For the past 25 years, the Great International Beer, Cider, Mead & Sake Competition has held high standards for its judging competition. For 2023, GIBCMS there were 359 entries for the categories of Beers, Ciders, Meads, Hard Kombuchas, Hard Seltzers, Non-Alcohol Beers and RTDs (Ready-To-Drinks). Blind Tasting judging was done by 70 industry professionals working in the spirits industry or working as food and spirits writers.
Judging for each category was done by a pair of judges who sampled 9 products in a blind tasting. With four hours to sample and judge the 9 offerings, there was plenty of time to give each entry its due respect, and the opportunity to re-taste entries if desired, before deciding on first, second and third place category winners.
Edward F. Nesta and Judging Panel
Judging
Judges tasted each entry in their category, and made their decisions based on the following factors: Appearance: how well did the color represent the category, the clarity of the product, and head retention); Aroma/Nose (what were the predominant characteristics: malt, hops, other characteristics); Flavor/Taste (malt, hops, conditioning, aftertaste, balance, other characteristics); Body (what was the style: full, medium, thin, CO2), and lastly, Drinkability & Overall Impression.
The 2023 Award Winners by Categories
Note: Three awards were presented in every category, First, Second, and Third place. Due to the volume of categories judged, we have listed only the first-place award winners for each category. To see the full list of award winners, please visit: http://www.gibcc.com/GIBCMSC_winners_2023.pdf.
Wheat Ale: American & German
Zenobia, Caius Farm Brewery, Branford, CT
Light Ale
Piw Paw, Dirigible Brewing, Littleton, MA
Kölsch
Babilla, Caius Farm Brewery, Branford, CT
British/Irish/Scottish Ale
Daniel Shays Best Bitter, Northampton Brewery, Northampton, MA
American Pale Ale
Neptune’s Dagger Pale Ale, Armada Brewing, New Haven, CT
American Amber Ale
Ol’ Trigger, Ike & Oak Brewing, Woodridge, IL
IPA
Musik Expres IPA, Narragansett Brewing, Providence, RI
New England IPA
Rakautra, Back East Brewing, Bloomfield, CT
Brown/Copper Ale
Publican Ale, Willimantic Brewing, Willimantic, CT
Porter
Porter, Narragansett Brewing, Providence, RI
Stout
Peanut Butter Stout, Airline Brewing, Amherst, ME
Lager – Continental/Dortmunder
Festbier, Wormtown Brewery, Worcester, MA
Premium Lager
Framingham Lager, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Framingham, MA
Lager – Bohemian Pilsner
Post Shift Pilsner, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Framingham, MA
Helles Lager
House Lager, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Framingham, MA
Amber/Dark Lager – Amber/Bock/Dunkel/Schwazbier/Vienna
Smoke & Dagger, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Framingham, MA
Debra C. Argen & Judging Panel
Oktoberfest
Octobieter, Moniker Brewery, Providence, RI
Strong Beer – Combined Subcategories
Artaois, Ike & Oak Brewing, Woodridge, IL
Strong Beer – Belgian Dubbel & Tripel/Belgian Dark
Tripel Decker, Clocktown Brewing, Thomaston, CT
Strong Beer – Other
Golden Delicious, Captain Lawrence Brewing, Elmsford, NY
Strong Beer – Imperial IPA & Imperial New England IPA
Infinity Gems, 7th Wave Brewing, Medfield, MA
Strong Beer – Russian Imperial Stout
Kodiak’s Revenge Bourbon Barrel Aged Coconut Macaroon, Ike & Oak Brewing, Woodridge, IL
Sour & Wild Ale
Raspberry Lime Ku’dam, Urban Chestnut Brewing, St. Louis, MO
Belgian & French Ale
Mill Saw, Canned Heat Craft Beer, Fall River, MA
Gluten-Free & Reduced Beer
Daura Damm, S.A. Damm, Barcelona, Spain
Fruit & Spice Ale – Belgian/Lager/Radler
Barrel Aged Corbet’s Couloir, Ike & Oak Brewing, Woodridge, IL
Fruit & Spice Ale – Ales with Fruit, Spices, Herbs, Other Ingredients
Mount Fansipan In The Wild, Ike & Oak Brewing, Woodridge, IL
Fruit & Spice Ale – Pumpkin Beers
Bourbon Barrel Aged Smashed Pumpkin, Shipyard Brewing, Portland, ME
Non-Alcohol Beer
Here We Go, Kit NA Brewing, Portland, ME
Cider – Fruit
Raspberry Cider, Vermont Cider Co., Middlebury, VT
Cider – Non-Fruited
McKenzie’s Pumpkin Jack Hard Cider, Saranac/FX Matt Brewing, Utica, NY
Hard Seltzer – Malt & Spirits Based
Liquid Exotics Rum Punch, Captain Lawrence Brewing, Elmsford, NY
RTDs – Spirits Based
Daybreaker Tropical Punch, Two Roads Brewing, Stratford, CT
Mead
Phoenix, Hopping Eagle Brewing, Hawley, PA
Hard Kombucha
The Original Passion Fruit & Elderflower Kombucha, Jiant, Culver City, CA
Congratulations to all the winners, participants, and hard-working judges who lent their expertise and their palates to judge the 25th Annual Great International Beer, Cider, Mead & Sake Competition! After the judging was completed, we sat with our fellow judges, ate pizza, and of course, enjoyed a few well-deserved beers. Until next time, cheers!
Gregg Glaser & Edward F. Nesta
For information on entering your products for the next Great International Beer, Cider, Mead & Sake Competition please visit the website: www.gibcc.com.
The 26th Annual Great International Beer, Cider, Mead & Sake Competition will take place in November 2024, in Norwalk, Connecticut. The deadline for entry forms is October 15, 2024.
Great International Beer, Cider, Mead & Sake Competition
Contact: Gregg Glaser, GIBCMSC Director
Telephone: +1-203-971-8710
Email: gregg@gibcc.com
Website: www.gibcc.com
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