Photos © Brewers Association

One of the beer world’s most prestigious competitions, the World Beer Cup, just wrapped up in Philadelphia—and once again, Ohio breweries made a strong showing.

Since the competition launched in 1996, breweries from across the state have racked up 105 medals in what’s often called “the Olympics of beer.” This year’s event drew 1,644 breweries from 50 countries, with 8,166 entries judged across 119 style categories.

And once again Ohio delivered bigtime.

Nine breweries from the state combined to win 14 awards at the April 22 ceremony, marking Ohio’s second-best performance ever. Only the 2022 competition, when 15 medals were awarded, ranks higher.

Leading the charge was Third Eye Brewing, which brought home four medals—tying for the second-most by any single brewery this year. The Cincinnati brewery struck gold for the second straight year in the Scotch Ale category with Higher Consciousness, a beer that also picked up gold at the Great American Beer Festival in 2025. Third Eye added a silver for Barrel Aged Kelly’s Private Stash (Ferd’s Addition) and a bronze for Double Astral with Coconut.

Fat Head’s Brewery continued its long-running streak, earning at least one World Beer Cup award every year since 2012. This time around, Battle Axe Baltic Porter picked up a bronze after winning gold in 2025, while Goggle Fogger added another bronze in the Weissbier category.

Over at Brink Brewing, Moozie repeated as gold medal winner in the Sweet or Cream Stout category, while Lil Zoomie took bronze in the Coffee Stout or Porter category—giving the brewery another strong year on the global stage.

Wandering Monsters Brewing saw its Viator Obscura: Triple Chocolate improve on last year’s silver, earning gold in 2026. The beer has now medaled three straight years, including a bronze at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival.

Elsewhere, Rhinegeist picked up a silver for Uncle, while Market Garden Brewery made a big return with a gold for Yuzu Lager in the Fruit Beer category.

A few breweries also broke through for the first time. The Brew Kettle and Seventh Son Brewing each earned silver medals, while Land-Grant Brewing took home bronze.

“Consistency is always the goal, but these brewers are taking it a step further,” said Mary MacDonald of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. “Not only are they making great beer, they’re creating spaces where communities can connect and grow.”

2026 World Beer Cup Award-Winning Ohio Craft Beers

Third Eye Brewing (Cincinnati):
Higher Consciousness – Gold award, Scotch Ale
Higher Purpose – Gold award, Sweet Stout or Cream Stout
Barrel Aged Kelly’s Private Stash (Ferd’s Addition) – Silver award, Wood- and Barrel-Aged Dessert or Pastry Beer
Double Astral with Coconut – Bronze award, Field Beer

Brink Brewing (Cincinnati):
Moozie – Gold award, Sweet Stout or Cream Stout
Lil Zoomie – Bronze award, Coffee Stout or Porter

Fat Head’s Brewery (Middleburg Heights):
Battle Axe – Bronze award, Strong Porter
Goggle Fogger – Bronze award, South German-Style Weissbier

Market Garden Brewery (Cleveland):
Yuzu Lager – Gold award, Fruit Beer

Wandering Monsters Brewing (Cincinnati):
Viator Obscura: Triple Chocolate – Gold award, Chocolate Beer

The Brew Kettle (Middleburg Heights):
El Lupulo Libre – Silver award, Strong Red Ale

Rhinegeist (Cincinnati):
Uncle – Silver award, English Mild or Bitter

Seventh Son Brewing (Columbus):
Oubilette – Silver award, American-Style Imperial Stout

Land-Grant Brewing Company (Columbus):
Great Falls – Bronze award, Scotch Ale

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Congratulations to all of this year’s big winners…Live Long and Prosper!