Japanese Breweries at the 2016 World Beer Cup

The 2016 World Beer Cup winners were announced on May 6, and nine Japanese breweries won awards.

The WBC, which calls itself "the most prestigious beer competition in the world," and may very well be, has been held every two years since 1996. The awards were given out on the last day of the Brewers Association Craft Brewers Conference at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

This year’s event was the largest ever: 6,596 beers were entered by 1,907 breweries in 55 countries. A total of 16 countries’ breweries received medals. 44 Japanese breweries sent 135 entries and won nine awards, for a 6.67% success rate.

Here they are:

Gold - Nine-Tailed Fox 

           Nasu Kohgen Beer Co.  Aged Beer (40 entries)

Gold - Arima Japan Ale

           Konishi Brewing Co.  Experimental Beer (86 entries)

Gold - Sakura Mankai Lager 

           Chateau Kamiya Ushiku Brewery  Herb and Spice Beer  (129 entries)

Gold - Arch Devil Imperial Stout

           DevilCraft  British-Style Imperial Stout   (53entries)

Gold - Minoh Beer Stout 

           A·J·I Beer  Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout   (42 entries)

Silver - Asahi The Dream 

            Asahi Breweries  Light Lager   (45 entries)

Silver - IPA 2016 

            Yo-Ho Brewing Co.  American-Style Strong Pale Ale   (118 entries)

Bronze - Iwate Kura Beer Oyster Stout 

              Iwate Kura Beer  Experimental Beer   (86 entries)

Bronze  - Golden Dragon 

                Ise Kadoya Brewery  Session Beer   (34 entries)

This tally is a big uptick from the 2014 competition, from which Japan reaped only three medals.

Compared to four in 2012

and five in 2010

nine in 2008

ten in 2006

five in 2004

two in 2002,

fourteen in 2000

nine in 1998

and one in the inaugural year of 1996.

A number of beer writers took note of Japan’s increased presence on the award stand, one of whom called it “Perhaps the event’s most compelling story...” Perhaps…. there weren’t so many other compelling stories? Another writer claimed Japan is “an up-and-coming beer market…” Those familiar with Japan’s demographics and the long-term decline in alcohol consumption might beg to differ.

In any event, craft beer drinkers in Japan should seek out those medal-winning brews and try a little judging for themselves -- with the exception of Asahi The Dream (nothing special there) and Nasu Kohgen’s Nine-Tailed Fox (you’ll never find it – except maybe at Popeye in Tokyo).