Since 1886, the International Brewing Awards have been honoring the best beers in the world, making it the oldest beer competition globally. In 2013, the International Cider Awards were added to recognize excellence in the cider industry as well. What sets these awards apart is the fact that judging is done solely by professionals actively working in the brewing and cider making industries. This marks a departure from other beer competitions, where a mix of industry professionals and trained judges typically evaluate the entries.
For the 2024 awards, 31 beer judges and nine cider judges from 15 countries came together to evaluate almost 600 beers and over 100 ciders. The judges ranged from individuals representing small craft breweries to those from the largest brewing companies in the world. Ruth Evans, the director of the awards and CEO of the Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry Suppliers Association, emphasized in a video interview that the entries received for the 2024 awards reflected global trends in the beer and cider industries. However, she mentioned that this year saw a decline in entries, which she attributed to the ongoing challenges faced by the beer and cider sectors.
The breakdown of entries by country revealed interesting patterns. Entries from Japan saw an increase, while those from Australia declined. This shift shed light on the varying levels of strength and weakness in the beer industries of these two nations. Additionally, entries in the Non & Low Alcohol category surged, whereas those in the Strong Beer category decreased. The Specialty Beer category saw a notable rise, particularly fueled by entries from Japan, a country known for excelling in this genre.
On May 1, the 2024 trophy winners were announced by The International Brewing Awards and The International Cider Awards. These winners were selected from the pool of 30 gold-medal winning beers and 13 gold-medal winning ciders that had been previously unveiled on March 22. Unlike the medals, which are awarded by panels of six judges, the trophy winners are determined by the entire group of judges. The standout trophy winners for 2024 included Kirin Ichiban from Kirin Holdings Company of Japan in the International Smallpack Lager Competition, Capital Dry Hopped Lager from Windsor & Eton Brewery in the International Keg Lager Competition, Barley Griffin from BentSpoke Brewing Co of Australia, and Samuel Adams Wicked Hazy from Boston Beer Company in the International Smallpack Ale Competition, among others.
The International Brewing and Cider Awards continue to be a prestigious platform for recognizing excellence in the beer and cider industries. As the trends and preferences in these sectors evolve, so do the entries and outcomes of the awards. It is a testament to the passion and dedication of professionals in the brewing and cider making fields that such competitions exist to celebrate their craft. Cheers to the winners and participants of the 2024 awards, and may the spirit of innovation and quality continue to thrive in the industry.