The Craft Beer Association (CBA) will hold "The International Beer Cup 2015" (IBC2015) in Yokohama JAPAN on 19th-20th of September, 2015.
Mission
The mission of the IBC is to create greater consumer awareness around the world about the quality and diversity by the various beers of the world.
Traditionally, most of beers in the competition have been registered by Japanese breweries. As we see expansion of Asia/Japanese craft beer market by quality and diversity, we started to open doors to beers and breweries outside Japan in recent years.
In 2014, 27 international judges from 18 countries have evaluated 327 beers of eligible beer styles from 16 countries. You can find the result here.
With this global competition, we creates greater consumer awareness about differences and qualities by qualified judges to panel with gold, silver, and bronze awards in 105 beer styles.
In this year, the IBC2015 will be expected more than 600 beers 25 countries and will be judged by more than 60 judges from 20 countries.
The winners will be announced on Tuesday, 22nd of September at the Great Japan Beer Festival 2015 (GJBF2015) at Osanbashi Hall, Yokohama.
(Award winners will be announced immediately after judging.)
The Craft Beer Association, which was founded in 1994 by Ryouji Oda, is an independent organization based in Ashiya city, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, with 21 years of experience in organizing successful beer competitions, events and seminars.
Competition Details
[Schedule]
* Beer Registration
1st of May - 28th of August, 2015
* Judging
19th - 20th of September, 2015
at Osanbashi Hall, Yokohama
* Award Winner announce (without color of medals)
It will be announced immediately after judging on CBA Web-site, http://beertaster.org/
* Award Ceremony
22nd of September
at the Great Japan Beer Festival Yokohama 2015
(at Osanbashi Hall, Yokohama)
[Organizer]
"The International Beer Cup 2015" Exective Comitee
The Craft Beer Association
Judging Method
1. A judge team is composed of 5 to 7 judges. The qualifications of judges of "The International Beer Cup" are one of following.
....a. Member of The Craftbeer Association who are certified as "Beer Judge".
....b. Brewer who is currently working for a brewery and have brewing experience for more than 3 years.(The brewer cannot judge the style which includes their beer.)
....c. International judge who have judging experience of WBC, IBA(formally BIIA), AIBA or EBS.
....d. Person who is certified as having same skill of above "a", "b" or "c" by The Craftbeer Association.
2. The judges judge the beers using a blind test with only a number of the samples. The name and brand of the beers are hiddin for the judges.
3. The judges taste the samples individually, then the judges have a discussion.
4. The judges use the "Beer Style Guideline 1408" as a standard of the competition. The beers which does not conform to the guideline, or has a off flavor for the style are excluded.
5. The judges make decisions of the color of the medals for each style with evaluating the appearance, flavor and balance of the beers which passes the 1st step using the standard. Gold, Silver or Bronze medals of a style is generally given only for 1 beer. The case of "not applicable" is possible. The standards for the color of the medals are following.
...."Gold". The beer which completely follows the Beer Style Guideline and has the world no.1 class appearance, aroma and flavor.
...."Silver". The beer which highly follows the Beer Style Guideline and has the outstanding appearance, aroma and flavor.
...."Bronze". The beer which follows the Beer Style Guideline and has the excellent appearance, aroma and flavor.
Beer Registration (Bottle / Can beers)
Brewery and Beer Eligibility:
The Brewery must be fully licensed for the manufacture and commercial sales of beers. Breweries in planning and home brewers are not eligible to register. Beer registered in the IBC must be brewed and commercially available in the world.
Registration is available online from 1st of May 2015.
[Registration Form]
To register please complete our online registration by selecting following URL:
Please register from this FORM.
*Please see the "Beer Style" for registration on the guideline on following URL.
*If you can not register from online form, please see this page.
Registration will be closed on 28th of August 2015.
[Fees]
The cost to participate in the competition is 17,000 JPY per one bottle or can beer registration.
*Payment dead line: 4th of September 2015.
[Notice]
Number of beers per brewery: Not limited
Number of bottles/cans per 1 beer registration for the completion: 6 bottles/cans per 1 registration.
Judging samples must be arrived at the CBA's refrigerated warehouse between 7th and 11th of September except Judge's hand-carry on 18th of September.
[Transportation]
For transportation of registered beers (Bottle/Can), CBA offers 3 options as below.
1.CBA-DHL Service:
Please contact your local DHL office, and arrange transportation to the CBA's refrigerated warehouse.
Transportation cost is shown below per 1 entry (including of all import costs/duties)(6 bottles/cans per 1 entry are required).
Payment method should be made to the CBA together with beer registration fees.
* Note: CBA-DHL service is not allowed USA and China, please choice "2. CBA-Yamato Service (from USA)" or "3. By our arrangements".
-Transportation cost is 24,000 JPY (including of all import costs/duties) per 1 entry as Area 1 (Asia, Oceania, Canada and Mexico)
-Transportation cost is 32,000 JPY (including of all import costs/duties) per 1 entry as Area 2 (EU Countries and India)
-Transportation cost is 45,000 JPY (including of all import costs/duties) per 1 entry as Area 3 (Other area except above)
2.CBA-Yamato Service (for USA only):
You need to send your beer to Yamato office in Los Angeles by yourself.
Transportation cost is shown below per 6 bottles registration which is including of all import costs/duties from Yamato office in Los Angeles to the CBA's refrigerated warehouse.
Payment method should be made to the CBA together with beer registration fees.
* Note: CBA-Yamato service is only from USA.
* Note: This cost does not include the transportation fee from your brewery to Yamato office in Los Angeles.
Transportation cost is 18,000 JPY per 1 entry(including of all import costs/duties)(6 bottles/cans per 1 entry are required).
3.By your arrangements
* You shall make your own transportation arrangements to CBA's refrigerated warehouse.
* You will pay the competition registration fees only to the CBA.
* You should understand you need to pay local Japan importation tax as well as transportation fees.
4.By your hand carry
* You will bring yourself on 18th of September if you will be judge at IBC2015.
Beer Registration (Keg beers)
Brewery and Beer Eligibility:
The Brewery must be fully licensed for the manufacture and commercial sales of beers. Breweries in planning and home brewers are not eligible to register. Beer registered in the IBC must be brewed and commercially available in the world.
Registration is available online from 1st of May 2015.
[Registration Form]
To register please complete our online registration by selecting following URL:
Please register from this FORM.
*Please see the "Beer Style" for registration on the guideline on following URL.
*If you can not register from online form, please see this page.
Registration will be closed on 28th of August 2015.
[Fees]
The cost to participate in the competition is 19,000 JPY per one bottle or can beer registration.
*Payment dead line: 4th of September 2015.
[Notice]
Number of beers per brewery: Not limited
Amount of beers per 1 beer registration(1 keg) for the completion: 2 liters per 1 registration(1 keg).
Judging samples must be arrived at the CBA's refrigerated warehouse between 7th and 11th of September except Judge's hand-carry on 18th of September.
You have to send a coupler to dispense your beer if the coupler of your keg is not the "S(Asahi) type " or "Kirin type"
[Transportation]
For transportation of registered beers (Bottle/Can), CBA offers 1 option as below.
(Unfortunately we cannot become a consignee for the kegs because of the regulation by Japanese government. We apologize for the inconvenience)
1.By your hand carry
* You will bring yourself between 7th and 11th of September to the CBA's refrigerated warehouse (or on 18th of September at the hotel if you will be judge at IBC2015).
Contact
If you have any question, please contact to
The Craftbeer Association the "IBC 2015" team by email.
info@craftbeerassociation.jp
