Four brewers and cidermakers from the UK have been awarded the highest recognition from organisers of the International Brewing and Cider Awards.
Trophy winners outside the Guildhall, in London
Windsor & Eton Brewery won the International Keg Lager trophy with its Capital Dry Hopped Lager, London’s Forest Road Brewing Co received the International Cask Conditioned Ale trophy for WORK, and Melton Mowbray-based Round Corner Brewing scooped the International Keg Ale trophy for Drovers Hazy Session IPA.
Globally, there were 13 trophy winners — ten for beers and three for ciders — from 115 medal winners in various categories.
Two trophy winners were awarded in the International Smallpack Ale competition. Australian Bentspoke Brewing Co, with its Barley Griffin, and the USA’s Samuel Adams Wicked Hazy, brewed by the Boston Beer Company, each earned the highest recognition for their outstanding contributions.
Asia scooped four trophies, including Japan’s Kirin Holdings Co for its Kirin Ichiban, and Isekado Brewery with its Nama-Kado Smoked Oyster Stout. Tokyo-based Spring Valley Brewery was awarded the Speciality Beer trophy for the second time in a row, and China’s Tsingtao Brewery Co won the International Strong Beer award with Tsingtao Legend.
In the International Non- and Low-Alcohol competition Spain’s SA Damm was awarded a trophy for its Free Damm.
In the cider awards, Cotswold Cider Company won the International Innovative Cider trophy for its Phantom of the Orchard, while USA triumphed in the International Classic Cider Competition with Portland Cider Company taking home the trophy for its Original Gold. Stonewell Cider, from Ireland, picked up the International Flavoured Cider trophy with Rós.
A three-day judging process to decide the winners took place in March at Depot Mayfield, in Manchester. Thirty-eight working professionals in the brewing and cidermaking industries, from across the globe, were led by chair of beer judging, Rob McCaig, and chair of cider judging, Gabe Cook. Award winners attended a ceremony, held at the Guildhall, London, this week.
“It’s been such an honour to continue to recognise the extraordinary beers and ciders across the world and celebrate all their achievements as they collected their awards at our ceremony this week,” said Ruth Evans MBE, director of the International Brewing and Cider Awards.
“This year, we received an unprecedented level of high-quality beers and ciders, making it one of the toughest competitions to judge to date, and resulted in two brewers receiving the highest recognition in our Smallpack Ale competition.
“We’re thrilled to be able to continue to provide a platform to reward the best beers and ciders with the credit they so truly deserve. Awards like these are so important in raising a company’s profile and help their beers and ciders stand out from the crowd.
“This year we’ve crowned winners from all over the world, including Australia, China, Japan, Spain, Ireland, USA, and the UK, and we’d like to congratulate each brewer and cidermaker who received recognition at this year’s International Brewing and Cider Awards for their continued efforts pushing the boundaries within the brewing and cidermaking industry.”
