Craft Beer Marketing Awards Expand for 2022

The Craft Beer Marketing Awards has announced plans to expand into new categories for its third year. Full details are below.

New York, NY – The Craft Beer Marketing Awards (CBMAS) has announced that its 2022 Awards Program is now open and accepting beer–related marketing and design entries from around the globe (including hard seltzer, cider, and mead). 

The deadline for “Early Bird” entries is October 29, 2021. Entries are being accepted from October 30, 2021 and will be accepted through January 14, 2022.

Founded in 2019, the CBMAS is the only awards competition in the world to celebrate the very best of craft beer marketing and design. The CBMAS has developed to accepting entries from around the globe, presenting a marketing trends seminar at this years’ Craft Brewers Conference, recognizing influential beer industry insiders with CBMAS “People of the Year” Award and started a podcast, Marketing on Tap, sponsored by EGC Group, available on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts and iHeartRadio. 

The CBMAS honors the individuals and teams involved in building these amazing beverage brands. Breweries, their agencies, artists, and marketing partners are all invited to enter their best work.  

“The CBMAS has grown significantly as a unique platform celebrating the beer industry’s incredible marketing and design that wasn’t being recognized until now.” said Jim McCune, Co-Founder of the CBMAS. “We’ll continue to award the very best work in the industry, and showcase that work, and the folks that created it to the world.”

Notable multi-award winners from the 2021 competition include: Brooklyn Brewery and the New York State Brewers Association in New York, Arrowhead Ales Brewing in Illinois, EBBING Branding and Design in North Carolina, Founders Brewing Company in

Michigan, Flying Dog Brewery in Maryland, New Realm Brewing Co. in Georgia, Veza Sur Brewing Co. in Florida, and White Labs Brewing Co. in San Diego. International winners include Balter Brewing Co. and Dollar Bill Brewing in Australia, Brewpoint and Cold Town Beer in the United Kingdom, Hey Joe Brewing Company in South Africa, and Smugglers Trail in Canada, among many others. 

For a full list of 2021 winners, click here for the 2021 CBMAS winner’s Gallery.

“We had such incredible feedback over the past two award seasons, and great suggestions for some new categories,” said Jackie DiBella, Co-Founder of the CBMAS. “We know breweries and their partners are passionate about what they do. We wanted to make sure our categories matched the depth and breadth of their work.”

The 2022 CBMAS consist of 38 categories that cover all aspects of brew marketing— from labels to logos, and tap handles, to taprooms. This year, 11 new categories have been added by popular suggestion:

• Best Can Design – Painted Cans or Sleeves
• Best Can Design – Best Beer Series
• Best Can Design – Collaboration
• Best Can Design – Non-Alcoholic Craft Beverage
• Best Brand Identity – Sell Sheets
• Best Brand Identity – Beer Release Calendars
• Best Brand Identity – Best All-Around Marketing Story 
• Best Use of Social Media Video – IG Reels, IGTV, or TikTok
• Beer Marketing Wild Cards – Best Guerrilla Marketing Campaign
• Beer Marketing Wild Cards – Best Live Entertainment Stage or Setting
• Beer Marketing Wild Cards – Collaboration Marketing Assets

The CBMAS judging process is a robust, credible, and transparent digital scoring system ranked by an influential and respected, worldwide panel of more than 300 beer, marketing, and design experts. 

To see the full list of categories, click here.

Expanding Industry Associations

CBMAS presenting sponsor three years in a row is Hillebrand, the world’s leading global beverage logistics company. 

“The CBMAS is an amazing way to recognize the great marketing that craft beverage makers and marketers do!” said Prabh Hans, VP, Domestic Services of Hillebrand North America. “The work by the CBMAS team is led by their passion for the industry and it shows. Looking forward to supporting this amazing awards platform as it continues to showcase all of the great work!”

New 2022 CBMAS Gold Sponsor is Arryved, based in Boulder Colorado, which specializes in point-of-service for craft breweries, restaurants, and other craft destinations.

“Craft beer is one of the most creative industries in the world,” said Alex Ostler, Head of Marketing for Arryved. “We’re excited to sponsor the Craft Beer Marketing Awards to recognize what you, the creators, are doing to showcase your brew.” 

The CBMAS has also formed memberships with well-known industry organizations like The Brewers Association (BA), New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA), and many of its judges are affiliated with various beverage and beer industry associations located around the world.