The 2016 World Beer Cup Winners

One of the beer industry’s most prestigious competitions, the World Beer Cup took place in Philly last week and awards were presented at the conclusion of Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America on Friday night.

Considered by many to be the “Olympics of Beer” this bi-annual competition is a big deal. Winning a World Cup award, is like winning a Grammy, it brings the world’s attention to even the smallest brewery’s doorstep…and like a hit song, it can make a career.

This was their largest beer competition to date. A record6,596 beers from 1,907 breweries were judged and there were tons of surprises.

This year’s judging panel was an elite international panel of 253 judges from 31 countries, including we’re proud to write, ACB’s own Sophie Atherton, who writes for us on occasion, from the UK.

Judges awarded 287 overall award this year – that’s basically your gold, silver and bronze in 96 different style categories.

Here’s some of the highlights from this year’s World Beer Cup.

 

Category Trends

• The average number of beers entered per category was 69, that’s up from 50 in 2014–a marker of the 2016 World Beer Cup’s high level of competitiveness.
• Not surprisingly, the category with the most entries was American-Style India Pale Ale with 275 entries.
• No surprise here either – the second most-entered category was Imperial India Pale Ale with 181 entries.
• Completing this stylistic trifecta was American-Style Pale Ale, The third most-entered category, with 167 entries.

 

Award Highlights

The 287 awards were won by 253 breweries, with few breweries earning more than one award.

• 225 breweries won one award.
• 22 breweries won two awards.
• 6 breweries won three awards.

This international competition also bestows Champion Brewery and Champion Brewmaster awards in each of six brewery categories based on the awards won by each brewery and here are those deserving winners.

 

Very Small Brewing Company Category

Arch Rock Brewing Co.

James Smith

 

Small Brewing Company Category

Noble Ale Works

Evan and The Giants

 

Mid-Size Brewing Company Category

Brewery Ommegang

Brewery Ommegang

 

Large Brewing Company Category

Miller Brewing Co.

Miller Brewing Co. Brewing Team

 

Small Brewpub Category

12Degree Brewing

Jon Howland and Tor O’Brien

 

Large Brewpub Category

Beachwood BBQ & Brewing

Julian Shrago, Ian McCall and Gene Wagoner

For a complete listing of all the winners in every category check out: 2016 World Cup Awards