The World Beer Cup, one of the world’s largest, most prestigious beer competitions, is several months away, but registration is now open for 2025. Brewers, don’t miss your chance to enter this important competition to show the world (and Japan’s beer drinkers) just how good domestic craft beer is! Japan is a frequent medalist in this annual ‘Olympics of beer’. This past competition, Japan’s medal-winners included South Horizon Brewing, Minoh Beer, Spring Valley Brewery, Bighand Bros. Beer, Yokohama Bay Brewing, Beppu Brewery, Yokohama Beer, and DevilCraft. That haul included several gold medals.
Some facts about the previous 2024 WBC: There were 9300 beers from 2000+ breweries in 50 different countries entered in 2024. There were 110 categories in 2024, but this upcoming competition features 112 categories as well as 6 cider categories. The styles range from traditional ones popularized in European stalwarts like Belgium, Germany, and the UK, to more recent styles developed in the U.S. and other parts of the world. There are also unusual categories like experimental and historical beers. Of interesting note, the experimental category has a subcategory for sake-beer hybrids (like those using koji, sake rice, and/or sake-yeast).
A total of 280 judges hailed from 37 countries in 2024, a handful of them professionals from Japan. A table of judges evaluates entries and leaves valuable feedback for brewers. A select few from each round are advanced to the next until a final round where judges award a gold, silver, or bronze medal (unless they feel that none are worthy–it happens sometimes!). Judges are carefully chosen and are trained in sensory analysis, either professionally through their jobs or in workshops.
This year, registration runs until December 13th. Details for entering are on the WBC website. Brewers will not have to ship their beers until March of 2025, and consolidated shipping is handled by professionals via cold reefer containers. The awards ceremony will be held May 1st in conjunction with the Craft Brewers Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA). A WBC medal can be quite a boost for breweries, whether that be for morale or PR purposes. At the very least, it’s fun to compete!