A global beer competition with a difference returns to Australia this September.
The Melbourne International Beer Competition is the Asia-Pacific leg of the International Beverage Competition Series, which grew out of the New York International Spirits Competition that debuted a decade ago.
Unlike most beer competitions, the judges are drawn from trade rather than the beer and brewing industry: retail store buyers, restaurant beverage directors, hoteliers, distributors and importers from Australia and Asia. As well as beer, the competition is also judging cider and mead.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions (for more, see below), the 2020 awards will be judged virtually on the weekend of October 17-18 (new dates) by judges in the safety of their homes or businesses.
Submissions for brewers have been extended until October 11.
Results will be posted week commencing October 12.
ENTER HERE
As well as handing out awards and medals for the best beers, ciders and meads – Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze – competition organisers list award winners in their database, share results with international media partners and international importers, and showcase top winners at tasting events. More on the benefits of entering can be found here.
The judging process for the awards is outlined here. Please note: the judging will not take place at the RACV Club in Melbourne this year due to COVID-19.
KEY DATES
- Entry Deadline: Oct 11
- Product Delivery Deadline: Oct 11
- Payment Deadline: Oct 11
FEES
Cost in AUD per submission for both online entries and paper/fax/email entries:
- Early Entry (before Oct 3): $100
- Regular Entry (Oct 4 to 11): $115
- Late Entry (Oct 12 to 17): $150
For more on how to enter, head here.
COVID-19 INFORMATION
As well as conducting a "virtual judging", the organisers are undertaking extra precautions to ensure the safety of warehouse staff, the delivery team and judges. Samples will be carefully managed under strict security protocols and delivered by staff to the judges' homes or business across Melbourne.
All submissions will be assigned an individual numeric SKU, to ensure the integrity of the data and the scores.
Entrants are asked to send in blank bottles and cans with the assigned “SKU” generated from the online submission process. Anyone submitting by submission form mark the bottles or cans with the style type and category code by marker or tape.
