The highly respected World Beer Cup awards were held at The Venetian Las Vegas on April 24th, 2024. The competition, created by the Brewers Association in 1996, aims to showcase the craftsmanship and science of brewing on a global scale. Distinct from the Great American Beer Festival, the World Beer Cup evaluates beers from around the world, not just within the United States, with an international panel of judges, earning it the nickname “The Olympics of Beer Competitions.”
According to Chris Williams, the competition director of the World Beer Cup, when industry professionals recognize the quality of products within the market, consumers can trust that these brands are among the best available. The awards ceremony recognizes excellence in over 100 categories but does not automatically award the top three entries in each category. Instead, judges award gold, silver, and bronze medals to the first, second, and third-place beers when they determine that a category contains three exceptional examples of the style.
Williams emphasizes that beer evaluation occurs on various levels and serves as a form of peer review within the industry. The transparency of the results allows consumers to discover which beers meet high quality standards and which exemplify specific styles as interpreted by the judges. Judges have the discretion to grant an award in any one or more of the three places without awarding all three spots, showcasing the diversity and excellence within the competition.
The 2024 World Beer Cup featured a variety of statistics that highlighted the innovation and talent within the brewing community.