IPAs remained the dominant craft beer style in 2024, accounting for 60% of the craft beer market, according to the Brewers Association. A significant portion of that share belongs to hazy IPAs, also known as juicy or New England IPAs, which continue to captivate beer enthusiasts worldwide. Given their popularity, the hazy IPA category stood out as one of the most competitive at major global beer festivals. Unlike many spirit competitions, most beer contests award just one gold medal per category, making victory particularly prestigious.
While most gold-medal-winning beers are top-tier examples of their styles, not every outstanding brew claims a major award. Entry fees and limited marketing budgets often keep excellent beers from small breweries out of competitions. In a previous article, I highlighted my favorite IPAs of 2024, including both award winners and lesser-known beers that never entered any contests. Nonetheless, the beers that secure gold in premier competitions are undeniably excellent representations of their categories. Below, we take a closer look at the hazy IPAs that earned top honors at some of the world’s most esteemed beer competitions.
World Beer Cup: Beezer by Old Irving Brewing Co.
At the prestigious World Beer Cup, Beezer from Old Irving Brewing Co. in Chicago won the gold medal in the hazy IPA category. Beezer, a Citra and Mosaic-hopped IPA, triumphed over 326 other entries. The competition itself was fierce, with over 9,300 beers from 2,060 breweries spanning 50 countries, making this victory particularly impressive for the Chicago-based brewery.
European Beer Star: Cowgirl by Birrificio Legnon
In Europe, the top hazy IPA honor went to Cowgirl, brewed by Birrificio Legnon in Italy, at the European Beer Star competition. This German-based contest, which announced its results in November, featured over 2,360 beers from 50 countries. The beers were assessed in 75 categories by a panel of international beer experts, with Cowgirl emerging as the standout in the hazy IPA field.
Great American Beer Festival: Professional Human Being by Ambitious Ales
The Great American Beer Festival, one of the most prestigious events in the U.S., awarded the best hazy IPA title to Professional Human Being from Ambitious Ales, based in Long Beach, California. This double dry-hopped IPA, featuring Nelson, Citra, and Motueka hops, stood out among the 349 entries in its category. This makes hazy IPA one of the most highly contested categories in any beer festival globally.
U.S. Open Beer Championship: Chasing Broncos IPA by Save The World Brewery
At the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Chasing Broncos IPA from Save The World Brewery in Marble Falls, Texas, claimed the top spot in the hazy IPA category. The competition saw over 9,000 beers submitted, making the win even more remarkable. Save The World Brewery had another notable achievement at the event, earning a bronze medal in the same category for its Hunt For Hazy IPA. This double win places Save The World Brewery as a must-visit for fans of world-class hazy IPAs.
These standout hazy IPAs from 2024 demonstrate the exceptional craftsmanship and innovation within the category. As the demand for hazy IPAs continues to rise, these breweries set the standard for excellence in the craft beer world.
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