Latin America’s First International Copa Cervezas de América, or Beer Cup of America, was held in Chile from September 5th through 10th, 2011, providing an atmosphere of learning and collaboration among brewers, while working together to promote the beer industry in South America. This five-day festival of events included seminars for the public, learning forums for brewers and beer professionals, beer sampling, and a two-day tasting competition in which 9 international and 4 national judges blind-tasted over 280 beers from 64 participants in 21 countries.

The beer communities in Chile, Brazil, Columbia, and other beer-rich regions of Latin America are experiencing their own craft beer renaissance. Inspired by the brewing creativity of the United States and the traditions of Germany and Belgium, Latin Americans are swiftly becoming a powerful force in the global beer market. Many, such as Szot, Kross, and Turbinger of Chile and Cervejaria Bamberg and Bierland of Brazil, have begun to make their mark as winning medalists in the Australian Beer Awards.

Standing next to the Great American Beer Festival, this competition may appear as a minor contest. In the 2010 GABF competition, 151 judges from 9 countries reviewed 3523 beers in 79 categories plus the Pro-Am. But the GABF is a mature competition, one that is currently in its 30th year. This inaugural Copa Cervezas de America (CCA) has grown roots and promises exponential growth in years to come.

Judges for the CCA included:

Pascual Ibáñez, Author and Beer Sommelier (Chile)
Paola Michaud, Professor at the Technical Training Institute Duoc UC, (Chile)
Felipe Pizarro, Professional Sommelier (Chile)
Carlos Reyes, Food critic and journalist (Chile)
Lyn Kruger, President of the Siebel Institute (USA)
Matt Brynildson, Brewmaster and Founding Partner of Firestone Walker Brewing Company (USA
Lars Larson, Master Brewer at Trumer Brauerei (USA)
John Guzmán, Beer Authority and Business Manager for Brewers Supply Group (USA)
Jay Brooks, Beer writer of the Brookston Beer Bulletin (USA)
John Holl, Freelance beer writer (USA)
Bill Pengelly, Technical Sales Executive for the Brewers Supply Group (USA)
Fabiana Arreguy, Radio Personality (Brazil)
Martin Boan, Founding Partner of Ba-Malt S.A. and organizer of the South
American Beer Cup (Argentina)

Judges followed criteria set by the Beer Judge Certification Program for scoring entries. Medals were awarded based on strict guidelines:

Gold (Oro) medal winners must be the top 5% of all the best scored beers. On a scale of 1-100, they must score above 90.
Silver (Plata) medal winners must be in the top 10% of all the best scored beers. On a scale of 1-100, they must score above 80.
Bronze (Bronce) medal winners must be in the top 20% of all the best scored beers. On a scale of 1-100, they must score above 75.

Top Award Winners:

Best Beer of the Copa Cervezas de America: Augustinjn Blonde Ale, Belgium
Best Brewery (Most medals and highest score): Cervejaria Bamberg, Brazil with 1 Gold and 2 Silver Medals
Best Beer of Chile: Cervecera Cuello Negro Stout, Chile

There were eight medals awarded to Best of Category Beers. Only categories having more than 15 entries qualified for these winning medals.

Best in Category beers were:

Category 01: Light Lager – Aguila, Cervecería Bavaria, Columbia
Category 06: Light Hybrid Beer – Blonde, Cerveza COPPER, Chile
Category 08: English Pale Ale – Pale Ale, Cervejaria Bierland, Brazil
Category 10: Patagonian & American Ale – American Pale Ale, Cervecería Davok, Uruguay
Category 12: Porter – Chapinero Porter, Bogotá Beer Company, Columbia
Category 13: Stout – Stout, Cervecera Cuello Negro, Chile
Category 15: German Wheat Beer – Weizenbier, Cervejaria Bamberg, Brazil
Category 19: Strong Ale – Strong Dark Ale, Cervecería Tübinger, Chile

Among high scoring beers, medals awarded included 4 Gold medals, 24 Silver medals, and 28 Bronze medals. Chilean beers won a total of 28 medals. Belgium, Brazil and Columbia each won 5 medals. Argentina won 3; Uruguay and Germany won 2 each, while the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Spain, Scotland, Dominican Republic, and Mexico each won 1 medal.

