Photos © Brewers Association

One of the beer industry’s most prestigious competitions, the World Beer Cup took place in Philadelphia on April 22, 2026 and awards were presented in 113 beer-style categories at the conclusion of Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America.

Considered by many to be the “Olympics of Beer” this competition is a very big deal.

Organized by the Brewers Association—the not-for-profit trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers—the 2026 World Beer Cup®, now in its 30th year, recognized the very best in beer and cider across 118 categories.

“Thirty years in, the World Beer Cup remains a powerful reflection of how far global brewing has come—and where it’s headed,” said Chris Williams, World Beer Cup competition director. “Even in a year that challenged beverage alcohol producers to evolve, this year’s winners demonstrated that innovation, precision, and passion for craft are stronger than ever.”

A panel of 255 judges from 50 countries methodically evaluated 8,166 entries from 1,644 breweries and cideries across 50 nations, using rigorous, blind-tasting protocols.

 And here are some key takeaways:

World Beer Cup Competition Statistics

• 17th competition (skipped 2020; annualized starting 2022)
• Entries: 8,166
• Breweries: 1,644
• Countries: 50
• Top 5 entering countries: United States, Japan, Canada, China, Brazil
• First-time brewery entries: 295
• Judges: 255
• International judges: 128
• Judge countries: 37
• Judging sessions and days: 14 sessions and 7 days
• Style categories: 113 beer | 5 cider
• Beer styles: 186 (includes all subcategories)
• Avg number of beers in each category: 69

Winners in Most Entered Style Categories:

Category 114: West Coast-Style India Pale Ale, 293 entries

• Gold – Project Alpha 81, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden, CO
• Silver – Mosaic Madness, Crystal Springs Brewing Co., Louisville, CO
• Bronze – Electric Eagle, Firestone Walker Brewing – Propagator Marina del Rey, CA

Category 113: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale, 274 entries

• Gold – Because Science, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR
• Silver – Bolo Season, Zilker Brewing Co., Austin, TX
• Bronze – Shifted Visions, everywhere, Orange, CA

Category 112: Classic India Pale Ale, 205 entries

• Gold – Immutable Dawn, ISM Brewing, Long Beach, CA
• Silver – Hop-Fu!, North Park Beer Co., San Diego, CA
• Bronze – Shred IPA, Shred Beer Co., Rocklin, CA

Category 43: German-Style Pilsner, 201 entries

• Gold – 801 Pilsner, Uinta Brewing Co., Salt Lake City, UT
• Silver – Southern German Style Pilsener, Craft Beer Base, Osaka, Japan
• Bronze – Pilsner, Hop Dogma Brewing Co., Half Moon Bay, CA

Category 45: Munich-Style Helles, 156 entries

• Gold – Wander Back Lager, Wander Back Beerworks, Vineland, NJ
• Silver – Lager, Noble Twist, Saugatuck, MI
• Bronze – Kirkland Signature Helles Lager, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR

Out of a total possible 354 awards, 353 were awarded. A bronze was not awarded in Category 75, Belgian-Style Witbier.

“The World Beer Cup competition continues to showcase the global industry’s dedication to innovative craftsmanship, diverse flavors, and technical excellence,” Williams added. “Congratulations to this year’s award winners; they have once again helped set the standard for excellence in their craft”

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A complete list of all of this year’s winners is available HERE .