140 years of brewing history, the Oscars of brewing are back!
- Guild Secretary
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Celebrating 140 years of brewing history, the International Brewing & Cider Awards are now open for entries!
Believed to be the oldest brewing competition in the world and renowned for its quality and impartiality, the Oscars of brewing and cider will take place on the 3rd-5th March 2026 in Manchester.
Its origin goes back to 1886!
Previously known as the Brewing Industry International Awards, the competition dates back to 1886. For the past 140 years, the competition has remained true to its core values of excellence and authority. A credibility unmatched and recognised by the best brewers and cider makers in the world.
Discussing the values of the competition, Ruth Evans MBE, chief executive at BFBI and organiser of the awards said “I feel a great deal of responsibility to be overseeing the organisation of an international beer and cider competition that is 140 years old. The core values of the competition remain true to its heritage, reflecting the passion and dedication of entrants for their beers and ciders. Our competition judges diligently share the responsibility of choosing not just the best beers and ciders but those with commercial worth.”
A rare competition
Organised every two years, the International Brewing & Cider Awards are a rare opportunity for breweries to have their beers judged by their peers, and have rightly been nicknamed the “Oscars of Brewing”.
The excellence of the awards is renowned in the industry and makes it one of the most prestigious accolades in the brewing world.
Ruth Evans MBE added “The International Brewing & Cider Awards are organised by the industry for the industry. The passion and dedication of the organising team, stewards and judges support the core principles of robust peer review based on excellence and commercial worth.”
About the awards, Lara Lopes, Head Brewer at Round Corner Brewing and 2024’s winner added “Being awarded the Trophy for Keg Ale and multiple Gold Medals at the International Brewing Awards was a tremendous honour. Recognition from such a respected panel of brewing peers is one of the strongest endorsements our beers can receive. This award is a powerful validation of our commitment to quality and serves as trusted assurance for our customers and trade partners alike."
Submissions for the International beer and cider awards are open now on their website https://entries.brewingawards.org/ and will close on the 31st of January 2026.
Each entry cost £187 (+VAT).
Notes to Editors
About International Brewing & Cider Awards
The International Brewing Awards is the longest established brewing competition in the world, having first been held in 1886. Since then, the competition has focussed upon searching out excellence and rewarding it across all styles of commercially brewed beer. The winning breweries are awarded medals and trophies from the world’s most professional tasting panel, composed exclusively of experienced commercial brewers.
Over its 140 year history, the competition has evolved with the global industry and made sure they are relevant and always keep up with the changes in the market.
Core attributes include:
Organised since 1886, the oldest international beer competition
Open to all types of beer
Structured into nine beer categories with 36 classes
With few classes, medals are difficult to win and therefore every win is that much more prestigious
Diversity and innovation as well as tradition are recognised through the alcohol strength categorisation
Judged only by professional brewers
Technical installation and stewarding are second to none
First established in 1901, The International Ciders Awards were reintroduced as an international recognition of excellence in cider production in 2013.
An award is a recognition by fellow professional cider makers that a cider is an outstanding commercial example of its style.
The superb technical installation including cider in bottle, can, bag in box, cask and keg ensures integrity of product, dispensed to the judges at the cider maker’s recommended temperature.
All judges are currently practising cider makers from around the world, and our stewards are trained to ensure integrity of pour and dispense to the judges. With 9 categories within 3 trophies there is a place for every cider, with every cider having a chance of winning - even those new or innovative variations on styles.
Website: https://www.brewingawards.org/
Socials: @intbrewingciderawards
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