After 4 years of consecutive success, the London Beer Competition, in its 5th year is set to continue its aim of setting a true benchmark for buyers and consumers looking to buy beers of the best quality, price, and packaging.

This year’s competition saw entries from more than 24 countries. 30+ different categories were entered with the top three being Strong Belgian Ale, Strong American Ale and Trappist Ale. Other top scores were taken by Ikat, double IPA made by Salt Beer Factory, United Kingdom and Great Skanderborg - Castrum from Denmark both getting 94 points.

Abbatiale Genièvre de Houlle from France wins the beer of the year award with a top score of 96 points. 

Here are the top winners of the 2021 London Beer Competition.

• Beer Of The Year: Abbatiale Genièvre de Houlle

• Brewery Of The Year: Salt Beer Factory

• Best Beer By Quality: Abbatiale Genièvre de Houlle

• Best Beer By Value: Lepi Decki Brewery / Hyperbola

• Best Beer By Package: Abbatiale Genièvre de Houlle

Other country-category winners were:

Best Beer From United Kingdom: Ikat

Best Beer From Denmark: Great Skanderborg - Castrum

Best Beer From Belgium: Tripel Karmeliet

Best Beer From Poland: Porter Baltycki Trzech Kumpli

Best Beer From Netherlands: Bird of Prey IPA

Best Beer From Spain: Mahou Cinco Estrellas Session IPA

VIEW FULL RESULTS HERE

Gabriele Bertucci ready to blind taste beers for London Beer Competition 2021, Source: Instagram

Recognising, Rewarding and Promoting

The 2022 London Beer Competition is an international beer competition organized by Beverage Trade Network and is set to happen on March 22, 2022, in London. The London Beer Competition looks to recognise, reward and help promote beer brands that have successfully been created to identify with and target a specific beer drinker. For any beer brand to earn its place on a retailer’s shelf or a restaurant’s beer list - and then vitally stay there - they need to be marketable and consumer-driven and not just produced in the general hope it can find enough people willing to sell and buy it.

Quality, Value, Package and Design

Image by Paul Davies, Director at AleHunters plc, Source: Instagram

The London Beer Competition awards medals according to quality, value for money, packaging and design. All 3 aspects are key to winning over the consumer whether on the shelf or at the dining table. Whilst looking great has always been a part of shop retail, it is now clear that restaurants require excellent packaging and design.

Beer Sommeliers want guests to be impressed with their choice or suggestion of beer, and so it follows naturally that when they bring the bottle to the table that it represents every ounce the quality that they have recommended.

London Beer Competition's 2021 Beer Professionals

The London Beer Competition is judged by professionals - Beer Sommelier, Certified Cicerone, buyers from leading retail organisations and some of the most respected London buyers so that brands can be certain of the medal quality awarded.

Benefits and reasons on why you should enter your beers in the London Beer Competition.

1. Raise your brands’ profile, prestige, and credibility with importers, distributors, press, retailers, and consumers.
2. Instil confidence in the trade buyer about the marketability of your beer as LBC rates beers by its value, package, and quality.
3. Winners to be showcased at LBC participating events at no extra fees.
4. Winners to get access to stickers and all winning materials at no extra fees.
5. Increase product sales.
6. Boost awareness of your brand in the media via extensive editorial and press coverage via LBC media partners.
7. Use the LBC logo on packaging and as part of your own promotional plan.
8. Social media promotion of winners ALL YEAR ROUND.
9. Entrants to get customized shelf-talkers and tasting notes. 

Key Dates:

Super Early Bird Ends - August 31, 2021

Registration Ends - Feb 28, 2022

Warehouse Closes: March 4, 2022

Judging Date: March 21, 2022

Winners Announced: April 5, 2022

Fee Schedule:

£65 Super Early Bird - May 1 to August 31, 2021

Here are the steps to enter your beers in the London Beer Competition.