On April 24th, The Venetian Las Vegas hosted the 2024 World Beer Cup awards, organized by the Brewers Association to celebrate brewing excellence on an international scale. This competition is unique in that it includes beers from around the world, with a panel of international judges making it a truly global event.
Unlike other beer competitions, such as the Great American Beer Festival, which focuses only on American brews, the World Beer Cup recognizes excellence in over 100 categories. The judges awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals to the top three entries in each category, ensuring that only the finest examples of each style of beer are recognized.
According to Chris Williams, the competition director, evaluating beer is a form of peer review on a professional level. The results are made public so that consumers can see which beers meet high standards of quality and exemplify different styles as interpreted by the judges.
Judges have the discretion to award beers in any one or more of the three award places without necessarily awarding all three medals in a category. This flexibility allows for recognition of exceptional beers even if they do not receive a gold medal.
The World Beer Cup is known as the “Olympics of Beer Competitions,” and winning an award is a prestigious achievement for breweries around the world. It is a testament to their dedication to the craft and their ability to produce outstanding beers that are recognized by industry professionals and consumers alike.