The International Brewing Awards, established in 1886, are the oldest beer competition in the world. In 2013, the International Cider Awards were added to honor the best ciders as well. What sets these awards apart is the fact that judging is done solely by working professionals in the brewing and cider making industries. The panel of judges engages in discussions and seeks consensus rather than simply scoring and averaging the beverages. This unique approach adds credibility to the awards, as the judges are peers within the industry.
For the 2024 awards, a total of 31 beer judges and nine cider judges from 15 different countries evaluated close to 600 beers and over 100 ciders. These judges came from a diverse range of brewing backgrounds, from small craft breweries to large multinational companies. Ruth Evans, the director of the awards, pointed out in a recent interview that entries for this year were lower than usual, reflecting the challenges currently faced by the beer and cider industries worldwide. She noted a mix of both positive and negative trends, such as an increase in entries from Japan but a decrease from Australia. Non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beers were on the rise, while strong beers saw a decline. Specialty beers, particularly from Japan, showed strength in this year’s entries.
The highly anticipated trophy winners of the 2024 International Brewing Awards and International Cider Awards were announced on May 1. These winners were selected from a pool of 30 gold-medal winning beers and 13 gold-medal winning ciders previously revealed on March 22. The process involved panels of six judges awarding the medals, while the trophy winners were chosen by the entire group of judges. Some of the standout winners for 2024 include:
– International Smallpack (cans or bottles) Lager Competition – Kirin Ichiban, Kirin Holdings Company of Japan
– International Keg Lager Competition – Capital Dry Hopped Lager, Windsor & Eton Brewery of the United Kingdom
– International Smallpack Ale Competition – Barley Griffin, BentSpoke Brewing Co of Australia and Samuel Adams Wicked Hazy, Boston Beer Company of the United States of America
– International Keg Ale Competition – Drovers Hazy Session IPA, Round Corner Brewing Ltd. of the United Kingdom
– International Cask Ale Competition – WORK, Forest Road Brewing Company of the United Kingdom
– International Non & Low Alcohol Beer Competition – Free Damm, Damm S.A of Spain
– International Specialty Beer Competition – Jazzberry, Spring Valley Brewery of Japan
– International Dark Beer Competition – NAMA-KADO Smoked Oyster Stout, Isekado Brewery of Japan
– International Strong Beer Competition – Tsingtao Legend, Tsingtao Brewery Co. Ltd.
These winners represent the pinnacle of brewing and cider making excellence, as recognized by industry professionals at the forefront of their craft. The diversity of countries and styles featured in the awards showcase the global impact and innovation within the beer and cider industries.
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