| Now I enjoy a nice cold beer as much as the next | | | | - World's Best Specialty Beer |
| man but I never thought that there is such a thing as | | | | The awards were dominated by the European |
| a World Beer Awards. I always thought that there is | | | | countries who won all five of these major groups. I |
| beer and there is lager but there were over 50 | | | | am not sure whether this is because European beer |
| different types in the awards run in conjunction with | | | | is really the best or just because it is where it is held |
| Beers Of The World magazine. | | | | and there are not as many entrants from overseas |
| It seems to work a bit like a dog show where you | | | | countries. |
| have different breeds, then best of breed and then | | | | Waldhaus Diplom Pils from Germany won the best |
| best of the show. It has another similarity in that it | | | | lager award and also won the best premium and best |
| must be very subjective as to which is best. After | | | | pilsner categories. The World's Best Ale was won by |
| all, what I like you may not like and vice versa. | | | | the English barley wine style, strong dark ale |
| The first level of judging is in the style of beer | | | | category of Robinson's Old Tom. |
| section. There were 54 different style awards. A | | | | The Russian Federation's Baltika No6 Porter came top |
| number of them were common ones which I | | | | in the bock style in the strong lager category to win |
| recognise like standard pale ale, strong pale ale, | | | | the overall best stout/porter award. The best wheat |
| standard lager and premium lager but some which | | | | beer cam from Belgium and is the Brasserie du Bocq |
| caught my eyes are the flavoured specialities such as | | | | Blanche de Namur (now that does sound as much like |
| coffee beer and chocolate beer. Sometimes we have | | | | a pedigree dog as a beer). |
| a cup of coffee after our beer but I never imagined | | | | The English Dark Star Espresso which, as its name |
| that they would flavor beer like that. | | | | suggests, is flavoured with coffee, was the winner |
| There are then sixteen categories and those are | | | | as the best specialty beer. |
| whittled down to the five main awards which are: | | | | Well that was all very interesting. When I drift over |
| - World's Best Lager | | | | to my beer chiller to get a cold can out, I shall think |
| - World's Best Ale | | | | about them and wonder whether I will get to taste |
| - World's Best Stout/Porter | | | | any of them and what might win next year. |
| - World's Best Wheat Beer | | | | |
