REVEALED: The World Beer Awards 2020 winners

Will you find a new favourite IPA, stout or sour among the winners of the 2020 World Beer Awards?

This year's competition saw more than 2,200 beers from more than 50 countries entered for judging by an international and highly respected panel. The entrants were blind tasted and scored in three rounds of judging.

Traditionally these tastings are done in person, but the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted the proceedings. Instead of bringing the judges to the beers, the awards organisers brought the beers to the judges; black-wrapped and sent out across Europe, Asia, Canada and Brazil, the judges tasted the beers at home and connected for each session via Zoom.

Adrian Tierney-Jones, the World Beer Awards chair of judges, said: "This year's winners in the World Beer Awards demonstrate the verve and vitality of brewers and their wonderful beers around the globe. The category winners are to be congratulated on their successes, but I would also like to thank the judges in the UK, Germany, North America, Japan and Brazil for the dedication and professionalism they have shown, especially during these challenging times."

As well as taste, the awards also rewarded design excellence with samples  judged in seven categories. Felicity Murray, founder of TheDrinksReport.com, who led the judging, said: "It is always refreshing to see so many imaginative label designs and this year was no exception. The judges were particularly impressed by the growing number of beer brands breaking away from the category norm with creative new ideas that stand out from the crowd."

Here are the winners of the World Beer Awards 2020:

Taste

World's Best Lager
Alpirsbacher - Kloster Starkbier

World's Best Stout & Porter
McGargles - Export Stout

World's Best IPA
CREW Republic - Drunken Sailor

World's Best Flavoured Beer
Amsterdam - Double Tempest

World's Best Speciality Beer
NBeer - Niubic Riesling Sour

World Best Pale Beer
Microbrasserie Le Trou du Diable - La Saison du Tracteur

World's Best Wheat Beer
Unibroue - Blanche de Chambly

World's Best Dark Beer
Wäls - Aroeira

World's Best Sourr & Wild Beer
Queue de Charrue - Vieille Brune

 

Design

World's Best Label Design
Round Corner Brewing - Society for the Encouragement of Virtue

World's Best Can Design
Helmsman Ale House - Hazy IPA

World's Best Can Range Design
Brixton Brewery - Brixton Brewery Range

World's Best Bottle Design
Brouwerij Poesiat & Kater - van Vollenoven & Co Extra Stout

World's Best Bottle Range Design
NOXX Range

World's Best New Launch
Bach's - Bulldozer

World's Best Resdesign/Relaunch
Cisco Brewers - Whale's Tale

World's Best Multipack Design
Cisco Brewers - Whale's Tale

 

All style winners, as well as country, gold, silver and bronze medallists, can be found on the World Beer Awards website.

14 September 2020 - Bethany Whymark