I know I repeatedly say it, but we’re constantly surprised that businesses want to advertise with us. We’re so uncomfortable with the whole notion that we call it ‘sponsorship’ because advertising suggests something is given back.

Still, the Brews News posterior seems to have worn a groove into the great electronic lounge that is the World Wide Web and we seem to draw a good many eyeballs to our pages…and it turns out those eyeballs are worth money. In return for getting such quality beer news and thoughtful and independent analysis for free, you may have to see a little bit of advertising from time to time. To sweeten the deal for you, we only choose ads and advertisers that we think are of interest to you anyway – and we won’t just dress it up as ‘news’ like others do. Doing it this way means that you also won’t get automatically fed ads for “gout studies” or “losing weight now” that seem to work on the assumption that, because you like beer, you are fat and malady ridden. From my experience, Australian Brews News readers are uncommonly attractive and vital individuals.

Anyway, all of this is by way of thanking all of our wonderful sponsors and introducing a new one, Experience IT. They are a small boutique importing company focusing on premium Italian wines and will soon be importing Italian craft beers. As an added bonus, and to promote good Italian craft beer, they will also shortly be offering craft beer tours of Italy.

The first of their beers, to arrive in April, is Birra Del Borgo (unless you speak Italian you’ll need Google to translate). They may not have registered on your radar, but they have on Dogfish Head’s Sam Calagione and you can read about their collaboration here.

The proposed craft beer tours sound excellent, and are described by owner John Latta including:

• Central accommodation in either Barolo or Monforte.
• Day trips to 1-2 breweries (depending on location for the day).
• Breweries would include the top rated Slow Food breweries in the region, sampling, meet the brewer and tour the brewery.
• Lunches are normally included and venues would be selected based on their beer offerings.
• Evenings would include trips to local Craft Beer Venues (one in particular which brings together a broad selection of beers from all over Italy and is an old Cinema)
  • Based on budget you’d have a choice of restaurants from Michelin star to cheap and cheerful classic Italian.
• You’d meet at least 1 of the 2 legends of Italian craft brew
• A day working in one of the breweries (Birra Del Borgo near Rome), Seeing how its all done.
• Trips to local produces to see how the brewers get the inspiration and the quality of the local ingredients.
• Would also include visits to:
  • Local wineries
  • food specialists
  • Local attractions
  • All customised to what the people on the tour would like.
• Level of accommodation ranges from 5 star through to B&B accommodation at €80-90 Euro’s a night.
• We do all the driving and because English is not the most common language in the Piemonte we would also do all the translations if required.
• The only extra extension is then Rome for Birra Del Borgo. This would be a full day with a focus on education, and working in the facility.
• Airport transfers could also be arranged.
• For anyone on the tour we would then provide them an initial order of beer at heavily reduced rates from our site so they could sample back home.

Their web site has a lot of the details on the beer range and tours but will continue to expand as they evolve.

Anyway, we welcome them about and thank them for their support.