Belgian beers once again dominated the renowned international professional beer competition Brussels Beer Challenge (BBC) earlier this month. The superstars of Belgium's brewing landscape – including Duvel, Grimbergen and Chimay – were among the laureates.
With 70 award-winning beers, Belgium has once again become the big winner of the Brussels Beer Challenge – Belgium's oldest professional beer competition. The 2024 edition took place in Ghent ten days ago. Over three days, a panel of internationally renowned beer judges blind-tasted over 1,700 beers from around the world.
Among the winners were the most famous brewers from across the country: Rodenbach, Moinette, Duvel, Bolleke, Chimay, Grimbergen and Gouden Carolus all went home with a medal. Newer breweries established in recent years, such as Minne (Somme-Leuze), Surréaliste (Brussels) and The Brew Society (Kortrijk), also won prizes.
Winners per category
Belgium maintained its top status in the historical categories, such as tripels and lambic beers: all the beers were Belgian in the Old Style Gueuze-Lambic category. Lindemans Oude Gueuze Cuvée René, Megablend Oude Geuze (a beer brewed by blending a dozen lambic beers from as many different brewers from the Pajottenland region), Oude Gueuze Tilquin à l'ancienne, Parrain Oude Geuze and Oude Geuze Devillé all won prizes.
Almost all award-winning beers in the Dark Ale category were Belgian (nine out of 11). The winners included Liefmans' Goudenband, Grimbergen Dubbel, Duivelsbier Donker, Brugse Zot Dubbel, Petrus Dubbel, Muurken Bruin, Martha Brown Eyes, Desideer and Brouwerij & Distilleerderij Wilderen's Cuvée Clarisse Whisky Infused.
Nine Belgian beers came out on top in the flavoured beer category, including the Rodenbach Alexander (silver for the fruit beer sub-category), LePlan R.6 Red Kriek Gin and Kasteel Rouge. Swiekes' Tripppel Whiskey Barrel Aged Limited Edition 2024 and Fourchette Grand Cru by Brouwerij Van Steenberge ranked in the top two places for Wood/Barrel-aged beer.
All beers in the Old Style Fruit-Lambic sub-category were Belgian (Adelaar Oude Kriek, Oude Kriek Jart-Elle, Oude Kriek de Schaerbeek Tilquin à l'ancienne and Juicy & Wild Rhub-Elle).
In the Red Ale category, Science of Sour Ale Brewing's Sosab Flemish Red Ale Xii and Rodenbach Grand Cru won prizes.
Rodenbach beers went home with several prizes. Credit: Belga / Axel Cleenewerck
In the wheat category, three Belgian beers triumphed: Peak Blanche IPA (bronze in the White/IPA sub-category), Brewery Kazemats' Wipers Times Blonde (bronze for Dubbel Wit beers) and St. Bernardus' White beer (gold for witbier).
Brouwerij de Brabandere's Bavik Super Pils was the only Belgian lager to win a prize – a bronze medal – and Brasserie des Légendes' Hercule was the only Belgian beer that won in the Stout/Porter category. Brouwerij Dilewyns' Vicaris Nano won bronze in the Alcohol-free segment.
Second and third place went to Italy and the Netherlands, both with just under 40 medals. The trophy for the best beer of the competition went to an Italian drink, Ruggine, a pale ale produced by the Piedmontese brewery Diciottozerouno.
