Competitions and judging update

Relaunch of the New and Improved SIBA Independent Beer Awards

As you read this you may be about to go to, or even be sat within BeerX UK 2022. It’s the UK’s biggest beer and brewing trade event and the home of our SIBA National Independent Beer Awards – the culmination of 12 months of Regional competitions.

The 2022 awards mark a turning point for SIBA beer competitions, as post-BeerX we will see the re-launch of SIBA’s Independent Beer Awards, with new beer style categories, an international style scoring system and a renewed judging process, including the introduction of experienced beer judge table captains. Our first ‘new look’ regional competition will take place next month at ‘Maltingsfest’, the new name for the much-loved Tucker’s Maltings Beer Festival in Newton Abbott, this year taking place from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd April.

The festival will for the first time ever host the SIBA South West Independent Keg Beer Awards, alongside the South West’s Cask Beer Competition, putting into practice our brand new and improved keg beer awards categories.

The process to get to this point has been thorough and taken place over the course of a number of years; it started in 2018 with a motion from the South East Region which passed at the National AGM, calling for SIBA to ‘undertake a fundamental review of the SIBA Beer Competitions category structure, with the aim of producing a more comprehensive, vibrant, representative and industry-leading structure.’

From there a thorough process of Member Brewery feedback and consultation - including review by the SIBA Competitions Committee, Board and Executive Board - refined the proposal into a practical and workable competitions structure which would place SIBA Independent Beer Awards in a position to be industry-leading in the UK.

Evolution on cask, revolution on keg

Most breweries produce slightly different beers for keg than you do for cask, and as brewers you know certain international styles such as Lagers, Belgian beers, or American Double IPAs benefit from the added carbonation and cooler serve of keg dispense, whereas traditional British styles really shine on cask.

Ultimately SIBA’s cask and keg competitions need to closely align with the types of beers UK breweries are producing in cask and keg formats, and that’s exactly what the new categories do: Giving more space for traditional British styles in the cask competition whilst massively expanding the range of international styles in the keg competition, reflecting the breadth of different beers British breweries are now producing.

To achieve this, only small improvements were needed to the previous cask beer categories – such as removing the upper limit on cask IPA’s and renaming Session IPA to Session Pale Ale, as well as some small ABV banding tweaks to create better uniformity across the competition. On keg much more radical changes were needed and following a lengthy process of consultation and refinement a full shake-up of the keg categories has been introduced, implementing the changes largely as proposed by the South East Region.

The same categories developed for the keg beer competition are also being implemented in the bottle and can competition. You can see the new SIBA Independent Beer Awards categories that come in to place this year on page 61, starting with the SIBA South West competition in April. As was the process in the past each of these Awards categories contains a range of beer styles for you to choose from when entering your beers. For example the ‘British Dark Beers’ Award can be entered by Stouts, Porters, Brown Ales, Dark Bitters etc, and the newly created ‘Amber & Dark Lager’ keg category can be entered by everything from Czech Dark Lagers to Munich Dunkels.

Simply select the beer you’re entering into that category from the drop down provided and judges will be made aware of what beer style they are judging and rate your beer according to the style guides provided, all of which are based on the newly launched 2022 BJCP style guides.

SIBA’s cask and keg competitions need to closely align with the types of beers UK breweries are producing in cask and keg formats, and that’s exactly what the new categories do.

Neil Walker SIBA Head Of Comms and Interim Chair of Competitions Committee.

Cask

Awards Categories Reference

Session Dark Beer (up to 4.4%) C-SDB British Dark Beer (4.5% to 6.4%) C-BDB British Bitter (up to 4.4%) C-BIT British Best Bitter (4.5% to 6.4%) C-BBIT Session Pale Ale (up to 4.4%) C-SPA Pale Ale (4.4% to 5.4%) C-PA IPA (5.5% to 6.4%) C-IPA Speciality Light Beer C-SLI Speciality Amber to Dark Beer C-SAD Imperial & Strong Beer (6.5% and over) C-IMP

Beer Styles

Session Dark Beer Dark Mild, Stout, Dark Bitter, Porter, Brown Ale, Old Ale Colour range: 14-40

British Dark Beers Dark Mild, Stout, Dark Bitter, Porter, Old Ale, Barley Wine, Brown Ale Colour range: 14-40

