不滿 Beertopia 參展費貴　12 家本地啤酒廠集體杯葛　主辦商指場租上漲

立場新聞 2018/08/28 21:27

    全港最大型的手工啤酒節Beertopia 將於今年10月舉行，多間香港本地啤酒廠不滿主辦單位大幅提高參展費用及公眾門票價格，集體拒絕參與，批評活動「變質」，形容「已逐漸淪為高消費人仕推廣場地」。Beertopia 回應指受壓於場租上漲，不得不提高參展費用，並對於有舊參展商退出表示「遺憾」（shame）。
    創辦於 2012 年的 Beertopia 是本地原創的手工啤酒節，每年入場人士過萬，是城中最大型的手工啤酒節。活動今年十月將會在中環海濱舉行。
    本地手工啤品牌 Yardley Brothers 昨日在 Facebook 宣佈，黑鳶、鬼佬、麥子、少爺和獅子山啤等 12 個本地品牌達成協議，今年將集體拒絕參加Beertopia啤酒節。 Yardley Brothers 在 Facebook 解釋，Beertopia 曾經是啤酒製造商與大眾消費者的親身接觸，但指主辦單位今年「大幅提高參展費用」，又「向消費者索取高昂票價」，使活動「已逐漸淪為大型酒廠（或急於推廣的小型酒廠）向高消費人仕推廣的場地」。
    12 個本地品牌會面後，認為Beertopia啤酒節已經「變質」， 不再是大眾認識本地啤酒廠的理想途徑，故決定集體退出今年啤酒節。 然而，根據 Beertopia 官方網頁官顯示，今年早鳥票最低消費是 200 港元，較去年的 290 港元，甚至 2016 年的 235 港元更低。
    面對指控，Beertopia 回覆《立場新聞》查詢表示，受壓於場租增加 50%，今年攤位租金有所調整，增幅兩至三成，詳情請見下表。今年參展商超過三百間，當中包括六個本地品牌，例如：Meow Beer、Symmetry Brewing 等。對於有舊合作品牌退出，Beertopia 表示「遺憾」（shame），但仍然期待向香港市民推介更多新晉手工啤品牌。
    本地啤酒廠聲明：

    多間香港本地啤酒廠拒絕參加 BEERTOPIA 2018啤酒節

    多間香港本地啤酒廠於最近一次會面中達成協議，集體拒絕參加Beertopia啤酒節。

    Beertopia啤酒節曾經是本地啤酒廠每年最重視的盛事，因為該啤酒節提供罕有機會，讓啤酒製造商及進口商親身接觸消費者，與大眾一起享受味道更豐富、更多元化的精釀啤酒。

    但如今Beertopia啤酒節大幅提高參展費用，同一時間向消費者索取高昂票價，已逐漸淪為大型酒廠（或急於推廣的小型酒廠）向高消費人仕推廣的場地。我們認為，變了質的Beertopia啤酒節已經不再是大眾認識本地啤酒廠的理想途徑。

    我們期望香港有更多定價公平的啤酒節，讓大眾能以合理價錢接觸高質素啤酒及其廠商。為此，香港精釀啤酒協會及一眾本地酒廠已在致力籌辦不同類型的啤酒節，請各位啤酒愛好者密切留意。

    在此，希望各位體諒本地啤酒廠的決定。如有查詢或訪問邀約，請以www.facebook.com/CraftBeerHK聯絡香港精釀啤酒協會。
     

    Beertopia 回覆：

    Thanks for your message! Yes, it's definitely a shame that some of the previous vendors are not participating, but we are very excited about the new local craft breweries from both Hong Kong and Asia joining us this year, many of which are making their debuts in Hong Kong. Some breweries that will be new to HK include:

    - Rye and Pint from SINGAPORE
    - 禾餘麥酒 Alechemist and 五十五街精釀啤酒 55th Street Craft Brewery from TAIWAN
    - Symmetry Brewing, Meow Beer, Deadman Brewing, Innocence Brewing, as well as (not new) HK YAU, HK Beer Co, and Little Creatures from HONG KONG
    - Edinburgh Beer Factory and Steward Brewing from SCOTLAND

    You can see a full list here on our website: https://beertopiahk.com/pages/beer-list

    We have always strived to showcase as much interesting craft beer as possible and will continue to do so!

    We'll have close to 300(!) beers showcased at the festival this year, all of which are craft, and we're sure the brewers are excited for the HK public to experience them at this year's festival. As well as six local HK craft beer brands.

    Unfortunately, as venue costs have increased by ~50% this year, we've had no choice but to raise stall prices. This is not something we had any decision or flexibility around. You can see stall pricing below from this year and last year. Most of the increase has been for large stalls, as the large stalls obviously benefit the most and have the most sales.

    2018 Prices For Returning Vendors from Previous Years
    Small stall ............. HKD $11,500
    Medium stall ......... HKD $16,500
    Large stall ............. HKD $22,500

    2017 Prices
    Small stall ............. HKD $9,500
    Medium stall ......... HKD $12,000
    Large stall ............. HKD $17,500