The Brewing Industry International Awards "Encouraging" early interest in Brewing Awards 2011

Jun Wed. 16th 2010

Brewers from across the globe are registering their interest in the Brewing Industry International Awards (BIIA), which return to Burton-on-Trent next February.

Although entries to the competition, widely dubbed the brewing ‘Oscars’, do not open until August this year, a number of brewers are registering now to receive an application form. Brewers from the UK, USA, Australia, Lithuania, South Africa, Finland, Thailand and Germany have all requested a form via the website www.brewingawards.org

Bill Taylor, Chief Brewer at Australian & New Zealand brewer Lion Nathan and Chair of Judges for the Brewing Awards, said, “It’s very encouraging to see such an enthusiastic response to the Awards, several months before entries open. We look forward to seeing brewers large and small enter beers in smallpack containers , kegs and even casks in this unique and historic competition.”

He added, “The message we’re getting from brewers is that they’re delighted to see the competition running again after a gap. These Awards clearly occupy a special place in the brewing world, thanks to their long heritage, truly international reach and a judging panel  that only currently working brewers can join.”

One brewer to welcome the return of the Brewing Awards is Timothy Taylor, whose beers been very successful at the competition over the years. Head brewer Peter Eells commented, “At the Brewing Awards, your beers are judged by your peers from around the world and this is what makes them so valuable to us. Winning is a tremendous accolade and we’re proud of Timothy Taylor’s record, which totals around 50 medals or trophies since the 1950’s.  The Awards are also very accessible –  any brewer and any beer brand can enter and all have an equal chance of winning.”

Entries open on 1st August this year and close on 31st December, with the competition taking place in Burton from February 9th – 11th 2011. The bronze, silver and gold class winners will be announced in Burton on 11th February. The nine category winners –  selected from the gold winners for each class – will be revealed at a separate Awards ceremony on 12 April 2011 within the BFBi annual lunch at London Guildhall. All class and categories winners will receive their medals and trophies at this event.

The Brewing Industry International Awards 2011 are sponsored by: BFBi, International Agri-Technology Centre, Institute of Brewing & Distilling, British Beer & Pub Association, The Morning Advertiser and Brewers’ Guardian.

For more information and to register for an application form, visit www.brewingawards.org

Comments from past Award winners

BridgePort Brewing Company, Portland, Oregan
Karl Ockert, brewmaster,

“BridgePort has enjoyed success in the Brewing Industry International Awards over the years: in 2000, we won a Gold Medal and the Champion Trophy with our BridgePort IPA and followed it with Silver Medals in 2002 and Gold again in 2005. We’re very proud of all these Awards.

“I was delighted to serve on the judging panel in both 2002 and 2005, so was able to witness the judging process at first hand. What impressed me was the integrity of the judging, which ensures that the winning beers are those of truly superior character.  It is for these reasons that the Brewing Awards are held in such high regard in the industry. BridgePort will certainly be looking to enter again next year.”

Sinebrychoff, Finland
Tapio Kangas-Heiska, head brewer

“Sinebrychoff has a 20-year history in this competition and we have won several prizes during these years. It is interesting that after a few years break, the competition will again be taking place in Burton where it was held for so many years.

“We have won a total of 16 medals and one Champion Beer Trophy and have used these accolades in our marketing communications in a number of ways.  We are looking forward to benchmarking our beers in this well-organised international competition again in 2011.”

Schneider & Sohn, Kelheim, Germany
Hans-Peter Drexler,  head brewmaster

“We regularly take part in the big beer competitions. The BIIA is one of the most renowned and is highly esteemed by our importers and also consumers worldwide. People know that  the BIIA is not a “commercial” event but one where the judges only give prizes to the beers that are very well made.

“We enjoy competing with other great breweries. And we also learn from the competitions by reading what the judges think about our beers and by discussing with other people. In selling our beers, great achievements at beer competitions like the Brewing Awards help greatly and we are looking forward to next year’s event.”

Captions to attached image:
(l-r):  head brewer Tapio Kangas-Heisk and brewmaster Jari Väänänen, both of Sinebrychoff, pictured after the BIIA presentation at London Guildhall in 2004. The Finnish brewery won two Gold and one Bronze medal.