British Bitters Ordinary Bitter, Bitter, Blonde Ale, British Golden Ale, British Pale Ale, Scottish Light, Scottish Heavy, Light Mild Colour range: 12-25

British Best Bitters Light Mild, Bitter, Best Bitter, Blonde Ale, British Golden Ale, British Pale Ale, Scottish Heavy, Strong Bitter, Premium Bitter, ESB Colour range: 12-25

Session Pale Ale Blonde Ale, Session IPA, IPA, Black IPA, American Pale Ale, New England Pale Ale, New Zealand Pale Ale Colour Range: All

Pale Ale American Pale Ale, New Zealand Pale Ale, IPA, New England Pale Ale, DDH Pale Ale, New England IPA, Black IPA

Colour Range: All

IPA British IPA, America Pale Ale, American IPA, IPA, Black IPA, New Zealand Pale Ale, New Zealand IPA, DDH IPA, New England Pale Ale, New England IPA, Double IPA, Triple IPA

Colour Range: All

Speciality Light Beer Fruit Beer, Fruit & Spice Beer, Spice Herb or Vegetable Beer, Autumn Seasonal Beer, Winter Seasonal Beer, Flavoured Beer, Belgian Ale, Rye Beer, Rauchbier, Classic Style Smoke Beer, Wood Aged Beer, Speciality Wood Aged Beer

Colour Range: 2-14

Speciality Amber to Dark Beer Fruit Beer, Fruit & Spice Beer, Spice Herb or Vegetable Beer, Autumn Seasonal Beer, Winter Seasonal Beer, Flavoured Beer, Belgian Ale, Rye Beer, Rauchbier, Classic Style Smoke Beer, Wood Aged Beer, Speciality Wood Aged Beer

Colour Range: 15-40

Imperial & Strong Ale Barley Wine, Winter Warmers, Baltic Porter, Imperial Stout, Export Stout, Extra Double Stout, Strong Ales, Strong Old Ales, Wee Heavy Colour Range: 6-40

Beer Colour Reference Chart (SRM)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Keg

Awards Categories Reference

Non-Alcoholic & Low ABV K-NOLO

Lager Amber & Dark Lager Wheat Beer Bitter K-LAG K-DLAG K-WHE K-BIT

Pale Ale (5.5% and under)

K-PA

IPA (5.6% to 7.4%) K-IPA Double & Triple IPA (7.5% and over) K-DIPA

Speciality IPA K-SIPA Amber, Brown & Red Ale K-ABRA

Stout & Porter (6.4% and under) K-SAP Imperial & Strong Ale (6.5% and over) K-IMP

Sour & Wild Ale K-SOUR Belgian, French & Trappist Ale K-BFT Speciality & Flavoured Beer K-SPF

Beer Styles

Non-Alcoholic & Low ABV Beer styles include Non-Alcoholic Beer up to 0.5% and Low ABV Beer up to 2.8%

Colour range: All

Lager American Lager, International Lager, Czech Pale Lager, Czech Premium Pale Lager, Munich Helles, Festbier, Hellen bock, German Leichtbier, Kolsch, German Helles Export Bier, German Pils, Pale Kellerbier Colour range: 1-9

Amber & Dark Lager Amber Kellerbier, Czech Amber Lager, Czech Dark Lager, International Amber Lager, International Dark Lager, Marzen, Dunkles Bock, Vienna Lager, Altbier, Munich Dunkel, Schwarzbier Colour range: 8-30

Wheat Beer American Wheat Beer, Witbier, Weissbier, Dunkles Weissbier Colour range: 2-25

Bitter Ordinary Bitter, Mild, Best Bitter, Nitro/Smooth Bitter, Strong Bitter, British Brown Ale Colour Range: 8-22

Pale Ale Session IPA, British Golden Ale, Blonde Ale, Australian Sparkling Ale, American Pale Ale, New Zealand Pale Ale, New Zealand IPA, New England Pale Ale, DDH Pale Ale, English Pale Ale, American Cream Ale

Colour Range: 2-14

IPA English IPA, American Pale Ale, American IPA, New Zealand Pale Ale, New Zealand IPA, West Coast IPA, Mountain IPA, DDH IPA, New England IPA Colour Range: 6-14