Gold medal winners were:

Augustinjn Blond Ale, Belgian Strong Ale, Belgium
Cervejaria Bamberg Weisenbier, German Wheat Beer, Brazil
La Trappe Dubbel, Belgian Strong Ale, the Netherlands
Cervecero Cuello Negro Stout, Stout, Chile

Those winning Silver medals included:

Cervecería Davok American IPA, Indian Pale Ale, Uruguay
Brouwerij Bosteels Tripel Karmeliet, Belgian Strong Ale, Belgium
Cervecería Davok American Pale Ale, Patagonian & American Ale, Uruguay
Cervecería Rothhammer Oak Stout, Stout, Chile
Cervecería Selva Fría Stout 8°, Stout, Chile
Costa Rica’s Craft Brewing Co. Segua, Patagonian & American Ale, Costa Rica
Brouwerij St. Bernardus Tripel, Belgian Strong Ale, Belgium
Bogotá Beer Company Septimazo IPA, Indian Pale Ale, Colombia
Cervejaria Bamberg Munchen, Dark Lager, Brazil
Brauerei Radeberger Pilsener, Pilsner, Germany
Cervecera Kunstmann Bock, Stout, Chile
Microcervecería Reichenberger Falken Kaiser Stout, Stout, Chile
Cerveza Artesanal La Loggia La Loggia, Stout, Argentina
Cervecería Guayacan Stout, Stout, Chile
Brauerei Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen, German Wheat, Chile
Cervecería Damm Voll Damm, European Amber Lager, Spain
Cervejaria Bamberg Schwarzbier, Dark Lager, Brazil
Brunehaut brewery St Martin Blonde Ale, Belgian Strong Ale, Belgium
Cervecería Berlina Foreign Extra Stout, Stout, Argentina
BrewDog Brewery Hardcore IPA, Indian Pale Ale, Scotland
Cerveza Baron Copper, Patagonian & American Ale, Chile
Cervecería Bavaria Aguila, Light Lager, Colombia
Cervecería Otro Mundo Nut Brown Ale, Patagonian & American Ale, Argentina
Cervecería Selva Fría Golden 5,8°, Patagonian & American Ale, Chile

Bronze medals were awarded to:

Cervecería Szot Negra Stout, Stout, Chile
Cervecería Bavaria Club Colombia Roja, Patagonian & American Ale, Columbia
Cerveza Caudillo Brown Ale, Patagonian & American Ale, Chile
Cervecería Capital Negra Ale, Stout, Chile
Cervecería Kross Stout, Stout, Chile
Cervecería Kross Maibock, Bock, Chile
Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana Presidente, Pilsner, Dominican Republic
Cervejaria Bierland Imperial Stout, Stout, Brazil
Cerveza Newen Newen Pehuen, Fruit Beer, Chile
Microcervecería Copayapu Pilsen Desértica, Pilsner, Chile
Binding-Brauerei Schofferhofer Hefeweizen, German Wheat, Chile
Cerveza Grassau Lager, Pilsner, Chile
Cerveza Baguales Pale Ale, Patagonian & American Ale, Chile
Cervezas Ruberg Oatmeal Stout, Stout, Chile
Brouwerij Van Steenberge Gulden Draak, Belgian Strong Ale, Belgium
Cervecería Szot Rubia al Vapor, Amber Hybrid Beer, Chile
Holsten Brauerei Holsten Festbock, Bock, Germany
Cervecería Modelo Negra Modelo, Patagonian & American Ale, Mexico
Cerveza de Autor Stout De Autor, Stout, Chile
Cerveza Volcanes del Sur Volcanes Lager, Pilsner, Chile
Cervejaria Bierland Bock, Bock, Brazil
Cerveza Altamira American Pale Ale, Patagonian & American Ale, Chile
Cerveza Artesanal Insular Islas Desventuradas, German Wheat, Chile
Cervecería Bavaria Club Colombia, Light Lager, Colombia
Cervecería Kross Golden Ale, Patagonian & American Ale, Chile
Cervecería Colón S.A. Negra, Patagonian & American Ale, Colombia
Cerveza COPPER Black, Stout, Chile
Cerveza COPPER Blonde, Light Hybrid Beer, Chile

Eight breweries were multiple medal winners: Cervejaria Bamberg, Brazil (3); Cervecería Bavaria, Columbia (3); Cervecería Kross, Chile (3); Cerveza COPPER, Chile (2); Cervecería Davok, Uruguay (2); Cervecería Szot, Chile (2); Cervecería Selva Fría, Chile (2); Cervejaria Bierland, Brazil (2). These scored big, even pitted in competition with such world-class breweries as Augustinjn in Belgium and BrewDog in Scotland, Bosteels, Van Steenberge, Brunehaut, St. Bernardus, and La Trappe, Cervecería Damm and Brauerei Radeberger, a clear indicator that craft brewing is alive and healthy in Latin America.

Cheers!