The Craft Beer Association (CBA) will hold "The International Beer Cup 2016" (IBC2016) in Yokohama on 16th-17th of September, 2016.
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 2015, 43 judges from 14 countries have evaluated 355 beers of eligible beer styles from 13 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 106 beer styles.
In this year, the IBC2016 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 Sunday, 18th of September at the Great Japan Beer Festival 2016 (GJBF2016) 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 22 years of experience in organizing successful beer competitions, events and seminars.
Competition Details
[Schedule]
* Beer Registration
20th of May - 29th of August, 2016
* Beer Arrival
5th - 9th of September, 2016
at CBA warehouse, Tokyo
* Judging
16th - 17th of September, 2016
at Osanbashi Hall, Yokohama
* Award Ceremony
18th of September, 2016
at the Great Japan Beer Festival Yokohama 2016
(at Osanbashi Hall, Yokohama)
[Organizer]
"The International Beer Cup 2016" Exective Committee
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 1601" 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.
Judges
Please click here for judge list
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 20th of May, 2016.
[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 29th of August, 2016.
[Fees]
The cost to participate in the competition is 17,000 JPY per one entry.
*Payment deadline: 2nd of September, 2016.
[Notice]
Number of entries per brewery: Not limited
Number of samples per 1 entry for the completion: 6 bottles/cans per 1 entry.
Judging samples must be arrived at the CBA's refrigerated warehouse in Tokyo between 5th and 9th of September, 2016 except Judge's hand-carry on 16th of September.
[Transportation]
For transportation of registered beers (Bottle/Can), CBA offers 4 options as below.
You will receive the "General Shipping Information" after the registration for further details.
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 18,000 JPY (including of all import costs/duties) per 1 entry as Area 1 (South Korea and Taiwan)
-Transportation cost is 22,000 JPY (including of all import costs/duties) per 1 entry as Area 2 (Asia except South Korea and Taiwan)
-Transportation cost is 26,000 JPY (including of all import costs/duties) per 1 entry as Area 3 (Oceania and India)
-Transportation cost is 35,000 JPY (including of all import costs/duties) per 1 entry as Area 4 (EU Countries)
-Transportation cost is 45,000 JPY (including of all import costs/duties) per 1 entry as Area 5 (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 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 16th of September if you will be judge at IBC2016.
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 20th of May, 2016.
[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 29th of August, 2016.
[Fees]
The cost to participate in the competition is 19,000 JPY per one bottle or can beer entry.
*Payment deadline: 2nd of September, 2016.
[Notice]
Number of entries per brewery: Not limited
Mimimum amount of beers per 1 entry(1 keg) for the completion: 2 liters per 1 entry(1 keg).
Judging samples must be arrived at the CBA's refrigerated warehouse in Tokyo between 5th and 9th of September, 2016 except Judge's hand-carry on 16th 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 2 options as below.
You will receive the "General Shipping Information" after the registration for further details.
(Unfortunately we cannot become a consignee for the kegs because of the regulation by Japanese government. We apologize for the inconvenience)
3.By your arrangements
* You shall make your own transportation arrangements to CBA's refrigerated warehouse.
* 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 16th of September if you will be judge at IBC2016.
Our partners
Contact
If you have any question, please contact to
The Craftbeer Association the "IBC2016" team by email.
info@craftbeerassociation.jp
