CONTEST

Introduction

We present to you the ninth edition of the Barcelona Beer Challenge (2024), a competition of international scope that has contributed to, along with other initiatives, bringing to a new level of recognition and visibility for the best quality beers.

This new edition is born out of the desire to continue promotion and give visibility to this industry; a task that began with the first edition of the Barcelona Beer Challenge in 2016.

Impact of the previous edition

The 2023 BBC edition was attended by 181 breweries which submitted over 1,126 beer references to the competition, from 17 different countries, representing all existing categories in the BJCP catalogue. That reflects successful levels of participation of this contest which consolidates the awards that recognize, certify, and disseminate the quality of beers that offer the highest standards quality. These awards are guaranteed by a jury with specific qualifications and training, to achieve the decisions of this one supposed to national and international recognition of the awarded beers.

The main objectives of the BBC are:

  • Recognize those beers that are brewed respecting high-quality standards and in a faithful manner to the different styles they represent.
  • Contribute to the professionalization of beer sector, keeping a certified professional jury that use internationally certified tasting protocols.
  • Guiding the consumer, both nationally and internationally, when buying beer within the current wide range.

Contribute to the dissemination of beer culture through award-winning beers, regarding their diversity of styles and also the quality that they are offering.

Origins

The BBC, inspired by different beer competitions worldwide, aims to contribute to the task of spreading information about quality beers across our country. This work, which comes from several areas in the brewing sector, needs adequate distinction tools to use them as an icon of quality within the market.

This contest was born under the organizational umbrella of the Barcelona Beer Festival, the main event of the sector in Spain and one of the main events in southern Europe, which last edition attracted 15,000 unique visitors in one weekend, and where the best breweries in the world meet. Currently, the awards ceremony takes place during the InnBrew, the brewing convention, unique in the state, which is held during the same dates as the Festival, to create synergies between the InnBrew competition and the Festival, a meeting point for industry professionals from around the world, giving an outstanding media impact to the sector; thus getting the message of the event to reach society through the notoriety achieved in the press.