After the track of the medals: What is your true value?
Every time the winners are announced in a beer contest, many wonder if these medals reflect the authentic quality or if they are simply a marketing play. The reality is that, in the world of artisanal beer, these recognitions are usually vitally linked to perception, both for producers and consumers, what is ‘best’ or the ‘most special’. The method to determine who takes the distinction is as varied as beer styles in the market, and sometimes more influenced by economic factors than by pure technical excellence.
The positive side of these events: impulse, recognition and beer culture
The brewer skills, far from being just a competition, function as a kind of catalyst for the growth of the entire industry. They promote constant improvement, encouraging brewers to innovate without fear of experimenting and challenging traditional limits, constantly looking for a product that stands out in aroma, flavor and presentation. In addition, they raise the visibility of the micro -cancerías, transforming small productions into brands recognized nationwide or even international, which can translate into a substantial increase in sales and opportunities for collaboration.
On the other hand, they serve as educational platforms that foster beer culture. The tasters and fans have the opportunity to take a tour of various styles and techniques, sharing experiences with producers and understanding the complexity behind each drink, thus enriching their appreciation of the beer universe.
Hard obstacles on the Route of Cervecer Competencies
Despite their benefits, these competitions are not exempt from obstacles. The economic investment required to participate can be significant, especially for small producers who, on many occasions, must prioritize resources to make a beer that can compete in the desired category. Participation does not always reflect the true product quality, but rather its investment capacity.
To this is added that the evaluation of beers in a panel of judges, however trained they are, contains an inevitable dose of subjectivity. The different style guides and the personal interpretations of the evaluators can produce disparate results, sowing doubts about the justice of the awards and sowing insecurities in the microcerve.
The shadows of competition: the risk of homogenizing and falsifying reality?
It is inevitable to ask if the eagerness to win medals drives some producers to modify their recipes only to adjust to what the judges seek, instead of following the authentic vision of the brewery. This can lead to a tendency to create standard flavors, with less creative risk and more focused on convincing during evaluation, instead of satisfying the real preferences of consumers.
Another important concern is that official recognition can generate a false perception of constant quality in awarded beers, promoting consumers to associate medals with necessarily superior products, although in practice, those beers may vary at their level of excellence when they are tasted in different contexts or lots.
This phenomenon can distort the perception of the market and feed a kind of media bubble around certain brands, which may not reflect its daily quality or its true connection with the preferences of the general public.
