Press Release: The World Beer Cup (WBC), the largest beer competition in the world hosted by the Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers—honored the best beers in 110 categories covering 172 different beer styles (including all subcategories).The World Beer Cup awards ceremony was held on April 24, 2024, on the final day of the Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America® at the Venetian Convention and Expo Center in Las Vegas, NV. Throughout 14 sessions spanning seven days, a panel of 280 judges hailing from 37 countries meticulously evaluated 9,300 entries. Representing 2,060 breweries across 50 nations, this year’s World Beer Cup competition solidified its status as the premier international professional beer contest.
“Each award represents not only exceptional quality but also innovation and creativity, driving the global craft beer industry forward,” said Chris Williams, World Beer Cup competition director. “This year’s winners exemplify the spirit of craftsmanship and ingenuity and showcase the diverse flavors and techniques that make beer an art form. Congratulations to this year’s winners for their outstanding achievements in brewing.”
1. 15th competition (skipped 2020; annualized starting 2022)
2. Entries: 9,300
3. Breweries: 2,060
4. International breweries: 25%
5. Countries: 50
6. First-time brewery entries: 436
7. Judges: 280
8. International judges: 103
9. Judge countries: 37
10. First-time judges: 39
11. Judging sessions and days: 7 days, 14 sessions
12. Beer style categories: 110
13. Beer styles: 172 (includes all subcategories)
14. Avg number of beers in each category: 54
Most entered style categories:
1. Category 109, Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale: 326 entries
2. Category 110, West-Coast Style India Pale Ale: 281 entries
3. Category 40, German-Style Pilsener: 221 entries
4. Category 108, American-Style India Pale Ale: 213 entries
5. Category 29, Wood & Barrel-Aged Strong Stout: 198 entries
Out of 330 possible awards, 329 were conferred. Gold was not awarded in Category 69 for Belgian-Style or French-Style Ale.
The 2024 World Beer Cup competition was made possible by the generous support of its sponsors: ABS Commercial, Fermentis, First Key, Haas, Rahr Malting Co, Sahm, and Siemens.
About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 5,000-plus U.S. breweries and more than 30,000 homebrewers. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol differentiating beers from small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events, including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference™ & BrewExpo America®, National Homebrew Competition, and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer® and Zymurgy® magazines , and Brewers Publications® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com® and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association®. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.