MANILA, Philippines — In a historic achievement for the Philippines, Engkanto Brewery’s High Hive Honey Ale has been crowned the World’s Best Beer at the 2024 World Beer Awards (WBA).
This marks the first time a Philippine craft beer has won the top honor on an international stage, highlighting the country’s growing presence in the global craft beer scene.
The prestigious award was announced following a rigorous competition held in the United Kingdom, where over 30 countries, including brewing powerhouses like Belgium, Germany, and the United States, submitted hundreds of entries.
Engkanto Brewery’s success didn’t stop with the High Hive Honey Ale; all of its entries at this year’s WBA secured medals, showcasing the brewery’s consistent excellence.
- High Hive Honey Ale: World’s Best Beer and Country Winner in the Flavored Honey and Maple Syrup category.
- Live It Up Lager: Country Winner and Gold Medal in the Classic Pilsner category.
- Green Lava Double IPA: Country Winner and Gold Medal in the Imperial/Double IPA category.
- Mango Nation Hazy IPA: Silver Medal in the IPA Session category.
- Paint Me Purple Ube Lager: Silver Medal in the Flavored Beer, Fruit and Vegetable category.
- Dew Drop Dalandan Wheat Ale: Silver Medal in the Belgian Style Wheat Beer category.
“This year’s performance is nothing short of historic. It’s a testament to the relentless dedication of the entire Engkanto team,” said Ian Paradies, Founder of Engkanto Brewery. “Winning the World’s Best Beer is an incredible achievement, and I’m immensely proud of how our team has represented the Philippines on the world stage.”
The success of Engkanto’s High Hive Honey Ale is attributed to its use of high-quality, pure local honey sourced from Philippine bee farms and apiaries.
This emphasis on local ingredients extends to other award-winning brews, such as Mango Nation Hazy IPA, Paint Me Purple Ube Lager, and Dew Drop Dalandan Wheat Ale, all of which incorporate distinctive Filipino flavors.
Michael ‘MJ’ Jordan, Engkanto’s Brewmaster, expressed his pride in using local ingredients: “Using local honey in our High Hive Honey Ale really showcases the top-class ingredients we have here in the Philippines. It’s a big win for us and for the country.”
Engkanto Brewery’s Managing Director, Ricard Basora, reflected on the brewery’s journey: “Who would’ve thought that a small craft brewery in the Philippines could reach such heights? We’re committed to quality, and this recognition only fuels our drive to continue innovating and producing world-class beers. Filipino beers can stand toe-to-toe with the best in the world, and we’re just getting started.”
The World Beer Awards, part of the prestigious World Drinks Awards, recognizes the best beers across ten categories, including Lager, IPA, Wheat, and Flavored Beer. Judging is conducted through a blind tasting by an international panel of experts, ensuring that only the finest beers are honored.
This year’s panel was led by renowned beer expert Pete Brown, who has judged beer competitions worldwide.
Business News Asia