Smithwicks Monde Selection

Credit where credit's due to the good people at Smithwicks who have won a medal at the Monde Selection. This just isn't any old bullshit product marketing award where, for example,

Applicants must fill in the entry form and product registration thoroughly before sending these two documents by fax, e-mail or post to Monde Selection who will, on receipt, provide confirmation of participation and invoice with payment being due within 30 days of receipt and all bank charges at the customer’s cost.

Further examination of their website reveals that,

Monde Selection are an international Institute For Quality Selections ... the beers jury is chaired by Mrs C. Liétar, an eminent and recognised retired lecturer & professor who used to work as an expert in the brewery industry.

Love it. She used to work as an expert in the brewery industry.

But to be fair Smithwicks didn't just win any old medal. They won, as their expensive new labelling reveals, a Gold Medal which is only awarded to,

Products obtaining an average result between 80% and 89%

Presumably they were just below average in the rest of the tastings.