Cisk 0.0 Alcohol-Free Lager has been awarded a Gold medal in the Non & Low Alcohol Beer – Class 1 category at the International Brewing and Cider Awards 2021, its producer, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc has announced.

Moreover, Cisk 0.0 has also been named overall Trophy winner of the Gold winners of the three classes of the same category, that included zero alcohol, low alcohol and ultra-low alcohol.

Cisk Strong, a nine per cent ABV Premium Lager, was awarded a Bronze medal in the Strong Beer – Class 1 – Lager category at the same awards.

The recognition at the “important and prestigious” awards was celebrated by Eugenio Caruana, Chief Operations Officer and Head Brewer at Farsons.

He said: “With new zero alcohol categories introduced to the awards for the first time, we are extremely proud that Cisk 0.0 was not only awarded a Gold Medal in its class but also the overall Trophy from all Gold Medal Winners within the three classes of the Non & Low Alcohol Beer category.

“Regarded by many brewing professionals as the ‘ultimate challenge’, the creation of the highest quality and award-winning alcohol-free beer is testament to our skilled and experienced brewing team whose dedication and hard work have made this possible.”

Brewers and cider-makers from 24 countries received accolades at the International Brewing & Cider Awards 2021.

In total, 126 medals and 12 trophies were awarded to beers and ciders from all over the world, including entrants from Australia, China, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, USA and the UK. 

Nine beer Trophy winners were announced which included winners from Japan and Malta.

Aside from Cisk 0.0 winning the Gold Trophy in the Non & Low Alcohol category, other Trophy winners included Yorkshire’s Elvington Brewery (Keg Lager) and Jersey’s Liberation Brewing Company (Cask Conditioned Ale).

The competition, which dates back to 1886, has a long history of championing the world’s best brewers and cider-makers, and the competition’s unique approach to the judging process sets it apart from other awards, earning it the reputation as the ‘Oscars of the brewing and cider world’. 

Simonds Farsons Cisk Executive Director Michael Farrugia commented: “This very presitigious award for Cisk 0.0 as well as Cisk Strong could not have come at a better time as we continue to grow our international business in new markets in the Middle East and Africa, where an attractive non-alcoholic and strong beer segment exists.

“Such accolades will no doubt help boost our efforts in this direction.”