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In a move to wrestle the term 'craft beer' back from the big players, the Independent Brewers Association (IBA) is launching a new seal to promote awareness of locally owned and produced beer.

The IBA deems only small and independent brewers as being able to make craft beer.

However, with the explosion of craft beer, bigger, brewing companies have jumped on the bandwagon, marketing various beer products as craft beer when in fact they have been mass-produced.

The IBA hopes that its new independence seal will combat this.

Launching in Melbourne on 9 May, the seal will used on beer packaging, tap points, and marketing material.

The aim for the seal is that it will help consumers identify what beers are Australian owned and produced, and help shift consumer demand away from industrialised beer and towards independently owned products.

At present, 50 per cent of the country's craft brewers are a part of the IBA.

All members are eligible to use the seal by entering into a license agreement through the IBA website.

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