Applications for the 2019 International Brewing Awards and International Cider Awards are now open.
The oldest awards of their kind in the world, the International Brewing Awards were established in 1886, while the International Cider Awards began in 1901. Today the awards are often described as the most prestigious competitions of their kind in the world.
Held every two years, both awards are open to breweries and cider makers from around the globe and entries are uniquely peer reviewed by a carefully selected panel of commercially practising brewers and cider makers. Recognising the best beers and ciders in the industry, over 100 medals and trophies are awarded to winners from over 50 countries.
Consistently maintaining the highest standards throughout their collective 132 year history, great lengths are taken to ensure the ideal judging conditions and processes are in place to ensure complete anonymity. The awards encourage innovation and diversity and as such, this year sees the inclusion of new classes in The International Cider Awards, including barrel influenced cider. Believed to be the only international awards to do so, judging classes within styles are also differentiated by alcoholic strength.
Ruth Evans MBE, Director of Brewing Technology Services, said:
“Presiding over one of the world’s most prestigious and longest running international beer and cider awards, is a great privilege.
“We pride ourselves on the high standards and the integrity of the judging, by only working with cider making professionals. We will shortly be announcing an impressive line-up of judges for both awards, which will once again be headed up by industry stalwart, Bill Taylor, formerly of LION.”
Commenting on both awards, Chairman of Judging, Bill Taylor, said:
“These awards continue to evolve with industry changes and it is my role to ensure the tradition of high professional standards continues.
“My advice to the judging panel is always to “only award those entries on which they would be prepared to stake their future success”. We are now looking forward to announcing the judging line up in the coming weeks.”
Both award entries close on 1st February 2019 with the medal winners being announced on March 8th 2019.
About International Cider Awards
The International Ciders Awards were reintroduced, as an international recognition of excellence in cider production in 2013.
An award is a recognition by fellow professional cider makers that a cider is an outstanding commercial example of its style. The competition was first established in 1901 and since then has evolved to reflect the changing global market for cider.
The superb technical installation including cider in bottle, can, bag in box, cask and keg ensures integrity of product, dispensed to the judges at the cider maker’s recommended temperature.
Stewards are trained to ensure integrity of pour and dispense to the judges and all judges are currently practising cider makers from around the world. With seven categories, leading to a Supreme Cider Champion, linked to the consumer experience, there is a place for every cider, with every cider having a chance of winning – even those new or innovative variations on styles.