CEO of the American Brewers Association, talking about the state of independent craft beer in America.
“The Independent Brewers of Europe — including representatives from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Czech Republic, Poland, and Ireland — also launched their first ever joint report, ‘The state of independent brewing: Insights across Europe 2026’.
Winners from the Indie Beer Awards presented at BeerX will now go forward to compete in European Beer Star, in Germany, and the World Beer Cup, in America.
Andy Slee, chief executive of SIBA, said: “It was superb to welcome brewing colleagues from across the globe to BeerX 2026 and hear that the same challenges face independent breweries there as they do at home in the UK, meeting the demand for indie beer in the face of global beers’ market dominance and issues with taxation, rising costs, and profitability.
“But, by working together, we can tackle these issues head on and ensure independent beer gets its fair share of the market, wherever in the world that market exists.
“I also want to say a huge well done to all of this year’s Indie Beer Award winners, and wish you the best of luck in the European Beer Star and World Beer Cup competitions. How amazing would it be if one of our British brewers took home a gold for pilsner in Germany or for IPA in America? With this partnership there’s a very real chance and we’re hugely proud to be showcasing British beer on the World stage.”
BeerX 2027 has already been confirmed for the 17th and 18th March at Exhibition Centre, Liverpool.
