More SIBA members to apply for Cyclops accreditation

24th September 2009, 3:50pm

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is expecting a sharp increase in members applying for subsidised Cyclops accreditation following Enterprise Inns’ move to make this a service requirement for all beers bought through SIBA’s Direct Delivery System (DDS), from February next year.

Around 80 members have already had their beers "Cyclops-ed", taking advantage of the subsidy offered by SIBA.

Currently, SIBA funds 60% of the Cyclops accreditation fee, meaning that brewers have to find just £100 to put up to five of their beers through the process.

Nick Stafford, managing director of SIBA DDS, said: "Cyclops is becoming more widely-used as a staff training and consumer education tool, and this latest endorsement from Enterprise Inns clearly makes accreditation more compelling to all members of SIBA DDS. We expect more brewers will see the subsidised fee as a small price to pay for the distribution gains that having Cyclops- accredited beers can bring."

At Enterprise Inns, head of drinks category Grant Simpson added: "Cyclops accreditation is a way for us to offer greater quality assurance for SIBA beers, to both retailers and customers. We've increased the number of SIBA members' beers available our pubs, in response to growing consumer demand, and we now want to ensure they can be served and retailed in the best possible way. Cyclops, with its consistent and easy to understand taste descriptors for beer, can help us to achieve this."

Getting all SIBA DDS members 'Cyclops-ed' by February will require accreditation of around 900 beers.

The Cyclops subsidy is one of SIBA's 'Access to Market' initiatives, which help members to bring their beers to market.

Cyclops was developed by a group of industry bodies as a way of demystifying beer, through simple, objective, industry-standard taste descriptions to be easily understood by bar staff and consumers.

The Cyclops scheme, initially devised by Everards, is now operated as an industry-wide initiative by Everards, SIBA, Cask Marque and CAMRA.

For more information, visit www.cyclopsbeer.co.uk

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• 06 Oct 2011 - SIBA to host Great Northern Beer Festival later this month
• 04 Aug 2011 - SIBA launches new local pub membership scheme
• 14 Jul 2011 - SIBA opens first head office at National Brewery Centre
• 05 Jul 2011 - SIBA introduces 2011 Business Awards
• 16 Aug 2010 - Last Chance to enter SIBA Brewing Business Awards as competition deadline looms
• 05 Mar 2010 - The Society of Independent Brewers appoints Keith Bott as new chairman
• 01 Feb 2010 - The Society of Independent Brewers helps pubs celebrate National Cask Ale Week

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