It’s Rule Britannia at International Brewing Awards!
By: JimOldfield
February 16th, 2013
British ales rule the world… after UK & Channel Island brewers won almost HALF the medals up for grabs at the prestigious International Brewing Awards.
UK-based brewers scooped a staggering 47 medals out of 96 awarded at the world’s oldest international beer contest, including a clean sweep in the cask ale category where British brewers won all 12 medals on offer.
All eyes were on the National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent on Friday after the 40-strong panel of drinks experts finally finished a three-day judging marathon where they rated 1,000 beers from 47 countries.
As well as ales, British lagers and ciders also triumphed overwhelmingly in the blind taste tests at the biennial awards.
Delighted UK gold medal recipients include Saltaire Brewery, Camden Town Brewery, Joseph Holt, Daniel Thwaites, Elgood & Sons, Sharp’s, Wm Evan Evans, Liberation, The Highland Brewing Company, Molson Coors UK, Thatcher’s Cider and SHS Group Drink.
Silver medals were won by Oakham Ales, Fuller’s, Marston’s, Curious Drinks, RW Randall, Elgood & Sons, Daniel Thwaites, St Austell Brewery, Carlsberg UK, The Highland Brewing Company, Kirkstall Brewery, Sharp’s, Thatcher’s Cider and MacIvors Cider Company.
Bronze medals went to Shepherd Neame, Timothy Taylor, Adnams, Joseph Holt, Harviestoun, Marston’s, Hop Back Brewery, The Chiltern Brewery, Tennents Caledonian Breweries, Sharp’s, Liberation, Moorhouses, Woodforde’s Norfolk Ales, Kirkstall Brewery, Thatcher’s Cider and Heineken UK.
However, the brewers have to wait until an awards lunch at London’s Guildhall on April 24, to discover if their beer is crowned one of 11 championship winners.
Presenting medals to the award-winners, chair of judges Bill Taylor said, “We are delighted with this year’s Awards. The number and diversity of entries demonstrate the support for the competition from all parts of the global brewing community, as does the willingness of the 40 expert brewers and cider makers to give up their time to judge.
“This competition, judged by professional brewers, dates back over 120 years. In 2011 we brought the Awards back to the UK and were overwhelmed by the industry’s response. This year, we have built on that success and consolidated our position as the competition that best represents the very best beers from the entire global brewing industry.”
Taylor, chief brewer at leading Australian food & drink business Lion Co, added: “This year, we reintroduced two cider categories, after an absence of many decades. Given that this was effectively new ground for us, we’re pleased with the response and will be looking to develop this in 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.
