Every couple of years, the Brewers Association of America holds the World Beer Cup, a competition that attracts thousands of entries from hundreds of breweries in dozens of countries. The next one takes place in San Diego in May and the organisers are on the hunt for Aussie brewers keen to pit their beers against the best of the rest of the world. Submissions are open for entries until December 6.
Spencer Powlinson, from the Brewers Association, says: “The World Beer Cup is truly an international affair. In the 2010 competition, breweries from 44 countries around the world entered, and entrants from 19 of those countries earned World Beer Cup awards. In the history of the World Beer Cup, breweries from dozens of countries and every continent have won awards. They proudly use those prestigious awards to promote their beer and to grow a following of enthusiastic beer lovers.”
With the global beer industry enjoying possibly the most exciting period in its history, as craft brewers the world over take brewing to new places, the World Beer Cup organisers are keen to build on the competition’s international flavour. Judging takes place on May 1 and 2 during the Craft Brewers Conference, a major educational conference and trade expo hosted by the Brewers Association. It concludes with the World Beer Cup Gala Awards reception and ceremony on May 5, 2012.
“The US Craft Beer Market has genuine and real appreciation in helping craft brewers develop in other nations,” says Spencer. “We love seeing a craft brewing culture emerge where brewers in other nations begin brewing styles that are similar to what American Craft Brewers are producing. Look at what’s going on in Italy, Sweden, Japan, the UK and now Australia.”
Anyone wishing to enter can find out more at the World Beer Cup website or can go straight ahead and register their entries online here. The past few years have seen overseas breweries snaffling many of the main trophies at the Australian International Beer Awards; perhaps this is a chance for the fast-growing and ever-improving Aussie scene to try and bring a couple of prizes the other way.
Photo at top © Jason E Kaplan 2010
