The UK’s International Brewing & Cider Awards recognises beers from Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand and Cambodia

Japanese brewers received 10 medals for their beers at The International Brewing & Cider Awards, one of the world’s longest-running events that celebrates the world’s finest beers and ciders. Other Asian medal winners were from China, Taiwan, Thailand and Cambodia. The event concluded on 22 March 2024 with the announcement of the winners in various categories and classes, and was held in Manchester, United Kingdom. At the event, a panel of 38 international judges drawn from the industry bestowed medals to honour 67 brewers and cidermakers from more than 20 countries.

Leading the Japanese award winners was Spring Valley Brewery which received gold medals for its Hojun 496 craft brew in the International Smallpack Lager Competition, under Class 4 for Lager 5.5% – 6.9% ABV; its Kyoto Yosano IPA, under Class 2 for Ale 4.5% – 6.9% ABV in the International Keg Ale Competition; and for its Jazzberry brew, in the International Speciality Beer Competition under Class 2 for Fruit Beer. The brewery also received a silver medal for its Daydream beer in the same fruit beer class; and silver medals for its Kyoto Yosano IPA in Class 4 for Special Hop Beer, and for its After Dark brew in Class 4 for Dark Beer 5.8% – 6.9% ABV.

Another Japanese winner at the event was Isekado Brewery of Ise City that garnered a gold medal for its Pale Ale in the International Smallpack Ale Competition, Class 3 for Ale 5.0% – 5.4% ABV.

Japan’s Derailleur Brew Works also fared well in the International Speciality Beer Competition with its HzMQL, a New England IPA, and its LEFT EYE HELLO MY PHANTOM BLOOD brew, both winning bronze medals in the Class 3 for Other Special Feature Beer and Class 5 for Sour Beer, respectively.

KIRIN ICHIBAN, brewed by Kirin Holdings, won gold under Class 3 for Lager 5.0% – 5.4% ABV in the International Smallpack Lager Competition.

Other Asian breweries that received recognition were China’s Tsingtao Brewery for its Tsingtao Legend beer with a gold medal under Class 5 for Strong Beer Above 10% ABV in the International Smallpack Lager Competition. It also won bronze medals for its Tsingtao IPA in Class 4 for Ale 5.5% – 6.9% of the International Smallpack Ale Competition, and for its Tsingtao Journey of Centennial brew under Class 4 for Lager 5.5% – 6.9% ABV in the International Smallpack Lager Competition.

Vanilla Imperial Stout, brewed by URBREW (China) Craft beer Co. of Handan City received a bronze medal under Class 4 for Strong Speciality Beer of the International Strong Beer Competition.

Taiwan’s Buckskin Hefeweizen, brewed by King Car Group (Buckskin) of Taipei won Gold for Class 1 for Speciality Wheat Beer in the International Speciality Beer Competition.

Chang ESPRESSO LAGER, brewed by Thailand’s CHANG INTERNATIONAL CO., Ltd/Cosmos Brewery (Thailand) won gold under Class 3 for Other Special Feature Beer in the International Speciality Beer Competition.

Cambodia’s Dragon Premium Dark Beer, brewed by Vattanac Brewery of Phnom Penh, won silver under Class 4 for Lager 5.5% – 6.9% ABV in the International Smallpack Lager Competition.