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. And Colorado brewers did particularly well at this year’s event with 22 Colorado breweries, 19 of those independent craft breweries, taking home medals at the global beer competition this year.

Colorado made a very strong showing in one of the competition’s toughest categories. The “West Coast-Style India Pale Ale” field drew a staggering 293 entries, and Colorado breweries didn’t just compete this year, they dominated. Crystal Springs earned Silver with Mosaic Madness, while Cannonball Creek took Gold with Project Alpha 81.

Consistency was a defining theme across the state. River North Brewery stood out by leading all Colorado brewers with three awards, marking the second year in a row they’ve pulled off that feat. Even more impressively, they’ve now earned recognition in four consecutive World Beer Cup competitions, a run that speaks to both quality and staying power.

Verboten Brewing continued its own streak, extending its World Beer Cup success to five straight years. Much of that momentum comes from Grow Old With You, which picked up its fourth consecutive award in the “Barley Wine-Style Ale” category. That achievement ties it with Glenwood Canyon Brewing’s Sopris as the most decorated beer from a Colorado craft brewery, and sets a state record for consecutive wins by a single beer.

The Post Brewing Co. has quietly built a streak of its own, now three years running in the “Other Strong Beer” category thanks to its East County Fine Malt Liquor. Across the board, Colorado’s reputation for consistency was hard to miss, with nine different craft beers earning awards for at least the second time at the competition.

Among those repeat winners were 12Degree Brewing’s Cactus Juice, Bull & Bush Brewery’s Kauai Pie, Ratio Beerworks’ Dear You, River North’s Pumpkin Spice J. Marie, and Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun, Ska Brewing’s True Blonde, Telluride Brewing’s Face Down Brown, The Post’s East County Fine Malt Liquor, and Verboten’s Grow Old With You.

At the same time, a new wave of breweries broke through. Crystal Springs, Hideaway, Liquid Mechanics, Lone Tree Brewing, Los Dos Potrillos, and Peculier all took home awards for the first time, adding fresh names to Colorado’s already deep bench of talent.

There was also a bit of history behind one of the wins. True Blonde, the very first beer Ska Brewing produced back in 1995, earned gold in the English-Style Pale Ale category, proving that even decades-old recipes can still compete at the highest level.

“Colorado continues to showcase why we are the state of craft beer. Taking both Silver and Gold in West Coast-Style IPA, the most competitive category in the competition, is a testament to our brewers’ skill and creativity,” says CBG Executive Director Shawnee Adelson. “And with nine beers earning World Beer Cup medals for at least the second time, it’s clear that Colorado doesn’t just make world-class beer—we make it consistently.”

2026 Colorado Craft Beer Award-Winning Winners

Gold Medal Winners

• River North Brewery: Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun (Coffee Beer)
• Bull & Bush Brewery: Ghoul Fuel-Rum Diaries Edition (Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer)
• Ska Brewing: True Blonde (English-Style Pale Ale)
• Cannonball Creek Brewing Co: Project Alpha 81 (West Coast-Style India Pale Ale )

Silver Medal Winners

• River North Brewery: Pumpkin Spice J. Marie (Pumpkin/Squash or Pumpkin Spice Beer)
• River North Brewery: Espresso Hello Darkness (Coffee Stout or Porter)
• Bull & Bush Brewery: Kauai Pie (Dessert or Pastry Beer)
• Odell Brewing Company: Friek (Fruited American-Style Sour Ale)
• Peculiar: Barenbrau Bock (German-Style Bock or Maibock)
• Hideaway Park Brewery: Little Mac (Australian-Style Pale Ale)
• Verboten Brewing: Grow Old With You (Barley Wine-Style Ale)
• Westbound & Down – Westbound Mill: Trade Deficit (Export Stout)
• Telluride Brewing: Face Down Brown (American-Style Brown Ale)
• Cannonball Creek Brewing Co: Mindbender (American-Style Strong Pale Ale)
• Crystal Springs Brewing Co: Mosaic Madness (West Coast-Style India Pale Ale)

Bronze Medal Winners

• Los Dos Portrillos Cerveceria: Agua Fresca (Fruit Beer)
• Liquid Mechanics Brewing Company: El Poblano Borracho (Chili Beer)
• The Empourium Brewing Company: Animals Strikes Curious Poses (Honey Beer)
• The Post Brewing Co: East County Fine Malt Liquor (Other Strong Beer)
• Ratio Beerworks: Dear You (American-Belgo-Style Ale)
• Stodgy Brewing Company: Gin Barrel Sour Red (American-Style Sour or Wood & Barrel Aged Sour Beer)
• Lone Tree Brewing Company: Mexican Lager (Mexican-Style Pale Lager)
• 12Degree Brewing: Cactus Juice (Berliner-Style Weisse)

“A huge congratulations to all of Colorado’s breweries!” Adelson added. “Winning a medal at World Beer Cup is no easy feat and we encourage beer lovers to celebrate Colorado’s wins by going to their favorite brewery.”

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