What are the best beers in the world? That’s probably a question that will never be truly settled, but the World Beer Cup, organized by The Brewers Association, a non-profit, tries to come close.
The annual competition at the Craft Brewers Conference this year in Philadelphia received more than 6,500 entries from 1,907 breweries in 55 countries. Only five percent of that total received a winning medal.
Because this is a passionate topic for folks, what are the criteria? What gets you a gold, silver or bronze medal from the 253-judge panel?
A Gold beer is “a world class beer that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance.”
To get the Silver, it must be “an excellent beer that may vary slightly from style parameters while maintaining close adherence to the style and displaying excellent taste, aroma, and appearance.”
Bronze is “a fine example of the style that may vary slightly from style parameters and/or have minor defects in taste, aroma, or appearance.”
So without further ado, here are your Michigan-based winners. Two – including the only Gold winner – are from Metro Detroit. For the complete list, check it out here.
Smoke Beer – Bronze: Raucher, Wolverine State Brewing Company, Ann Arbor, MI
Belgian-Style Flanders Oud Bruin or Oud Red Ale – Bronze: 2014 Vintage Blue Sunday, New Holland Brewing Company, Holland, MI
Export Stout – Bronze: Dirty Frank Stout, River’s Edge Brewing Co., Milford, MI
English-Style Mild Ale – Silver: Triple Crown Brown, The Mitten Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, MI
Old Ale or Strong Ale – Gold: Ninja Pirate, Black Lotus Brewing Company, Clawson, MI