Independent brewing body aims to take over WABA
The Independent Brewers Association has written an open letter to the group representing WA's beer industry suggesting the two bodies amalgamate.
IBA chair Jamie Cook said the national organisation believed it was in the best interests of the WA Brewers Association to come under the one management umbrella.
WABA was created in 2001, under the inspiration of Nail founder John Stallwood and has served as an advocacy and industry development group for the State's breweries. It is believed to have around 55 members.
It recently held its first Brewers Conference which included seminars and group discussions about key issues affecting WA beer.
The IBA emerged from the Craft Beer Industry Association two years ago and worked to enhance breweries not under the ownership of the large entities such as Lion, CUB, Asahi and Coca Cola Amatil.
It holds the annual Brewcon conference and Indies awards. This year it merged with Melbourne's Good Beer Week festival.
The IBA has also devised a seal to be used by independent brewers to push the value of consumer support for small beer operations.