Double & Triple IPA Double IPA, Triple IPA, Quadruple IPA

Colour Range: 6-14

Speciality IPA Fruit Pale Ale, Belgian IPA, Black IPA, Brown IPA, Red IPA, Rye IPA, White IPA, Brut IPA, Sour IPA, Milkshake IPA, Fruit IPA, Raw IPA, Other Flavoured Pale Ale, Other Flavoured IPA Colour Range: All

Amber, Brown & Red Ale American Amber Ale, California Common, American Brown Ale, Scottish Light, Scottish Heavy, Scottish Export, Irish Red Ale, American Red Ale

Colour Range: 9-35

Stout & Porter English Porter, American Porter, Baltic Porter, Sweet Stout, Milk Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Tropical Stout, Foreign Extra Stout, American Stout, Irish Stout, Irish Extra Stout, Nitro Stout, Nitro Porter Colour Range: 17-40

Imperial & Strong Ale Imperial Stout, Extra Double Stout, British Strong Ale, Old Ale, Wee Heavy, English Barley Wine, American Barley Wine, American Strong Ale, Wheat Wine, Doppelbock, Eisbock Colour Range: 6-40

Sour & Wild Ale Berliner Weisse, Flanders Red Ale, Oud Bruin, Lambic, Gueuze, Gose, Fruited Gose, Fruit Lambic, Brett Beer, Mixed Fermentation Sour Beer, Wild Speciality Bee Colour

Range: 2-22

Belgian, French & Trappist Ale Belgian Pale Ale, Biere de Garde, Belgian Blonde Ale, Saison, Belgian Golden Strong Ale, Trappist Single, Trappist Dubbel, Trappist Tripel, Belgian Dubbel, Belgian Tripel, Belgian Strong Dark Ale Colour

Range: All

Speciality & Flavoured Beer Fruit Beer, Fruit & Spice Beer, Speciality Fruit Beer, Spice Herb or Vegetable Beer, Autumn Seasonal Beer, Winter Seasonal Beer, Other Flavoured Beer, Rauchbier, Classic Style Smoke Beer, Wood Aged Beer, Speciality Wood Aged Beer Colour Range: All

Bottle & Can

Awards Categories Reference

Non-Alcoholic & Low ABV B-NOLO

Lager Amber & Dark Lager Wheat Beer Bitter B-LAG B-DLAG B-WH B-BIT

Pale Ale (5.5% and under)

B-PA

IPA (5.6% to 7.4%) B-IPA Double & Triple IPA (7.5% and over) B-DIPA

Speciality IPA B-SIPA Amber, Brown & Red Ale B-ABRA

Stout & Porter (6.4% and under) B-SAP Imperial & Strong Ale (6.5% and over) B-IMP

Sour & Wild Ale B-SOUR Belgian, French & Trappist Ale B-BFT Speciality & Flavoured Beer B-SPF

Beer Styles

Non-Alcoholic & Low ABV Beer styles include Non-Alcoholic Beer up to 0.5% and Low ABV Beer up to 2.8%

Colour range: All

Lager American Lager, International Lager, Czech Pale Lager, Czech Premium Pale Lager, Munich Helles, Festbier, Hellen bock, German Leichtbier, Kolsch, German Helles Export Bier, German Pils, Pale Kellerbier Colour range: 1-9

Amber & Dark Lager Amber Kellerbier, Czech Amber Lager, Czech Dark Lager, International Amber Lager, International Dark Lager, Marzen, Dunkles Bock, Vienna Lager, Altbier, Munich Dunkel, Schwarzbier Colour range: 8-30

Wheat Beer American Wheat Beer, Witbier, Weissbier, Dunkles Weissbier Colour range: 2-25

Bitter Ordinary Bitter, Mild, Best Bitter, Nitro/Smooth Bitter, Strong Bitter, British Brown Ale Colour Range: 8-22

Pale Ale Session IPA, British Golden Ale, Blonde Ale, Australian Sparkling Ale, American Pale Ale, New Zealand Pale Ale, New Zealand IPA, New England Pale Ale, DDH Pale Ale, English Pale Ale, American Cream Ale

Colour Range: 2-14

IPA English IPA, American Pale Ale, American IPA, New Zealand Pale Ale, New Zealand IPA, West Coast IPA, Mountain IPA, DDH IPA, New England IPA Colour Range: 6-14

