The beer world of Chile and especially of the Los Ríos Region is partying. The week of October 23 to 29, the final of the Copa Cervezas de América 2022 will be held in Valdivia in its IX version and different activities related to the item have been scheduled
Do you like the IPA style? Or do you prefer a Porter or a Brown Ale? These are just some of the 135 styles that participate in the Copa Cervezas de América. Everything will begin on Sunday, October 23, when the judges arrive in the city of Valdivia from Costa Rica, Brazil, the United States, France, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico and Spain, with the sole purpose of evaluating the more than 600 beers that reach this stage of the competition.
This IX Cup is part of the activities of the FIC 22-09 project “Strengthening the management of business nodes of regional products” financed by the Innovation Fund for Competitiveness (FIC) of the Regional Government of Los Ríos and its Regional Council and that it is executed by the Universidad San Sebastián (Valdivia Campus).
For the Governor of Los Ríos, Luis Cuvertino, an international activity such as the one to be held in Valdivia marks an important milestone for the region. “That we are the hosts of this world-class event is a clear sign that the investment we are making in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation is generating a great impact on the development of the region, both in tourism, as well as economic. We have allocated significant resources for this event because we know that we are a brewing region, with the potential of our producers that we must take advantage of. We hope that this meeting will allow us to have the best learning and experiences, which will translate into innovations, improvements in processes, in short, in the strengthening of this important regional item, to put us at the forefront at a national and global level”, Cuvertino commented.
The director of the FIC project, Emilio Becker, who is also an academic of Linking with the Environment of the School of Commercial Engineering of the USS in Valdivia, commented on the importance of the Beer Week, for all the actors linked to the field: “The activities that have been programmed are an invitation to the meeting between the different representatives of the brewing union, associated service providers, as is the case of tourism and suppliers and, without a doubt, those lovers of the field for being consumers of good beer”.
“The program includes talks by international guests, an exhibition of suppliers from the Craft Brewing Ecosystem of the Region, a business conference and the Grand Final of the Copa Cervezas de América. This project puts Valdivia and the Region in the spotlight as a city that lives and grows around this industry and whose projection is enormous. We want the capacities to remain in the region and, why not, to serve as a platform each year to continue positioning the region with its products”, Becker said.
The awards ceremony
At the Center for Scientific Studies (CECs), from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday 29, the meeting will be held to celebrate beer culture and will conclude with the Grand Final of the Copa Cervezas de América.
The director of Copa Cervezas de América, Daniel Trivelli, indicated that this will be a festive and camaraderie moment. “The International Grand Final is the most awaited moment for all the participants. The challenge is great, since the jury has the daunting mission of tasting 600 beers from 135 different styles in a short period of time. The invitation is to visit the CECs Tent and find out if your favorite beer is among the winners of this version”, commented Trivelli.
“We must thank and highlight that this version is carried out within the framework of the FIC project, which has allowed the realization of training activities, camaraderie and connection to all the people linked to the beer industry, strengthening it even more and without a doubt that will be demonstrated in the Beer Week” emphasized the director of the Cup.
The organization
Diego Masiero, creator of Matinê Cervejeira, and part of the organizing team of the Copa Cervezas de América 2022, explains that this version is the return after 3 years without being able to hold the event. “The number of participants adding the national and international version left us very happy,” said Masiero.
Also in the final, the brewery of the year will be chosen, which is the one that wins the most medals in the competition; The three best beers in the competition will also be awarded, which are chosen from among the gold medalists in all categories. Brazil, Argentina and Chile will still have the best beers selected by country and the best brewery from each of these brewing nations,” said Diego Masiero.
The Cup was born in 2011 and was conceived with the aim of creating an event of unique value, providing an exchange of knowledge and good experiences among those who share the love for beer. The winners of each category of the contest are awarded with gold, silver or bronze medals, achieving international visibility and recognition for their beers.
Activities of the Week
On October 24, the first session of six beer tastings will begin very early, in order to comply with the schedule and evaluate the more than 600 beers that participate in the international event. Later, the same day, but at 2:30 p.m., also at the Hotel Puertas del Sur, the Inauguration of the Beer Week will be held, among those summoned are regional authorities of the Regional Government, Municipalities, representatives of Brewers Guilds; and authorities from the San Sebastián University (Valdivia Campus). After the inauguration, the panel of expert tasters returns to the second tasting session to continue the evaluation.
Commemorative Beer 2022
In each glass a special beer is prepared between several brewers, which is called Commemorative. This year and in a unique way, this beer was prepared by the Community of Brewing Women of the South of Chile, for considering the gender approach in the field. This is something that Jimena Besoain, Territorial Director of the FIC Project, highlights. There are 3,000 liters of Commemorative beer, which can be tasted at El Regreso Brewing on Wednesday, October 26, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Among the suggested scenarios for those who visit Valdivia within the framework of the Cup, is to visit from 9:00 p.m. onwards what has been called Barrio Cervecero, on Isla Teja. The breweries will open to the public to tell the story of their brewery along with tastings.
Supplier exhibition and conferences
During the afternoon of October 27, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., in the hall of the USS, the exhibition of suppliers of national and international brands of supplies, equipment and service providers of the brewing industry will be held.
In the same house of studies, but from 3:00 p.m., the conferences of brewers and brewers will begin, where they are expected to share experiences and knowledge through technical and motivational talks, with topics as varied as hops, characterization of strains yeast, sour beers, beer quality, among others.
FIGURES
27 juries will evaluate the beers of the International Stage
+600 beers compete to be the best in the IX Copa Cervezas de América
135 styles of beers compete for a gold, silver or bronze medal
2011 the Copa Cervezas de América was born
