Christchurch’s Cassels & Sons stout beer wins best in world title, again

Beer from a family-owned Christchurch brewery has beaten some of the world’s biggest brands to be crowned the best in the world.

Cassels & Sons Brewing Co’s stout won top prize in its category at the prestigious 2020 World Beer Awards for the second year in a row.

More than 2,200 beers from more than 50 countries entered the awards.

The judges blindly tested and scored the entries in three rounds of evaluation.

Traditionally, all tastings are conducted in person by judges who meet from around the world.

But the global Covid-19 pandemic meant that the beers were “wrapped in black” and sent to judges in Europe, Asia, Canada, and Brazil, who tasted them at home and connected for evaluation sessions via Zoom.

“This year’s winners at the World Beer Awards demonstrate the verve and vitality of brewers and their wonderful beers around the world,” said World Beer Awards President Adrian Tierney-Jones.

In addition to flavor quality, “design excellence” was also evaluated in seven categories.

“It’s always refreshing to see so many imaginative label designs and this year was no exception,” said Chairperson of Judges Felicity Murray, founder of TheDrinksReport.com.

“The judges were particularly impressed by the growing number of beer brands moving away from the category norm with new creative ideas that stand out from the crowd.”

Owner Alasdair Cassels, 70, who started brewing when he was 22, was delighted with the consecutive win.

“We were hoping … but it’s good to have two in a row, it’s great,” he said.

“I remember when I was much younger I heard about a small New Zealand vineyard that won the best sauvignon blanc in the world and I thought it was amazing … and that’s what we are now: the best in the world.”

Last year, Cassels won Best Stout and Best in Class, which meant they beat out some iconic brands, including the legendary Irish stout Guinness, and meant Alasdair Cassels could say, “We are better than Guinness.”

Last week Cassels had a Dominican Republic stout customer order a 6 x 518ml box of Cassels Milk Stout online, which cost him around NZ $ 365 just for the cost of air freight, the box of the Beer was only an additional NZ $ 44.

“All because he had heard of the best dark beer in the world and wanted to try it for himself,” Cassels said.

Business flourished last year for the brewery based in the Woolston area of ​​the city.

And Cassels believes this year’s result will do the same.

They are entering some lucrative overseas markets and expect Cassels beer to be available in the UK and China within six months.