Brewers from across the globe are celebrating winning an impressive 397 medals at the International Beer Challenge (IBC) 2020, now in its 24th year.
This year, judges awarded 62 gold medals, 148 silvers, and 187 bronzes, with this year’s supreme champion — the IBC’s most coveted title — awarded to Free Way IPA from Athletic Brewing Co.
More than 500 beers were tasted from 30 countries, spanning traditional brewing nations like the UK, Germany, Belgium, and the USA, plus exciting new markets, such as Chile, Belarus, Myanmar and South Korea.
For the first time, judging was carried out remotely, via Zoom, but otherwise conditions mirrored the traditional London tasting event, with all entries blind tasted.
IBC chairman, Jeff Evans, said: “The format of the IBC actually lends itself to this way of judging as it’s all based around discussion. As in a normal year, teams of judges — a mix of brewers, retailers, beer sommeliers and writers — were able to sample the same beers and then exchange their opinions, face to face, the only difference being that this time around it was online.
“As you’d expect from judges with this level of knowledge and experience, the scrutiny is intense. No beer gets an easy pass. Sometimes the decision is straightforward and quickly reached; at other times the debate is more intense as judges highlight technical flaws or sing the praises of a beer’s quality and character.”
Taste trophies — and finding a supreme champion
Following the initial round of judging, the gold medal beers were retasted by the senior judging panel to decide the trophy winners and supreme champion beer. For the first time ever, the IBC awarded a trophy to a no-/low-alcohol beer, which went on to be named the overall winner.
In prevailing over a stout, wheat beer, oak-aged sour beer, and a Belgian brown, judges remarked on the progress the no/low beer category has made, and the brewing skill exhibited by the Athletic Brewing Co. They declared that the winning beer was the best no-/low-alcohol beer they had ever tasted.
Jeff added: “For many years, the no-/low-alcohol section of the IBC judging has been a poor relation to the rest of competition. But no more! This year, in recognition of the number of no-/low-alcohol beers being produced, we added a new trophy for this sector, and our judges were hugely impressed with what they tasted.”
Alongside the product taste medals and trophies, the IBC also rewards the brewers who make the beers, alongside the people who import and sell them. The IBC recognises their achievements in a series of special awards, based on performances in the competition.
The awards are decided by the accumulation of medals, each of which — be it gold, silver or bronze — carry a point score, enabling the IBC to name the most successful brewery, retailer and distributor.
Brewery trophies
| Supreme champion brewery | Cervejaria Wäls |
| Brewer of the year, South America | Cervejaria Wäls |
| Brewer of the year, Asia | Buckskin, King Car Group |
| Brewer of the year, UK | Beavertown Brewery |
| Brewer of the year, North America | Athletic B|rewing Co |
| Brewer of the year, Europe | Brasserie Du Mont Blanc |
| Glenn Payne Rising Star award | Maryensztadt Brewery |
| UK retailer | Marks and Spencer |
Beer trophies
| Surpeme champion beer | Free Way IPA | Athletic Brewing Co |
| Best no- and low-alcohol beer | Free Way IPA | Athletic Brewing Co |
| Best wheat beer | La Blanche | Brasserie Du Mont Blanc |
| Best lager up to 5% ABV | Myanmar Beer | Myanmar Brewery |
| Best ale up to 5% ABV | Silver King | Ossett Brewing Co |
| Best lager above 5% ABV | Licorne 1845 | Brasserie Licorne |
| Best stout or porter | Irish Stout | Marks and Spencer |
| Best speciality beer | Legna Dearg | BRÚ Brewery |
| Best ale above 5% ABV | De Poes Bruin | Brouwerij De Poes |
| Best flavoured | Session IPA | Purity Brewing Co |
• Full results are available on the International Beer Challenge website
