Demand for full-flavored beer like American IPA, barrel-aged beer, or just well-made classic styles expands beyond our own nation’s borders, and American craft brewers once again displayed their expertise in brewing through a strong showing at two major international beer competitions in Europe.

The Brewers Association (BA) Export Development Program (EDP) facilitated member brewery participation in both the Brussels Beer Challenge and European Beer Star competitions in 2021. Success at international beer competitions helps raise awareness for American craft beer abroad and assists EDP member breweries with generating publicity for their brands in overseas markets. As part of its programming, the EDP helps facilitate U.S. brewery participation and performance in select competitions by covering entry fees and consolidated airfreight shipment to judging sites.

Lotte Peplow, BA American craft beer ambassador for Europe, comments, “The strong performance of American craft beer at international beer competitions is testimony to its world class quality and the skill, expertise, and creativity of American craft brewers. The standard was extremely high in both competitions. American craft brewers have an enviable reputation around the globe for producing innovative and high quality beers. Winning medals at international competitions such as Brussels Beer Challenge and European Beer Star underpins that reputation and provides a valuable point of difference in today’s competitive marketplace.”

EDP brewery members performed strongly in the following competitions:

Brussels Beer Challenge

The Brussels Beer Challenge is an annual international beer competition that aims to promote the beer industry in a market that is not only a benchmark for beer but also home to connoisseurs.

This year was the tenth edition of the competition with nearly 1,800 beers from 35 different countries judged by an international jury of 75 independent beer experts, including the BA’s American Craft Beer Ambassador for Europe, Lotte Peplow. The competition took place in Brussels, Belgium over a three-day period from October 30 to November 1. Participating beers were subdivided into categories based on origin, typology, and style, and then tasted.

Congratulations to the EDP members who were awarded 32 medals in total: eight gold, 13 silver, and 11 bronze including Cigar City Brewing’s Maduro Brown Ale which was voted ‘Best American Beer of the Competition.’

European Beer Star

One of the most recognized beer competitions in the world, the European Beer Star Awards, took place for the 18th occasion in November 2021 and is committed to the traditional European art of brewing. It recognizes high quality, authentic beers that are genuine and distinctive, and is limited to beer categories that originate in Europe.

This year’s competition attracted 2,395 beers from 44 different countries judged by more than 120 beer experts, including Steve Parr, BA Export Development Program Manager. It took place at the Doemens Brewing Academy, in Gräfelfing, near Munich, and judges awarded 213 beers with gold, silver, or bronze in 70+1 categories. Congratulations to the EDP member breweries who won 18 medals in total including five gold, four silver, and nine bronze.

The award-winning breweries are listed below—congratulations to all the winners!

European Beer Star

Brussels Beer Challenge

The Brewers Association Export Development Program (EDP) works to inform member breweries about opportunities to sell and promote their beers in targeted global markets, and educate international trade and media about proper storage and care for craft beer, as well as the collective quality and diversity of styles created by small and independent American craft brewers.