Brewing ‘Oscars’ want to hear from you!
By: JimOldfield
March 9th, 2012
The world’s longest-established brewing competition, The Brewing Industry International Awards, has changed its name to The International Brewing Awards, as it gears up for a bumper entry for its 2013 competition.
The next awards ceremony will be at the National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent, from February 13-15, 2013.
And with expressions of interest flooding in, the last contest’s entry list of 800 beers – for the 2011 awards – is set to be beaten.
Bill Taylor, chief brewer at Lion, will continue as chairman of a panel of 30 brewer judges for 2013 – which like 2011, will contain nine main categories, each sub-divided into classes.
Mr Taylor said: “The success of the 2011 event surpassed our expectations, both in number of entries received and level of support from the industry. This long-established competition clearly commands respect and affection among the global brewing community.
”With many winners promoting their success in the competition in their consumer marketing, renaming it as The International Brewing Awards creates a stronger brand, which is easier for brewers to communicate and easier for consumers to understand.”
Expressions of interest for the 2013 awards opened on February 12, and already correspondence is pouring in from brewers, worldwide.
Actual entries can be made from August 1 this year.
And the reigning champs are…
Thornbridge Brewery’s hugely successful Jaipur IPA was named the best keg beer in the world – taking the coveted champion’s award at the “Oscars of the brewing industry”, the 2011 International Brewing Awards.
Jaipur took its place on the rostrum alongside fellow UK brewer Shepherd Neame, whose Asahi Super Dry was declared international champion in the keg lager category – as Britain’s brewers had a field day against their world opposition.
Marston’s added another title by winning the champion low alcohol beer title with their Manns Brown Ale and the Irish got in on the act when Porterhouse Brewing Company’s Porterhouse Plain Porter belied its name by being anything but plain, while taking the gong for champion dark beer!
Scotland also weighed in, with the Highland Brewing Company’s Orkney IPA named as international champion in the cask ale section.
Such was the UK’s domination of the latter category that all but one of the top three in each of the four categories was brewed here… with the exception coming from the Channel Islands!
That position was exactly replicated in the international keg ale section won by Thornbridge, and the keg lager, where the lone interloper came from Finland.
UK brewers also dominated the dark beer competition, in a truly international contest that produced some weird and wonderful winners – such as the exotic Nile Special Lager form Uganda, Sweden’s Original Crocodile Lager and Japan’s interesting-sounding Hitachino Nest Beer!
They were plucked from a staggering 800 entries, worldwide.
International Smallpack Ale
Hook Norton Brewery – Hooky Bitter
Marston’s – Banks’s Mild
Daniel Thwaites – Wainwright
Shepherd Neame – Whitstable Bay
Fyne Ales – Highlander
International Keg Ale
Thornbridge – Jaipur
Daniel Thwaites – Smooth
Liberation Brewery (CI) – Mary Ann Best Bitter
Everards – Tiger Best Bitter
Camden Town Brewery – Pale Ale
Harviestoun Brewery – Bitter & Twisted
Belhaven Brewery – Scottish Stout
International Keg Lager
Shepherd Neame (with Asahi Breweries) –
Asahi Super Dry
Joseph Holt – Crystal Lager
Hydes Brewery – Kaltlager
Shepherd Neame (with San Miguel) – Sunlik
Harviestoun Brewery – Schiehallion
International Non- and Low-Alcohol Beer
Marston’s – Manns Brown Ale International Dark Beer
Liberation Brewery (CI) – Mary Ann Best Bitter
Elgood & Sons – Black Dog
Joseph Holt – Black
Marston’s – Oyster Stout
Purple Moose Brewery – Dark Side of the Moose
Hook Norton Brewery – Double Stout
Daniel Thwaites – Flying Shuttle
Haviestoun – Old Engine Oil
Joseph Holt – Sixex
International Speciality Beer
Freedom Brewery – Freedom Organic Lager (keg)
Freedom Brewery – Freedom Organic Lager (bottle)
Saltaire brewery – Triple Chocoholic
International Cask Ale
Highland Brewing Company – Orkney IPA
Moorhouse’s Brewery – Black Cat
Hawkshead Brewery – Windermere Pale
Hook Norton Brewery – Hooky Dark
Liberation Brewery (CI) – Liberation Ale
St Austell Brewery – Tribute
Evans-Evans – Cwru
Oakham Ales – Bishop’s Farewell
S A Brain – S A Gold
Highland Brewing Co – Orkney Black
Woodforde’s Norfolk Ales – Admiral’s Reserve
Jennings – Snecklifter
