British brewers last night won four of the nine category awards at a high-profile ceremony recognising the best beers from across the world.
The winners of the Brewing Industry International Awards 2011, held at London’s Guildhall, were:
* Champion Smallpack Lager: Bintang, Multi Bintang Indonesia (Asia Pacific Brewery)
*Champion Smallpack Ale: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, California
* Champion Keg Lager: Asahi Super Dry, Asahi Breweries & Shepherd Neame, Faversham, Kent, UK
* Champion Keg Ale: Jaipur IPA, Thornbridge Brewery, Bakewell, Derbyshire, UK
* Champion Non and Low Alcohol Beer: Mann’s Brown Ale (bottle), Marston’s, Burton-upon-Trent, UK
* Champion Dark Beer: Samuel Adams Cream Stout (bottle), Boston Beer Co, USA
* Champion Strong Beer: Double Strong Beer (keg), Myanmar Brewery, Yangon, Myanmar
* Champion Speciality Beer: Shirayukichoujugura (Snow Blanche) (keg), Konishi Brewing, Hyogo, Japan
* Champion Cask Conditioned Ale: Orkney IPA, Highland Brewing, Orkney, UK
Judges spent three days tasting 800 beers in February this year in Britain’s brewing heartland of Burton-upon-Trent. The Champion Beers were selected from the Gold medal winners in each category.
Bill Taylor, chair of judges, said: “It feels very good to have reached the end point of the Brewing Awards 2011, knowing that we have achieved our ambition to put the competition back where it belongs at the heart of the international brewing community. Not only did we exceed the number of entries received for the 2005 event, we also received tremendous support from our sponsors, from brewers, trade associations, publications and others around the world, who made the event not only possible, but a huge success."
Ruth Evans, chief executive of competition organiser Brewing Technology Services, said: “The industry’s enthusiastic response is a testament to the Awards’ unrivalled reputation, built up over the 150 years since the first competition and based on its robust judging process which ensures that the winners are truly the best beers in the world. It is good to see the Awards restored as a ‘must enter’ for brewers around the world – who should now be marking February 2013 for the next event.”
Entries for the next awards, in 2013, open on 1 August 2012. For more information, visit www.brewingawards.org.
The Publican’s Morning Advertiser, M&C Report’s sister publication, was among the trophy sponsors, alongside the Brewers’ Guardian, Brauwelt, Bebidas, Drinks Technology & Marketing, the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group and the British Guild of Beer Writers.
