One of the world’s most historic beer and cider competitions — The International Brewing & Cider Awards — recently announced the first of its esteemed beer judging panel. The panel comprises internationally acclaimed brewers, bringing together their expertise and perspectives from key beer-producing regions around the globe, including the UK, USA and Germany, as well as evolving territories like Japan.
Rob McCaig, will lead the panel as Head of Beer Judging. Bringing over 42 years’ experience, including 11 years as Managing Director at The Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre and 22 years at Molson Canada in Alberta, where he was instrumental in the development of more than 100 new beers. Rob’s wealth of experience positions him as the perfect leader to guide the judging panel in their pursuit of recognizing and rewarding extraordinary beers at the International Brewing & Cider Awards 2024.
The stellar panel of working professionals has been chosen to reflect the current expertise in the tasting and commercial evaluation of beers going into the market. They are not only experts in the craft but are also actively engaged in commercial practices, adding an invaluable layer of industry insight to the judging process. Their collective experience and passion for beer will ensure the most comprehensive assessment of entries, reflecting the global diversity and innovation within the industry.
The International Brewing Awards judging panel comprises:
- Bjarke Bertelsen, liquid innovation manager at Carlsberg, Denmark
- Daniel Carey, co-founder of New Glarus Brewing Company, USA
- Eric Hinrichsen, brewer at Yards Brewing Company, USA
- Genevieve Upton, head brewer at Harbour Brewing Co, UK
- Jennifer Glanville, brewer and director of brewery programs at Boston Beer Company, USA
- Jun Kubota, global chief brewer at Asahi Group Holdings, Europe
- Kyle Moskovitz, brewing manager at Newlands Brewery, South Africa
- Lara Lopes, head brewer at Round Corner Brewing Ltd, UK
- Marcio Buffolo, brewer at Mountain West, USA
- Masafumi Morita, brewmaster at Yo Ho Brewing, Japan
- Matthew Tiplady, brewer at JW Lees Brewery, UK
- Oliver Wesseloh, founder of Kehrwieder Kreativbrauerei, Germany
- Paolo Gugole, co-founder of Bräustüberl Brewery München, Italy
- Paddy Johnson, director at Windsor & Eton Brewery, UK
The competition’s unique approach to the judging process sets it apart from other industry awards. The judges’ role is to recognise and reward the quality and commercial worth of the beers entered whether they be large volume or special niche products of excellence.
Rob McCaig, Head of Beer Judging at the International Brewing Awards, said: “We have some of the best brewers in the world judging this prestigious competition, and it’s their participation which underpins the International Brewing Awards’ credibility.
“The Awards prides itself on the unique judging process which ensures each beer is judged fairly and rigorously on its quality and commercial value, by those practicing within the industry. It is these values that sets us apart.
“Now is such an exciting time for the industry, and as consumers palettes are becoming more discerning, recognition for the technical skill and taste of your product by commercially practicing brewers will ensure products stand out from the crowd. If you want to showcase your product and see how they fair amongst the best in the world, there is no better competition.”
The International Brewing & Cider Awards will take place in March 2024 at Depot Mayfield in Manchester, UK. Brewers from across the globe are invited to enter their finest beers to be blind judged by an international panel of commercially practicing expert brewers from around the world, and gain recognition on an international stage.
For the first time in 137-years, the Awards will be accompanied by a public festival – The International Brewing & Cider Festival. The festival will offer a rare opportunity for attendees to taste such a wide range of local, national and international products, including entered and award-winning beer from the Awards.
Entries for the awards closes on 1st February 2024. For more information about the Awards, including a list of categories and entry criteria, please visit: https://www.brewingawards.org/
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