This year The European Beer Star celebrates ten years of running its competition. It is one of the world’s most important, recognizing the highest quality beers in categories that originate in Europe. The flagship beers of many Japanese craft breweries actually fall into these categories. In 2012, Coedo won a gold, Konishi Brewing a silver, and Tazawako Beer two bronzes. We at the Japan Beer Times are pleased to see Japanese craft breweries being recognized on the world stage among such intense competition. Many of the world’s best breweries participated, including several imported to Japan and familiar to many consumers here: Rogue, Ballast Point, Thornbridge and Boston Beer. Naturally, perhaps, German and American breweries did very well in the competition, but it is encouraging to see countries from around the world not traditionally associated with beer also winning medals, including China, Namibia, South Korea, Israel and Finland.

The competition is a blind tasting with panels of judges composed of some of the world’s top brewers and tasters. It is sensory based and beers are rated from a consumer’s perspective. When we asked Konishi Akiko (featured interview) why her brewery participated, she replied, “It’s Europe’s largest and judges from around the world evaluating us is a big plus. Also, Konishi mainly brews Belgian style. Feedback from judges in Europe, especially Germany, where beer is so hallowed, provides us an enormous opportunity for both improvement and possibly promotion.” The competition is open again this year to all brewers who want to take the challenge.

This article was published in Japan Beer Times # () and is among the limited content available online. Order your copy through our online shop or download the digital version from the iTunes store to access the full contents of this issue.