CBC 2014 Concludes with Largest-Ever World Beer Cup

Another whirlwind beer week in Denver, Colorado concluded on Friday night with the largest-ever World Beer Cup competition. Drawing the highest number of entries to date, this edition of the World Beer Cup saw 4,754 beers from 1,403 breweries representing 58 countries—a 21 percent increase in the number of entries from the 2012 World Beer Cup, which had 3,921 entries. The ballroom at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Denver was at capacity for this event which only occurs once every two years, and much like the Great American Beer Festival, the weight of winning World Beer Cup recognition has the power to launch some bright futures for craft brewers trying to edge into the light of this vast and rapidly growing marketplace.

Judging for the 2014 World Beer Cup took place April 7-9 in Denver during the Craft Brewers Conference. An elite panel of 219 judges representing 31 countries tasted and critiqued their way through entries spanning 22 countries and five continents. The sheer amount of categories and awards given out last night was dizzying, as the panel of judges awarded 281 out of 282 awards possible.  A total of 253 breweries took home awards in 2014, a 16.6 percent increase over 2012.

The Full Pint were situated in a part of the ballroom that seemed to house some big winners this year, including the big winners of the Champion Award (Small Brewpub Category), Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant and the (oh-so controversial winners) who took home awards for Coors who (-gasp-) snagged this year’s Championship Award (Large Brewery Category) from 2012’s winners AB-InBev. We were impressed that more breweries took home single awards this year — proving that the diversity of the international craft beer market is on the rise.

A complete list of the 2014 World Beer Cup winners is available here. Did your favorite brewery win something this year?

About World Beer Cup: The Brewers Association introduced the World Beer Cup competition in 1996 to celebrate the art and science of brewing by recognizing outstanding achievement. The 2014 World Beer Cup was sponsored by Presenting Sponsor Krones, and Partner Sponsors Ball Corporation, Barth-Haas Group, First Key Consulting Inc., Sahm, and Siemens.