Beer is a global phenomenon. It always was and always will be. As our world continues to change and evolve, so do the marketplaces in which beer is presented. In many countries new breweries’ beers are commonly presented next to recognized beer classics.
The quality and diversity of beers available from around the world prove that brewing excellence knows no borders. Consumers are discovering and enjoying a wider variety of new and traditional beer styles—some brewed close to home and others brewed on the other side of the world. Traditional beer styles are not only celebrated in their native lands, but are now being shared, brewed and enjoyed worldwide. The number of new styles and style interpretations appears to be limited only by the creativity of the world’s brewing community.
As consumer choices expand, the availability of information becomes more important. With this in mind the Boulder, Colorado-based Association of Brewers—an independent nonprofit company (which includes the American Homebrewers Association, the Institute for Brewing Studies, Brewers Publications, the International Beer Executives Symposium and the Great American Beer Festival) with almost twenty years experience in organizing successful beer competitions and events, setting a standard for international competitions—developed and staged the first World Beer Cup International Competition in lune 1996 in Vail, Colorado. The competition will be held every two years. An experienced professional panel of beer judges is chosen and charged with honoring the top three beers in each of the style categories (in 1996 there were sixty-one of them) with gold, silver and bronze awards.
The mission of the World Beer Cup International Competition is to educate beer drinkers around the world about the stylistic traditions, beer cultures, quality and diversity displayed by the world’s vast array of beers. The WBC is dedicated to recognizing the traditions and innovations shared by the entire brewing industry as well as those customs unique to specific countries and regions.
By promoting today’s international brewing activities, the World Beer Cup aims to enhance consumer understanding that there are no borders limiting the craft, art and science of brewing. The WBC also actively promotes the responsible consumption of beer as an alcohol-containing beverage, and urges beer producers and distributors to encourage beer enthusiasts to savor the flavor of beer responsibly.
More than 3,000 breweries worldwide were sent invitations to participate in the inaugural 1996 World Beer Cup International Competition. More than 250 breweries responded from every continent, entering a total of more than 600 different beers. Breweries and importers were responsible for entering their beers in the categories they considered most appropriate; competition organizers were not involved in these decisions. In most cases the beers were shipped from the breweries directly to the World Beer Cup’s refrigerated warehouse site where they were sorted, coded and prepared for a blind judging.
Twenty-seven judges from breweries and companies around the world convened in Vail on June 13 and 14, 1996. Judges were selected from an Association of Brewers (also producers of Brewing Matters, Inc.’s The Great American Beer Festival) source list of internationally recognized brewers, consultants and writers. These individuals are selected on the basis of: (1) industry and peer recognition, (2) knowledge of beer styles and the brewing process, (3) flavor perception skills, (4) prior judging or beer evaluation experience, and (5) judging demeanor.
The judging took place in nine different sessions over the course of two days. Whenever possible, judges were assigned by World Beer Cup managers to judge beers in their specific area of expertise, though they were never allowed to judge a category in which they had entered beers or had an interest or concern. (For example, a consultant could not judge the beer of a client.)
Judges were divided into groups of three or more to evaluate numbered samples of beer. All beer was presented anonymously. Breweries could enter up to three of their products. Twenty-one competition captains and stewards prepared and presented the beers to the sequestered judges.
Typically no more than fifteen beers were presented in any one round of judging. As an example, if a category had twenty-two entries, there would be two simultaneously judged rounds of eleven beers. Each set of three judges would choose the top three beers and nominate them to move forward to a second and final round, where usually all six judges evaluated the renumbered beers and chose Gold, Silver and Bronze winners.
Occasionally judges chose not to give an award in a category. The guidelines and World Beer Cup Awards philosophy used for determining awards are:
The World Beer Cup awards beers for excellence in sixty-one categories and does not automatically recognize the top three finishers in a particular category. When judges decide a category contains three excellent examples of the style, they present Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for the first-, second-and third-place beers, respectively. If judges believe that no beer entered in the category meets the quality and style-accuracy criteria, they may elect not to distribute any awards, Judges may recognize a beer as a Silver-or a Bronze-winning beer, yet not award a Gold.
The following World Beer Cup award criteria are the minimum standards of quality required for any beer considered for an award.
Cold
A world-class beer that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance.
Silver
An excellent beer that may vary slightly from style parameters while maintaining close adherence to the style and displaying excellent taste, aroma and appearance.
Bronze
A fine example of the style that may vary slightly from style parameters and/or have minor deviations in taste, aroma or appearance.
Judges may choose not to designate any awards in a category if all beers entered in that category are significantly out of style or have major defects, or if fewer than three entries were received.