The Craft Brewers Association of Cambodia changes its name and will boost activities
The Craft Beer Association of Cambodia (CBAC), formerly the Craft Brewers Association of Cambodia, has changed both its name and its mission to become more inclusive by extending membership to craft spirits distillers; bars and restaurants selling craft beer and spirits; individual enthusiasts of craft beer and Cambodian-made beverages; as well as to Cambodian craft breweries.
The CBAC will actively promote and protect the interests of small and independent Cambodian craft breweries; advocate for the growth of the industry through resource sharing, collaborative marketing, and socially-responsible events.
The Master of Craft event, scheduled for 25 May, at which the official relaunch will take place, is the second brewing competition organized by CBAC, and will be hosted at the Botanico Craft Beer Garden. In addition to Botanico brews, other tasting brews will be provided by 12 Cambodian craft breweries supplying IPAs for public evaluation; including from founding CBAC members Riel Brewing, Brew Khnear and Projekt Brews. Other CBAC members, Fungi Art Brewing, Chug Lab, and Embargo Siem Reap, have organised the competition committee.
To support individual craft beer enthusiasts, the CBAC is also launching the Cambodian Craft Beer Club, which will offer free and exclusive admissions to various CBAC events and offer discounts at CBAC member venues, such as tap houses and craft beer bars, which will be featured on a Craft Beer Map.
CBAC membership benefits for purveyors of craft products will include beer line cleaning and the opportunity to host CBAC events such as beer crawls and tastings.
“Cambodia may seem an unlikely place for quality craft beer and spirits so there hasn’t been a lot of investment in the industry –beyond the dozen or so international brewers who live here,” says CBAC board member, Trevor Ranges of Embargo Siem Reap. “Although each event we’ve hosted as an organisation, such as two Angkor Half Marathon festivals and the Brew Brathian competition at Himawari, have been different from each other, they all reflect our passion for craft beer. The craft beer community in Cambodia is growing quickly now, especially among the Khmer, so we’re excited to expand our association of breweries, tap houses, and craft bars, now numbering 15, to also include members of the Cambodian Craft Beer Club.”
