Absolute dominance of microbreweries at this year’s Greek Beer Awards.
Two were the beers that emerged winners of the Greek Beer Awards 2021, the fifth year of the competition. One, with a stable presence in the field of Greek brewing, while the other, debuting in the competition.
The reason for Voreia Smoked by the Microbrewery of Serres & Northern Greece and Chloe, a cooperative beer of the Microbrewery of Metamorfosi and Strange Brew. Both of these beers managed to stand out as Top Ale and Top Lager respectively, occupying the first place and winning the gold medal in the categories that participated (Specialty Ale and Pale Lager).
Gold’s Monday’s of Septem Microbrewery, which returned to the competition this year, Lola IPA from Pinios Brewery and Insomnia from Noctua Micro Brewery of Athens also won gold. Sknipa Imperial Stout from the Standard Microbrewery of Thessaloniki was also distinguished with a gold award, rising one place compared to last year, which had won a silver medal.
Silver medal was also won by Candia Lager, a newcomer to the Greek Beer Awards, from the Cretan Breweries Zidianaki, in the Pale Lager category, and Canal Dive Pilsner of the Corinthian Brewery in Pilsner, who shared her place with the nomadic Valtinger Chalkidiki. The presence of the nomads Eden IPL, Methia Pale Ale and “The soul of the party” who won silver medals in their categories was also exceptional.
Bronze medals were won by Mikònu Barrel Aged Porter on Pomace Brandy, Ammousa IPA and Alea California Common and in the categories Barrel Aged, IPA and Specialty Lager respectively.
Finally, the judges, referring to the beers Salonikia Honey Pilsner and Voreia Smoked, considered them as excellent and with possibilities for “international career”, while regarding the smoked beer from Serres, they added that they have not met a more remarkable effort of smoked beer in Europe. except Bamberg, and that they would never have in mind that she would come from Greece.
The competition followed all safety rules against Covid -19. The judges took the samples packed and covered in their space and met online to perform the simultaneous taste test. They said they were impressed by the level of the Greek brewery and adapted easily and directly to the new, electronic way of evaluation and submission of comments.
The team of acclaimed judges this year included judges from Great Britain, Italy and Germany, with Tim Hampson returning to the position of head judge. In fact, one of the judges, Maurizio Maestrelli, founder of Milano beer week, and a journalist specializing in beer issues, wrote, among other things, on Twitter: “Impressive steps forward for the Greek microbrewery and excellent organization…”