It is absolutely true that beer should be drunk fresh and that in time , it loses flavor. Now it is not like a light switch where after x number of days it kicks over. Think of beer like you would bread , not like wine. Bread is best fresh and so is beer. Bread gets stale over time and so does beer.
Things that help beer stay fresher longer are dark glass bottles , storage at constant and relatively cool temps , high hop content , high alcohol content.
very high alcohol beers , say above 7 % , do benefit from a little aging but not for many years like wine.
I have made my own beer for almost 3 decades now but when I buy beer I like hoppy beers and/or grainy beers. A good happy beer that I seldom see anymore was Magic Hat Blind Faith. Sam Adams Boston Lager is also a very good beer do to the higher level of hops and the use of a specific hop called Hallertauer Mittlfrueh hops. I like IPA's because they have a hoppy profile.
The Best hops IMO are the East Kent Goldings from England and the Hallertauer Mittlefreuh from Germany. Both have relatively low Alpha Acid levels so they are easier to use for bittering beer without getting too bitter and the both have excellent flavor and aroma. For a long time I imported hops from Europe for my own brewing. One year I importred 80 pounds of EK Goldings and the H Mittlefrueh hops. !!
There are some good hops grown in the USA now. They were developed as starins of the two I mentioned but hybrided so they would grow well in the soils and climate in Washington and Oregon.
For grainy beers I like New Castle Nut Brown and several of the Samuel Smith beers. I especially like what is called a Robust Porter and I have to make that for myself to get something really excellent.
Fruity beers have to be done a certain way for me to like them and almost always the fruit must be added to a dark grainy beer or I don't like it. You can make some outstanding Cherry and Cranberry Porters. Lambics can also be OK. Obviously I love talking about , brewing and drinking beer!
So anyway , as far as sponsors of the tournament , I couldn't care less who the sponsor is. I think Bud will probably do a good job as the sponsor and they certainly have deep pockets so maybe there will be more and bigger prizes!