The Envelope, Please…

Winners of the Brewing Industry International Beer Competitions were announced in London last month, with 69 gold, silver and bronze awards and eight Champion Beer trophies presented to brewers from around the world. Judged in England, the competitions are held every two years, and this year, the judging took place in both the competitions’ traditional home of Burton upon Trent and London. The winning beers were culled from a total 822 beers from a record 48 countries.

U.S. entries at the competitions increased by 22 percent over the previous event in 2002. Sierra Nevada, Chico, Calif., received a gold award in the International Keg Ales category for its Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, marking its first award during the competitions and the first time an American draft beer has won a medal. U.S. beers previously have been recognized for their small-pack entries. “To become a champion at these competitions is seen as the pinnacle of brewing achievement. To do this with a very first entry says a great deal about the beer's quality,” says the competitions’ Chairman of the Judges Roger Putman, of Sierra Nevada’s achievement.

Another U.S. brewer, Rogue Ales, Newport, Ore., took the champion beer trophy in the International Dark Milds, Stouts & Porters category with its Shakespeare Stout. This is the second win for the brand at the Brewing Industry International Beer Competitions, as it received a bronze award in 2002. Rogue Ales also took a gold award in the International Ales Competition — Bottles & Cans category for its American Amber Ale. The champion beer in that category went to Bitter & Twisted from Harviestoun Brewery in Scotland.

New to this year’s awards was the addition of an organic ales category in the International Ale competition. Olympia, Wash.’s Fish Tale Organic India Pale Ale and Fish Tale Amber Ale took the gold and silver awards, respectively.

In the Specialty Beers category, Boston Beer Co.’s Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock took the gold award, while the category’s 2002 champion, Alaskan Smoked Porter from Alaskan Beer Co., took the silver award. Wisconsin’s New Glarus took the bronze award in the specialty Fruit Beer category, with Raspberry Tart. Canadian beers won two awards at the competitions, both in the International Lager Competition — Bottles & Cans, where they competed against 175 worldwide entries.

Molson Ex Light won silver in the 2.2-4.4 percent ABV category, while Interbrew Canada’s Kokanee took silver in the 4.5-5.5 percent class. Interbrew also took the champion beer in the category, with its U.K. entry Castlemaine XXXX. Interbrew U.K. was the most successful single brewing group at the 2004 event, with a total of five medals.

Scottish Courage was the champion beer in the Draught Lager competition, while Moorhouses had the champion Cask Conditioned Ale. The champion specialty beer was Liefmans Frambozen, and the champion Strong Beer went to Poland’s Wojak Wszechmocne.

The Brewing Industry International Awards are judged on both beer quality and the commercial appeal of the entries. According to the competitions’ organizers, the winning beers are “superb examples of broad styles which can expect to enjoy great success in the marketplace. All beers are blind tasted, and the tiniest micro brewery can successfully compete alongside some of the world's biggest brands.”

The beers were evaluated by a panel of commercial brewers from 13 countries, and sponsors of the awards included TrenStar and Pall Food and Beverage. More information can be found at brewingawards.org.