It is with mixed emotions that Chester Carey and Amanda Barry-Butchart, Directors and Owners of the BC Beer Awards, announce the sale of all intellectual property to the BC Craft Brewers Guild. This decision comes after careful consideration, as both Carey and Barry-Butchart seek to focus more on their personal lives, careers, and educational pursuits.
The BC Beer Awards, originally founded by Gerry Erith in 2010 with Chester Carey, began as part of the Vancouver Craft Beer Week and later became a standalone event held during BC Craft Beer Month. Amanda Barry-Butchart joined the team in 2012, and the two purchased the awards from Erith in 2017. Over the years, they have worked to expand the event and judging, with the support of a dedicated team and the growing BC craft beer industry.
Carey and Barry-Butchart’s decision to pass the torch to the BC Craft Brewers Guild aligns with the shared mission of both organizations to support and enhance the BC craft brewery community. For many years, the Guild and BC Beer Awards have worked closely together, scheduling their events back-to-back to allow breweries to attend both the BC Beer Con and BC Beer Awards during the same week.
The transition will occur gradually, with both Carey and Barry-Butchart remaining as consultants for the first year to ensure a smooth handover. The Guild has long collaborated with the BC Beer Awards, and there are no immediate changes planned for the event in the coming year.
The announcement concludes with heartfelt gratitude to the executive team, staff, volunteers, partners, vendors, and, of course, the breweries, acknowledging that none of the awards’ success would have been possible without their support and contributions.
Thank you to:
The BC Craft Brewers Guild is honoured to carry forward the legacy established by Amanda Barry-Butchart, Chester Carey, and their dedicated event team. We are excited to uphold the traditions that the BCBA team has so thoughtfully built into the awards while also introducing new innovations to make them uniquely our own.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed to the awards over the years, from organizers to volunteers. Your efforts have played a pivotal role in the success of the BC craft beer community since 2010. The BC Craft Brewers Guild is proud to continue fostering that growth and celebrating excellence in craft brewing.
Ken Beattie, Executive Director, BC Craft Brewers Guild
The BC Craft Brewers Guild represents craft breweries from all over BC. The mission of the Guild is to support the ongoing creation and discovery of truly great BC craft beer by helping British Columbians understand the cultural, community, and economic benefits of BC’s vibrant craft beer scene. Our business is not merely about dedication to our craft, innovative brewing, and our ingredients. Our business is formed to fulfill the needs of not just our customers but our people who drive and serve it passionately and purposefully.