The International Brewing and Cider Awards has been going on for more than a hundred years. The awards will be held in Manchester, alongside a two day festival in March of next year.
The event will take place from 22-23 of March and aims to bring together cider and beer enthusiasts, as well as industry professionals, to sample the works of brewers and cidermakers from across the world.
The International Brewing and Cider Awards
The International Brewing and Cider Awards first began in 1886 and is believed to be the oldest awards of its kind, going on for 137 years. The awards take place every two years and bring together industry experts from around the world to sample a diverse range of beers and ciders. The event is known as the ‘Oscars’ of the brewing and cider world and is considered the world’s most historic and prestigious competition.
The competition aims to celebrate the passion and craftmanship of breweries and cidermakers and it is also expected to be the most extensive collection in the UK, and possibly Europe.
For the last decade, the awards have been held at The National Brewery Centre in Burton-Upon-Trent. This year however, the event is being held in Manchester for the first time to celebrate the city’s rich brewing history and up-and-coming cider scene.
Ruth Evans – Director of the International Brewing & Cider Awards and festival organiser – explains why Manchester was chosen for this year’s location: “Manchester is a vibrant city. The North West is a cluster of craft brewers, so there’s a strong brewing heritage. You’ve got Holts, JW Lees, Hydes, all on your doorstep.”
The event brings together revered international, national and local brewers and cidermakers to judge each entrant, with the winners decided after discussion between the group. By inviting a mix of people from around the world, it is believed that a variety of styles and tastes are brought together before the final winners are chosen.
The judging will take place from the 19-21 of March at Mayfield Depot in Manchester, before opening to the public on 22 March at 6pm.
The International Brewing and Cider Festival
For the first time, the international awards are being held alongside a public festival. This is considered a significant milestone in the event’s commitment to promoting and supporting the brewing and cider industries. Ruth said, “the festival provides a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate the incredible talent of brewers and cidermakers and to share their passion with the public.”
The not-for-profit festival will offer a rare opportunity for the public to taste a wide range of ciders and beers, including the winners from the international awards.
Upon entry, members of the public will receive a wristband that allows them to sample the beers and ciders available. Using an app, they can review and select the drinks they would like to try. The event will be split into the competition zone, where award entries will be, and the bar zone. Alongside tasting, there will also be live music from local, up-and-coming artists, and a number of street food vendors.
As the most historic competition, Ruth argues that it is important for the event to innovate and expand, which is what she hopes to achieve with the festival; “We are really excited to be coming. It’s been a project of mine to move the competition into Manchester for a long time now, so I’m really pleased”. It is hoped that the move to Manchester will help create new partnerships with local organisations and community stakeholders.
Tickets for the event go on sale in November, and members of the public can now register their interest in the event in order to keep informed on ticket information and other updates. More information about the event can be found on their website.
