Nine beers and one cider were today named as overall Champions of The International Brewing Awards 2013, at a presentation in London’s Guildhall that marked the end of this year’s competition.
More than 400 people attended the celebration, among them many of the brewers and cider makers from all over the world who had entered the bi-annual competition. Chair of judges Bill Taylor presented not only the trophies to the Championship winners, but also Bronze, Silver and Gold medals to 96 winners across the 10 beer and cider categories.
Taylor said, “The International Brewing Awards are about recognising excellence in brewing and cider making and it gives us great pleasure to present this year’s Champions with their trophy.
“Close to 1,000 beers and ciders were sent into the competition in Burton-upon-Trent earlier this year, so to be selected as one of just 10 Champions is a great accolade and one that today’s winners will surely be able to use to advantage in raising the profile of their beers and ciders.”
The list of medal winners reflected the international reach of the competition, with recognition for brewers and cider makers from 25 countries, including South Korea, Greece, Cambodia and Lithuania alongside more established brewing nations such as the USA, UK and Belgium.
Equally diverse was the range of styles represented by the beers taking honours today, thanks to the broad structure of the competition, which encourages brewers to innovate and interpret styles in their own way.
Ruth Evans, director of competition organisers Brewing Technology Services, said, “We are delighted with the response to The International Brewing Awards 2013. The competition attracted more entries than in 2011, from 50 countries and from a broad spectrum of producers from regional micro-brewers to multi-national companies. This diversity is important to our Awards and key to their appeal to the international brewing community.”
She added, “We evolved the Awards this year, by reintroducing a cider category. We will be building on this, as well as reviewing our existing beer categories, for the 2015 Awards.”
The International Brewing Awards 2015 will be held in Burton-upon-Trent in February 2015. Entries will open on 1st August 2014.
The International Brewing Awards Champions 2013
Champion Smallpack Lager
Bryggmästarens Premium Gold
AB Åbro Bryggeri, Sweden
Champion Smallpack Ale
Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Deschutes Brewery, USA
Champion Keg Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, USA
Champion Keg Lager
Hells Lager
Camden Town Brewery, UK
Champion Non and Low Alcohol Beer
Northern Light
Daniel Thwaites, UK
Champion Dark Beer
Obsidian Stout
Deschutes Brewery, USA
Champion Strong Beer
Narwhal Imperial Stout
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, USA
Champion Speciality Beer
Samuel Adams Black & Brew
The Boston Beer Company, USA
Champion Cask Ale
Green Devil IPA
Oakham Ales, UK
Champion Cider
Thatchers Vintage Cider
Thatchers Cider Ltd, UK
Caption to attached image
Back row (l-r): Ian Bearpark, Daniel Thwaites; John Bryan, Oakham Ales; Kristopher Scholl, Deschutes Brewery; David Grinnell, Boston Beer Company and Lennarth Anemyr, AB Åbro Bryggeri. Front row (l-r): Martin Thatcher, Thatchers; Brian Faivre, Deschutes Brewery; Alex Tromosco, Camden Town Brewery; Bill Taylor, chair of judges and Steve Grossman, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
NB More photographs of winners are available on request, please email ros@shielporter.com
-ends-
Issued on behalf of: The International Brewing Awards
By: ShielPorter Communications
For information: Ros Shiel
07841 694137 / ros@shielporter.com