European Beer Star 2023 presents 222 awards to outstanding beers

The Association of Private Breweries has been organising the prestigious European Beer Star beer competition since 2004. The winners of the "Anniversary EBS" were presented with their awards on 29 November 2023 at the BrauBeviale trade fair. The successful breweries were duly celebrated by industry colleagues and interested trade fair visitors in the midst of the trade fair action.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the renowned beer competition, a total of 2356 beers competed against each other in 74 categories. The extensive list of categories included well-known classics such as "German-Style Pils" or "South-German Style Hefeweizen hell", but also exotic styles that are more familiar to beer lovers, such as "Herb and Spice Beer" or "Wood and Barrel Aged Sour Beer". Since the beginning of the European Beer Star, beer styles of European origin have been at the centre of the beer competition. However, breweries from all over the world are allowed to take part. This year, over 550 breweries from 47 countries took part in the European Beer Star.

In mid-September, a 140-strong jury of experts tasted the submitted beer samples purely according to sensory criteria. From preliminary and intermediate rounds to the final in each category, the beers were assessed on the basis of their appearance, smell, flavour and other typical varietal characteristics. The international expert jury consisted of beer experts from all over the world - including master brewers, specialised journalists and beer sommeliers. In the end, only the three best beers in each category were awarded gold, silver and bronze.

Germany leads the medal table

A total of 222 awards were presented at the European Beer Star 2023, 83 of which were won by breweries from Germany. With 28 gold, 27 silver and 28 bronze medals, Germany leads the medal table. Second place went to the USA with 9 gold, 8 silver and 10 bronze medals. This year, 8 gold, 12 silver and 10 bronze awards went across the Alps to Italy. Austria followed with a total of 18 awards (6 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze) and Switzerland with 7 awards (4 gold, 3 silver). A total of 21 nations are represented on the medal table of the European Beer Star 2023 - a clear sign of the international nature of the competition.

Most successful brewery comes from Kelheim

With three gold and one bronze, the Schneider Weisse brewery from Kelheim is the most successful brewery in this year's competition and once again proved its expertise in the wheat beer categories. The Maisel brewery also returned to Bayreuth in Upper Franconia with triple gold. Two gold awards each went to Privatbrauerei Waldhaus and Biermanufaktur Engel in Baden-Württemberg.

At international level, the Firestone Walker Brewing Company won double gold. Pravda Brewery from war-torn Ukraine achieved a particularly notable success with two gold awards.
Other medallists at the European Beer Star 2023 include Schlossbrauerei Autenried from Bavaria with three silver medals and the Italian brewery 50&50 with a full set of medals.

From classic to extravagant beer styles

The Distelhäuser Brewery answered the question of the best German-style pilsner and was awarded the gold medal in this category. The prize for the best "Helle" goes to the Kaiser Brewery in Geislingen. Urbrew was able to confirm its surprise success from last year this year. The gold medal in the "South German-Style Hefeweizen hell" category thus goes to Handan in China for the second time in a row.

In the "Italian Grape Ale" category - a style that combines beer and wine - two awards went to Italy and one across the Atlantic to Brazil.
The Polish beer style "Grodziskie" was tasted for the first time at the European Beer Star. This is a light beer brewed with smoked wheat malt and has become increasingly popular in recent years. It is therefore not surprising that the gold and bronze medals went to Poland, the home country of this beer style.

In the "Free-Style Beer" category, Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg impressed the final jury this year. In addition to the sensory assessment of the beer quality, the storytelling, the story behind the beer, also plays a key role in the judgement in this category. The Austrian brewery won the gold award in this special category with its interpretation of an ancient beer, made from ancient grains and fermented in "Quevri" buried in the ground.