Australian beer takes out major British award
Barons Brewing Company has taken out the top prize at the popular JD Wetherspoon International Beer Festival.
JD Wetherspoon is one of the UK’s largest pub operators and more than 8,500 of their consumers participated in the judging of 50 beers, with Barons Black Wattle Original Ale coming out on top. Barons was the first Australian beer to be part of the festival and was among four overseas beers invited to participate. The potential for international brewers to appeal to the tastes of UK consumers was highlighted by the fact that the four international beers finished in the top six.
The award was presented at the conclusion of a two-and-a-half week festival, which offered the 50 beers on tap at 717 Wetherspoon pubs around the UK.
While I don’t mind a drink or two of the Barons lemon myrtle beer, I was appalled at the lengths the company is going to in trying to stop a competing brewer from using authentic Australian flavours in a new range of beers. Barons have issued legal letters threatening action against the start up and claiming that it own the use of Australian flavours in beer as company IP. What rubbish lawyer do they have in their pocket? Barons have then put pressure on all the independent contract brewing companies which they now use, to ensure that no other Australian beers are made in their premises or their Baron’s contracts are at risk.
Is this any way for an Australian company (or anyone for that matter) to behave? Restrictive trade practices do I hear you say? As the pioneer of the Australian food industry and someone with an interest in selling more flavours to other breweries, I think I’ll go out and brew my own authentic Australian inspired range. Let’s see how Barons try to react to that.