Twelve local Hong Kong breweries are boycotting Beertopia this year due to rising costs. The boycotting breweries are Black Kite Brewery, Citi Brew HK, Gwei.lo, Heroes Beer Co, Kowloon Bay Brewery, Lion Rock Brewery, HK Love Craft, Mak’s Beer, Moonzen Brewery, Tai Wai Beer, Yardley Brothers, Young Masters Ales.
Here is the collective statement from the beer companies and the Hong Kong Brewers guild in full.
“At a recent meeting of the Hong Kong Brewers’ Guild, the majority of local Hong Kong breweries took a collective decision to not participate in Beertopia 2018. The Hong Kong Brewers’ Guild is disappointed to announce this result.
Beertopia has previously been one of the calendar highlights for local Hong Kong breweries – they like nothing more than sharing their beer with like-minded passionate craft beer fans. However, the increased cost of the event to Hong Kong’s craft breweries would necessitate exceedingly high prices for end customers.
Collectively, the Guild feels that the ethos of Beertopia has shifted away from its original focus on the enjoyment and promotion of craft beer. Whereas large international producers can afford the newly raised event costs by serving industrial-scale beer, local Hong Kong brewers have no financially viable way to participate in Beertopia.
In support of fairly priced events which showcase the best of craft, local and international beer for people in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Brewers’ Guild, the Craft Beer Association of Hong Kong and local breweries are working together to organise new craft beer festivals in the coming months and years ahead. Stay tuned for updates.
Thank you for supporting and understanding the decision taken by our local breweries.”
There are only three Hong Kong Breweries at Beertopia in 2018: Hong Kong Beer Co., Deadman Brewery, 24m. Innocence Brewing is listed on Beertopia‘s website as from Hong Kong but it’s actually from Singapore.
Beertopia
Date: 5-6 October, 2018
Venue: Central Harbourfront
Tickets: $495, $400, $380, $280, $250