65 categories of beer tasted
16-17 March 2026
The Concours International de Lyon has 65 beer-tasting categories. These include: Top Fermentation Ale, Brown & Black Ale, Amber & Red Ale, Bottom Fermentation Lager, Stout/Porter, Wheat Beer, Flavoured Beer, Special Beer, etc.
The competition follows strict rules concerning its organisation, optimal storage conditions, classification of beers based on numerous criteria, blind tasting, verification of the tasters selected, a 100-point marking scale, etc.
In addition, the competition will take filtration and IBU (International Bitterness Unit) into account in some of the tasting categories.
Famous honorary Presidents
Each year the selection of an honorary president draws the attention of the press and puts the competition in the limelight.
2026 : Olivier Canal
Head chef at La Meunière restaurant and president of the Bouchons Lyonnais association
Olivier Canal is an avid chef and a dedicated figure in Lyon's gastronomic scene. Trained in top French establishments alongside renowned chefs such as Guy Savoy and Mathieu Viannay, he has been running La Meunière restaurant, a symbol of traditional Lyon cuisine, since 2014. He is committed to using local and seasonal produce and masterfully revamps great classics — pâté en croûte, œufs meurette and oreiller de la Belle Meunière — combining respect for the terroir with creativity. He has been president of the Bouchons Lyonnais since 2023 and strives daily to keep Lyon's culinary heritage alive thanks to a deep passion for sharing and connecting with his guests.
The Competition’s commitments
Jurors’ expertise
Communication on all fronts
Influential, committed partners
Famous honorary Presidents
Official validation and verifications
Communication tools
Professionals in the field guarantee conformity of the sample,
while enlightened amateurs represent consumer tastes.
Concours International de Lyon 2026 - Wine, Beer and Spirits
1 000 tasters from all over the world gathered at the Cité Internationale for the 17th Concours International de Lyon for Wines, Beers and Spirits on the 16th and 17th of March 2026. Under the watchful eye of the Commissioner General and the supervision of an independent inspector, more than 7,370 samples were judged by our professional tasters and connoisseurs. All samples were tasted in conformity with strict hygiene measures, competition regulations and our ISO9001 certification. At the end of the tasting, 68 trophies and around 2377 Gold and Silver medals were awarded to producers in all categories.
Testimonials
In 2015, March 1st was not just the first day of Spring. It was also another important 1st! The Concours International de Lyon, initially devoted to wines from France and around the world, was opened to beer on that day. Needless to say, the beer lovers who form the Lyon Cervoise Club--and me especially--were delighted with this important development. At a time when beer was just beginning to sow its hops in the kitchens and on the menus of fine restaurants, it took courage to attempt a brewing adventure in a city so enamoured of Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône wines. This first edition was quite a success. The organisation was impeccable, and the event provided a wonderful opportunity for us--defenders of our regional beers--to open up to other French beers and indeed beers from across the world. One table, four people, and on each table twenty+ beers to ‘put through their paces’ made for a simple and efficient tasting principle. From 150 beers for this first edition, entries grew to more than 600 for the 2018 competition. In the beginning, I crossed paths with just a few brewers, retailers and beer lovers at the tasting tables. Now I meet many brewers, talk with beer sommeliers from across Europe, and exchange views with increasingly knowledgeable amateurs. These are all signs of the quality of the Competition, and the importance of the medals it awards. And what can be said of the organisers’ welcome? Only that they show a level of courtesy that has become quite rare, and are always very attentive to tasters’ comments and needs. In four years, I have seen this Beer Competition evolve in a very positive direction... Not so easy, given the fact that everyone--from the competition’s organisers to its professional and amateur tasters--finds classifying the various types of beer an ongoing challenge. With varieties ranging from the palest blond to the darkest black, how could it be otherwise? Participating in the Competition is very enjoyable, from the friendly morning greeting to the wine-laced finale when, after our work is done, we have an opportunity to enjoy some of the competition’s finest awarded wines. Coming back is always a pleasure. Michel RIMET Secretary of the Lyon Cervoise Club
Michel RIMET
Amateur Bière
The organisers put incredible effort into the competition, and tasters feel their opinions are really taken into account. From one year to the next, the competition is made even better, particularly by taking feedback from tasters into account. The competition is committed to moving into the beer world, and in fact has sponsored my participation in the World Championship of Beer Sommeliers. Cyril HUBERT Beer sommelier Swiss beer sommelier
Cyril HUBERT
Biérologue
Having our Voreia beer win the trophy for Best Beer in the World at the Lyon International Competition had a hugely positive impact on the product's reputation and also strengthened all our customers' loyalty.We celebrated this award during several public events in Athens and created new communication materials to improve the visibility of our product at points of sale. We also posted about it at great length on our social networks.Thanks to this award, our sales of our Stout & Porter range have increased significantly compared to last year. This trophy also proved to be a strong selling point during our commercial negotiations.
Siris Microbrewery
Winning the award immediately generated a lot of buzz in the local press, highlighting our winner's production in the Jura region. This distinction is all the more symbolic as it coincides with our twentieth anniversary celebrating high-precision work and gourmet delights. The articles were then naturally picked up by the regional press, and we shared them on social media. On top of this, we decided to include this wonderful acknowledgement in our new product brochure. This increased visibility especially attracted local consumers, who came to discover the products directly on site. Although sales to professionals were not impacted, the award helped to build customer loyalty thanks to a welcoming and friendly point of sale. The recognition we received has strengthened the brand's reputation in the region and created a real buzz around our beers. It highlights the quality and craftsmanship of the brewery and is a lasting boost to its image.
Brasserie la Franche