Double & Triple IPA Double IPA, Triple IPA, Quadruple IPA

Colour Range: 6-14

Speciality IPA Fruit Pale Ale, Belgian IPA, Black IPA, Brown IPA, Red IPA, Rye IPA, White IPA, Brut IPA, Sour IPA, Milkshake IPA, Fruit IPA, Raw IPA, Other Flavoured Pale Ale, Other Flavoured IPA Colour Range: All

Amber, Brown & Red Ale American Amber Ale, California Common, American Brown Ale, Scottish Light, Scottish Heavy, Scottish Export, Irish Red Ale, American Red Ale

Colour Range: 9-35

Stout & Porter English Porter, American Porter, Baltic Porter, Sweet Stout, Milk Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Tropical Stout, Foreign Extra Stout, American Stout, Irish Stout, Irish Extra Stout, Nitro Stout, Nitro Porter Colour Range: 17-40

Imperial & Strong Ale Imperial Stout, Extra Double Stout, British Strong Ale, Old Ale, Wee Heavy, English Barley Wine, American Barley Wine, American Strong Ale, Wheat Wine, Doppelbock, Eisbock Colour Range: 6-40

Sour & Wild Ale Berliner Weisse, Flanders Red Ale, Oud Bruin, Lambic, Gueuze, Gose, Fruited Gose, Fruit Lambic, Brett Beer, Mixed Fermentation Sour Beer, Wild Speciality Bee Colour

Range: 2-22

Belgian, French & Trappist Ale Belgian Pale Ale, Biere de Garde, Belgian Blonde Ale, Saison, Belgian Golden Strong Ale, Trappist Single, Trappist Dubbel, Trappist Tripel, Belgian Dubbel, Belgian Tripel, Belgian Strong Dark Ale Colour

Range: All

Speciality & Flavoured Beer Fruit Beer, Fruit & Spice Beer, Speciality Fruit Beer, Spice Herb or Vegetable Beer, Autumn Seasonal Beer, Winter Seasonal Beer, Other Flavoured Beer, Rauchbier, Classic Style Smoke Beer, Wood Aged Beer, Speciality Wood Aged Beer Colour Range: All

Continue to grow and position itself as the premiere beer awards in the UK.

New Scoring System & Judging Process

The new SIBA Independent Beer Awards scoring system more closely aligns SIBA with the format currently used by other leading international competitions, for example the International beer Challenge, Australia International Beer Awards, and World Beer Awards (organised by the Brewers Association).

Beers are given a consensus score out of a hundred by the judging table, guided by experienced ‘Table Captains’ made up of the competition’s most experienced judges, for example beer sommeliers, brewers from other regions, or experienced and knowledgeable beer judges. Beers are judged individually and the medal they receive is based on their score alone, i.e; 90+ Gold, 80-89 Silver, 70-79 Bronze, 69 or under receive no medal.

The Gold winners from each category will then be judged against each other for ‘Best in Category Awards’. These 15 winners receive trophies whereas Gold, Silver and Bronze winners receive winners’ badges for use on marketing materials and a Certificate. The beer with the highest score out of the 15 Best of Category would go on to win Best Beer in the Region.

G90+ Gold

S

80-89 Silver

B

70-79 Bronze

Checkout the BeerX UK session on the new competition categories at The Cellar - 14:00 - 14:45 on Wednesday 16th. What does the future hold for SIBA competitions?

The changes to SIBA’s Independent Beer Awards in 2022 put the competition in a strong position to continue to grow and position itself as the premiere beer awards in the UK.

Furthermore, with an internationally recognised scoring system and a range of beer style categories which better align to the types of beers being brewed by craft breweries across the Globe, SIBA are also in a position to look at opening up the competition (most likely in bottle and can to begin with) to independent breweries from other countries.

The last World Beer Cup organised by the Brewer’s Association in 2018 received 8,234 entries from 2,515 breweries in 66 different countries - a colossal competition, but an example of what can be achieved by opening up a competition to breweries from around the World.

For now though the improvement of our categories, the introduction of a new and improved scoring and judging system, and a modernisation of the way we present awards, puts SIBA Independent Beer Awards in a position to continue to grow into the best beer awards in the UK. So get your entries in!