The SIBA International Beer Awards 2023 open for entries today, welcoming breweries from across the globe to enter beer across a variety of internationally recognised categories.

SIBA judge

Entry into the awards is included as part of the Society of Independent Brewers’ (SIBA) newly-launched International Brewing Membership. This includes a range of benefits, such as free entry to the SIBA’s major beer and brewing event, BeerX UK, in Liverpool.

“The SIBA International Beer Awards 2023 are judged using an international judging and scoring system across broad range of beer styles, with awards available in 15 different categories,” said Buster Grant, chair of SIBA’s competitions committee.

“We are delighted to open up the UK’s biggest beer event to international brewers, and look forward to judging some superb beers from across the globe — and hopefully handing out a plethora of awards!”

He added: “The SIBA International Beer Awards use the same system we successfully introduced across all SIBA competitions in 2022, and allow each beer to be judged on an individual basis and be awarded a medal accordingly.

“Our lead judges also record detailed feedback on every beer judged, meaning — win or lose — entering breweries are getting hugely valuable feedback from an expert panel of tasters.”

Beers are judged to style and on an individual basis, with each beer being given a score based upon its own quality, rather than comparing it to another beer in the flight being judged.

Judges then award medals to the best beers based upon the scoring structure, taking into account:

  • aroma
  • flavour
  • presentation (colour, head retention, carbonation)
  • overall quality
  • saleability

Highly experienced lead judges record scores for each judging table and compile written feedback for every beer entered into the awards to ensure entering breweries get the most value possible from the judging process.

• For more information visit siba.co.uk/international