BestBrewChallenge 2023: A Toast to the Finest Dark Doppelbock from Canada, Norway, and the USA

As April dawned, the global brewing community was abuzz with anticipation for the annual BestBrewChallenge. This year’s quest: to craft an unmatched Dark Doppelbock using BEST Black Malt eXtra. A staggering 182 brewing aficionados from 16 nations rose to the challenge. The climax of this malty saga unfolded on August 17 at the historic beer museum in the nh Hotel Heidelberg, where a discerning jury faced the formidable task of blind-tasting 122 entries.

The suspense finally culminated at BrauBeviale in Nuremberg on November 28, where the victors were crowned. Triumphantly claiming the top spot were Wanis Benazzouz and Victor Michaut from Canada’s “3 Brasseurs”, with their exquisite creation “Thermidor”. This champion brew, faithfully recreated at CraftCell in Heidelberg for the ceremony, dazzled beer-lover and sommelier Mareike Hasenbeck: “Wow! ‘Thermidor’ boasts a deer-brown hue and a frothy head so luxuriant, it’s nearly spoonable. The inaugural sip is a revelation – a symphony of creamy texture and a kaleidoscope of flavors from cocoa to chocolate, with a nutty essence and caramel whispers, all balanced by a gentle sweetness. Remarkably, its potent alcohol content melds seamlessly, revealing itself only subtly.”

Norwegian hobby brewer Anders Venaas of “Venaas Brygg” in Kløfta clinched second place, while Jeff Salmon from “Brewery X” in the USA secured third.

Dr. Axel Göhler, CEO of Bestmalz and orchestrator of this eighth brewing odyssey, shared his enthusiasm: “The enduring appeal of our competition is heartening, especially witnessing its burgeoning international participation.” The majority of this year’s contenders hailed from Germany (60), but close on their heels were Lithuania (45), Norway (18), and strong showings from the USA, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Sweden. Enthusiasts from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Latvia, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Sweden also joined the fray.

Echoing last year’s innovation, the challenge also lauded creative packaging and bottle labels. Nils Wagenaar (“een Bier”) captured hearts with a shanty-singing pirate chest, while Jürgen Scherf and Achim Hoff (“Brauwerk Finkenburg”) impressed with an artfully crafted, sustainable wooden box. The award for the most inventive bottle label was snagged by Kai-Michael Kohlmetz and Alexander Bauer (“Brewmasters of the Aleberhard”), who presented their brew with a captivating multi-page comic book label.

As the curtain falls on this year’s challenge, the stage is set for the next. The call for entries for the 2024 challenge beckons in January – will you rise to the occasion?

Follow the news on bestbrewchallenge.com or on the BestBrewChallenge Facebook page!