Roger Protz, chairman of the international panel of judges at the WBA (World Beer Awards), declared: "More and more craft brewers throughout the world are making beers bursting with distinctive and exciting aromas and flavours. The judges have been overwhelmed by the quality of the beers entered for the competition and it has been an immensely difficult task choosing the winners."
STEP 1: Style Trophies
The judges sampled hundreds of entries from the UK, Europe, the US, Australia and elsewhere to pin down the best of each style.
Lager
Standard Lager
- 2.5% & under: Carling C2
- 2.6%-4.5%: Great Western Light
Premium Lager
- Vienna Red: Eisenbahn Sanos
- Marzen/Octoberfest: Sam Adams Octoberfest
- Standard Premium: Velkopopvicky Kozel Medium
- Pilsner: Harviestoun Schiehallion
- Helles: Kaltenberg Spezial
- Dortmunder: DAB Original
Strong Lager
- Bock: Primator Exkluziv, 16%
- Dopplebock: Konig Ludwig Kaltenberg Ritterbock
Pale Ale
Standard Pale Ale
- Bitter: Deschutes Bachelor ESB
- Best Bitter: Fuller’s London Pride
- Blonde/golden: Fyne Ales Avalanche
- Kolsch: Eisenbahn Kolsch
- Summer: Brains 45
- Rye: Duchy Select
Strong Pale Ale
- Abbey: Tripel Karmeliet
- Amber: Adnams Innovation
- Harvest: Hook Norton Haymaker
- IPA: Goose Island IPA
- Imperial IPA: Rogue I2PA
- ESB: Young’s Special London
- Trappist: La Trappe Dubbel
- Bier de Garde: La Goudale
- Export: Greene King IPA Export
- Vintage: Fuller’s Vintage 2006
Dark Ale
Standard Dark Ale
- Brown: Harvey’s Lewes Castle Brown
- Mild: Harvey’s Old Ale
Strong Dark Ale
- Barley: wine Robinson’s Old Tom
- Standard Strong Dark: Oakham Hawse Buckler
Stout & Porter
- Imperial Stout: Deschutes Abyss Imp
- Standard Stout: Hook Norton Double Stout
- Sweet/milk Stout: Sam Adams Cream Stout
- Porter: Sam Adams Holiday Porter
- Oatmeal: Rogue Shakespeare Stout
Specialty Beers
- Coffee: Meantime Coffee Porter
- Experimental: BrewDog Paradox
- Fruit: Cains Raisin Beer
- Gluten Free: SA Damm Ed Apta Para Celiacos
- Honey: (tie) Fuller’s Honey Dew and Refresh Beewyched
- Smoked: Okell's Aile
- Gueuze/Lambic: Sam Adams Cherry Lambic
- Wood Aged: Goose Island Bourbon Cream Stout
- Herb/Spice: Chalky's Bite
STEP 2: Category and Sub-Category Winners
The above style winners then underwent a blind tasting trial, by which top British brewers narrowed down the choice to the best beers in each category:
Category Winners
- World's Best Pale Ale: Tripel Karmeliet
- World's Best Dark Ale: Oakham Hawse Buckler
Sub-category Winners
- World's Best Standard Lager: Carling, C2
- World's Best Premium Lager: Kaltenberg Spezial (Highly commended: DAB Original & AK Damm)
- World's Best Dark Lager: Primator Premium Dark (Highly commended: Sam Adams Dark Black Lager)
- World's Best Strong Lager: Primator Exkluziv 16%
- World's Best Standard Pale Ale: Deschutes Bachelor ESB (Highly commended: Fuller’s London Pride)
- World's Best Strong Pale Ale: Tripel Karmeliet (Highly commended: Adnam’s Innovation)
- World's Best Standard Dark Ale: Harvey’s Lewes Castle Brown Ale
- World's Best Strong Dark Ale: Oakham Hawse Buckler
- World's Best Stout: Rogue Shakespeare (Highly commended: Deschutes Abyss)
- World's Best Porter: Sam Adams Holiday Porter
- World's Best Grain-Only Wheat Beer: Konig Ludwig Weissbier (Highly commended: Primator Weizenbier)
- World's Best Flavoured Wheat Beer: Sam Adams White Ale (Highly commended: Blue Moon)
STEP 3: World's Best Beers
Finally, these category winners were sent back to the panel of judges for the final round of the WBA, where four bottled beers scooped the title of overall World’s Best Beers:
- World's Best Lager: Primator Exkluziv, 16%
- World's Best Ale: Tripel Karmeliet
- World's Best Stout/Porter: Rogue Shakespeare Stout
- World's Best Wheat Beer: Kaltenberg Konig Ludwig Weissbier
Maddalena Delli - Maddalena Delli is an Italian freelance journalist and professional travel writer who also enjoys blogging, web design and photography.
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