International Brewing & Cider Awards 2017 Announce Champions

Brewers and cider makers from across the world gathered at London’s Guildhall on 26 April for the unveiling of the Championship winners in the International Brewing & Cider Awards 2017. Trophies were awarded to nine brewers and one cider maker from three continents, with all bar one of them winning a Championship for the first time.

The ceremony, which marked the end of the 2017 competition, was attended by more than 400 people. As well as the presentations to the ten Championship winners, more than 125 brewers and cider makers from 21 countries accepted their Bronze, Silver and Gold medals.

BRAUWELT International sponsors the International Strong Beer Competition. Winner is The Galbraith Brewing Co., Auckland, New Zealand, with “Rurik Russian Imperial Stout“. The trophy, a wooden Gambrinus, was presented to the owner and Head Brewer Keith Galbraith (see figure, back row, first from left) by Michael Schmitt, Managing Director of Fachverlag Hans Carl.

Chair of judging Bill Taylor said, “We judged more than 1,100 beers and ciders in Burton-upon-Trent in March this year. It’s a tremendous achievement to come through that process to win firstly a medal and then one of just 10 Championship trophies, so everyone on the podium today should feel very proud.”

The number of entries received this year was up by 15 per cent compared to the last competition, held in 2015, and the cider category almost doubled in size. The 45 judges, all currently working as brewers or cider makers, spent three days assessing the beers and ciders, selecting the winners through a consensus approach.

Ruth Evans, director of competition organisers Brewing Technology Services, said, “The fact that our entries this year were up once again, with participation from producers and brand owners around the world, shows the respect that the Awards command in the international brewing and cider communities.”

The next International Brewing and Cider Awards will be judged in March 2019, with entries opening in September 2018.