World Beer Cup results: U.S. brewers take 208 medals

Beer Man is a weekly profile of beers from across the country and around the world.
This week: World Beer Cup Results
worldbeercup.org

If there are any doubts that the United States is the world leader in the craft beer industry, the May 5 results of the World Beer Cup in San Diego should remove them.

There were 799 breweries and brewpubs entered from 54 countries, and 284 awards handed out. Altogether, the U.S. won 208 medals, while 20 other countries won the remaining 76 awards. For those thinking the judging may have been weighted, 67% of the judges were not from the U.S.

What's most telling is that U.S. breweries and brewpubs dominated nearly every category. In the 18 British-style categories, U.S. brewers won 49 of the 54 possible medals. Not a single United Kingdom beer won an award in these categories. There were 71 entries from the United Kingdom (Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), plus five from the Republic of Ireland.

U.S. breweries won gold medals in seven of 11 Belgian-style categories and 22 of the total 33 possible Belgian-style medals. Belgium, with 101 entries, only won four gold medals and only eight of the 33 total medals.

Of course, these wins may not be so black and white. If every one of the thousands of beers made in the United Kingdom and Belgium were entered, would the U.S have won any awards in those categories?

It's also important to remember that of the 95 categories, 20 were for "American-Style" beers, such as "American-Style Wheat" and "American-Style India Pale Ale." So 60 of the U.S. medals were specific to beer styles that originate in the U.S.

There was satisfaction seeing some past favorites make the cut: Summit Extra Pale Ale, Capital Blonde Doppelbock, Sierra Nevada's Avila Duppel and Kellerweis, Odell Double Pilsner, Westmalle Tripel, Samuel Adams Utopias, Ommegang Rare Vos, Alaskan Amber, Schneider Weisse and Hoegaarden Witbier, to name just a few.

The WBC results also show that the best beers being made in the U.S. are generally not going to be found throughout the country.

Some were from brewpubs that don't bottle at all, while other winners were from small breweries with limited distribution. All the more reason to frequent your local brewpubs for their latest specialty beers.

A complete list of this year's winners, and a searchable database of past winners, can be found here, at the World Beer Cup website.

Many beers are available only regionally. Check the brewer's website, which often contains information on product availability. Contact Todd Haefer at beerman@postcrescent.com.