This small local brewery wins big at the Asia Beer Championship 2024
MANILA, Philippines – Cheers to Filipino greatness! Local brewery Elias Wicked Ales & Spirits has been named the Lallemand Brewing Champion Small Sized Brewery of Asia and the Country Champion Brewery of the Philippines for the third consecutive year at the Asia Beer Championship 2024.
The winners of this year’s Asia Beer Championship were announced live at the Brew Asia 2024 Conference in October, with more than 800 beer entries from 13 countries. The global competition took place on September 10 and 11 in Singapore and was judged by a worldwide panel of professionally trained international brewers.
“Despite the challenges of brewing in the Philippines, we have continued to push boundaries, perfect our craft, and deliver world-class beer,” Brewer and Elias co-founder Raoul Masangcay said in a media statement.
Additionally, he referred to its third Country Champion Brewery of the Philippines award as a testament to their “unwavering commitment and passion for the art of brewing.”
Aside from Elias’ third Country Champion award, the brand also bagged five golds, one silver, and five bronzes in both beer and cider categories.
In high spirits
Elias’ impressive collection secured gold medals in categories showcasing experimental and traditional craft styles. Featuring a harmonious blend of coffee, chocolate, and ube, with a velvety vanilla texture, the holiday-inspired Puto Bumbong Stout ++ won gold for the Experimental Beer Category. This was brewed in collaboration with Crema & Creme Coffee Lab.
Le Petit Mango won gold in the No/Low-Alcohol Beer Category, with its burst of orange peel and coriander and refreshing mango finish. Blends, with Benefits, a collaboration with Jacob’s Well Chai, aso claimed gold in the Tea Beer Category.
Following its victory as Champion Beer of Asia in 2023, the Summer Breeze Saison’s Belgian-inspired flavors of bubblegum, orange, and banana captured gold in the Saison Category, while Hopped Summer Breeze Saison won bronze.
Praised for its smooth and rich malt character, the local brewery’s Uncle’s Dunkel brought home a silver medal in the International Dark Lager Category. Meanwhile, Some Bark, No Bite in the Flavored Beer Category and Chai Me To The Moon in the Spiced Beer Category both claimed bronze.
Taking its first entry in the Cider Competition, Elias earned gold with its debut cider, Pear Pressure, in the Perry/Pear Category, which instantly became a fan favorite due to its crisp, juicy, and bursting with fresh Asian pear flavor. Orange You Glad I Didn’t Say Vanilla also got bronze in the Specialty Cider Category for its vibrant, fruit-forward profile.
Several entries were also named the Chairman’s Selection, a special mention award for beers that impressed the judges but didn’t secure a medal. Among these are the modern wheat beer Lost in Japan and Tripel Dribble, a strong ale. Lastly, Elias’ experimental Agent Orange, Get Up Get Up also got recognition in the Flavored Beer Category.
Elias Brewery’s branches are located at 13 Ubay, Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City, and on the second floor of Madison Galeries, 398 Don Jesus Blvd, Bgy. Cupang, Alabang Muntinlupa City.
The Asia Beer Championship is organized by the Asia Brewers Network. — Rev Dela Cruz/Rappler.com
Rev Dela Cruz is a Rappler intern studying AB Journalism at the University of Santo Tomas.