The Craft Beer Marketing Awards (CBMAS), also known as The Crushies, has commenced its fifth awards season, and is accepting submissions from creatives across the worldwide craft beverage industry.
The awards celebrate excellence in marketing in the craft beverage industry, with categories such as Best Can Label Design, Coolest Taproom, and Best Website.
A major change to this year’s awards is the transition to global-only categories, allowing entrants to compete for the world’s best in their respective categories.
Jim McCune, Co-founder, CBMAS, said: “We did away with local regions, now every entry competes against others like it submitted from anywhere in the world. I believe this change will fuel the creativity and innovation of an already fierce competition.”
The top performer in each category will receive a Global Crushie, with Platinum and Gold Crushies awarded to the next highest-ranked scores. Winners will be determined by a panel of over 600 international experts in beverage, marketing, and design.
Recognising the expanding field of craft beverages, CBMAS has introduced separate categories for hard seltzer, non-alcoholic beer, ready-to-drink cocktails (RTD), and cider/mead, allowing these entrants to compete exclusively within their own beverage type.
Additionally, CBMAS has partnered with Isuzu for the Isuzu Beer Truck Design Competition, inviting entrants to design a truck wrap celebrating craft beer for a chance to see it displayed on Isuzu’s Ultimate Craft Beer Truck at the 2024 Craft Brewers Conference in Las Vegas.
Brian Tabel, Assistant Vice-President, Marketing at Isuzu, is enthusiastic about the competition.
“Isuzu is proud to collaborate with the CBMAS and sponsor the celebration of craft beer’s creativity. Our Ultimate Craft Beer Truck will make a great canvas to show off the creative muscle in the industry during the 2024 Craft Brewers Conference. Cheers to all the creators who drive our industry forward in style,” he said.
Award-winners will be added to the Crushie Winners Map for Consumers, a new feature of the 2024 awards which aims to boost consumer exposure for winners.
Jackie DiBella-Curry, Co-founder, CBMAS says: “Our vision behind the new Crushie Winners Map is to help craft enthusiasts uncover exciting new beverage brands from within our Crushie winners universe.”
Entries are open until 5 February, and judging will take place from 6 March to 11 April. Winners will be announced at the Craft Brewers Conference, held in Las Vegas on 21-24 April.