The Brewers Association’s Export Development Programme (EDP) has seen success for brewer members in three prestigious international beer contests.
Judging at the Brussels Beer Challenge. Photograph: Bart Van der Perre
There was success across the board for the craft brewers at the Brussels Beer Challenge, the European Beer Star Awards, and the Japan International Beer Cup.
“The success of American craft beer at prestigious global beer competitions is testimony to the skill, creativity, and all-round excellence of America’s small and independent craft breweries, who continue to lead the field in quality, consistency, innovation, and style diversity,” said Lotte Peplow, the Brewers Association’s American craft beer ambassador for Europe.
“Garnering 93 medals in total across three highly competitive international competitions is no mean feat, and I’m incredibly proud of each and every one of them.”
Success at international beer competitions helps raise awareness for American craft beer abroad and assists EDP member breweries with generating publicity for their brands in overseas markets.
As part of its programming, the EDP helps facilitate US brewery participation and performance in select competitions by covering entry fees and consolidated airfreight shipment to judging sites.
Brussels Beer Challenge
The 12th Brussels Beer Challenge took place in Turnhout, Belgium, over three days at the end of October. It attracted 1,811 beers from 37 countries, judged by 92 independent beer experts. Participating beers were sub-divided into categories based on origin, typology, and style, and then tasted.
EDP members were awarded 33 medals in total, eight more than last year. Medals comprised: nine gold, 11 silver, and 13 bronze. Breakside Brewery’s Are You Afraid of the Dark? imperial stout, aged in apple brandy bourbon and rye whisky barrels, was voted best American beer of the competition.
European Beer Star
One of the most recognised beer competitions in the world, the European Beer Star Awards is committed to the traditional European art of brewing. It recognises high quality, authentic beers that are genuine and distinctive, and is limited to beer categories that originate in Europe.
This year’s competition took place for the 20th occasion in September, in Nuremburg, Germany. It attracted 2,355 entries in 74 categories, which were judged by 149 beer experts from 31 countries. Of these entries, 64.5% were international and 35.5% domestic. EDP member breweries won 24 medals, including nine gold, eight silver, and eight bronze.
Japanese International Beer Cup
Hosted by Japan’s Craft Beer Association, the International Beer Cup is Japan’s largest international beer competition and was established in 1996. It provides a valuable opportunity for members of the EDP to compete and gain awareness in a leading export market for American craft beer. This year’s competition received 1,215 entries from 296 breweries across 17 countries. Judging took place in Kanazawa City over three days at the end of September.
American craft brewers won 36 medals in the 2023 competition, including 14 gold, 12 silver, and ten bronze. Notably, both Bierkraft’s Grodziskie and Brick West Brewing’s Festbier were recognized as champions in their respective categories.
