All of the medallists for the Beer and Cider Masters 2023

Bursts of flavour won out in this year’s blind tasting competition, with juicy beers and ciders from a host of tastemakers receiving medals, writes Jessica Mason.

Something that was particularly apparent during the Global Beer & Cider Masters 2023 – people are drawn towards flavour above all else. In what marked db’s 17th blind tasting competition of 2023, judges sampled approximately 36 beers and 12 ciders, ranging from imperial brown stout right through to zero-alcohol beers. However, the trends that shone most traversed styles, from a zesty hop-forward pale to an impeccable Trappist brew.

One big winner this year was Athletic Brewing, which won two Gold medals for its Upside Dawn and Run Wild beers, which impressed the judges by their level of flavour, especially considering that they were alcohol-free. From a retail perspective, Aldi secured an astounding 10 medals across its contract-brewed portfolio – most of which were flavoured and fruit beers such as its distinctive Watermelon Pale Ale and Rhum Finish Beer.

Hofmeister was awarded three medals, while Prime Time, a profit-share venture which donates funds to support the homeless, gained two medals for its lagers during this year’s tasting.

Thornbridge also fared well, winning a Gold medal for its Jaipur IPA, while Verdant also took home a Gold for its “hugely moreish” New England hazy pale ale Headband.

Our judges were struck by the drinkability of each of the offerings, noting that Harp lager from Saint James Gate was a lesson in how to achieve crispness and balance in a subtle brew. There were also a handful of more mainstream standouts, with Asahi’s Peroni showing hat can be achieved with a well-made beer, and gaining a Gold medal during the judging. But the star of the show was really Pressure Drop’s Pale Fire, a tropical, fullflavoured riff on a sessionable pale ale. Mount Saint Bernard Abbey’s Tynt Meadow Trappist Ale also hit the high notes with the judges and, even though it was more about fruit cake flavours and fullness, the judges were unanimous in describing it as a “simply outstanding beer”. An accolade that, just about, seemed to cover it.

Following on from last year’s plethora of new entrants and medal-winners, this year our judges witnessed the low and no alcohol category solidifying its reputation with four medals handed out for delicious beers that were uncompromising in terms of flavour, body and refreshment – no small challenge. Our team of tasters was clearly impressed by the progression seen in the category in just one year.

For the breweries that mixed things up, styles such as porters, stouts, wood cask and fruit-flavoured beers led the way ahead of some of the more confected and sweeter offerings. The judges felt that the true difference between those that won accolades and those that didn’t was evident in the depth of flavour, complexity and memorable nature of each product.

This year, four Gold and five Silver medals were granted in the lager category. Most interestingly, one Gold winner was a lower-calorie and caffeineinfused style, illustrating how far the brewing world has come in appealing to different lifestyle choices. Judges also applauded The Kernel for its imperial brown stout, which they said absolutely succeeded in turning a malt-forward beer into “an utter masterpiece.” >

Beer – Low & No

Lager – Light Lager

Lager – International Lager

Lager – Lower Calorie Lager

Ale – Hop Forward

Ale – Other

Ale – Malt Forward

Beer – Flavoured & Fruit Beer

Cider

Now in its fourth year, the Global Cider Masters showcased a diverse range of products lined up for the judges to taste – and gave a whistlestop tour of the globe too.

In terms of what stole the show, the modern-style category won hands down with offerings from around the world gaining Master medals, from Canada and the UK to South Africa.

In terms of flavoured ciders, refreshing styles were preferred over anything overly sweet and fruit-infused, not an easy thing to achieve within this category. Here, two authentic fruited ciders in particular proved the category’s versatility, picking up two Gold medals. These were: Loxtonia Cider’s African Sundowner Baobab Flavoured Apple Cider, andMont-Rouge Strawberry & Basil Cider by Cidrerie Arista in Canada.

Cider – Traditional/West Country

Cider – Natural Sparkling

Cider – Modern Style

Cider – Speciality

Cider – Flavoured

Looking ahead to 2024, it seems likely that we’re going to see more flavourful global brands, as well as speciality and modern-style beers and ciders, not to mention an increase in natural sparkling and west country options that will become more available.

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that the rise of fine cider and independent premium beers that are low in ABV will continue, with products created to answer the demands increasingly made by consumers. Now that the categories are no longer in their infancy, the quality of offerings in the Global Beer and Cider Masters has, as we can see, already begun to rise.

About the competition