It all began with an idea that, by their own admission, may have been born after “one too many beers.” Kelly Montgomery, head brewer and co-owner of Third Eye Brewing in Hamilton, Ohio, and Dow Scoggins, founder of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, had always wanted to hold a world record. So in February 2024, to celebrate National Stout Month, they decided to stop talking about it and start scooping. Using 9 liters — 27 twelve-ounce cans — of Third Eye’s Higher Purpose Milk Stout and 36 scoops of Graeter’s vanilla ice cream, the pair built what they declared the World’s Largest Beer Float. The attempt wasn’t yet a certified Guinness title, but the documentation went in, and Hamilton, Ohio quietly staked its claim to frozen-and-fermented history.

The record didn’t last long. That June, a Texas brewery caught wind of the Ohio upstart and decided the Lone Star State needed the title back home. Lakewood Brewing Co. in Garland, Texas, went bigger, combining 50 scoops of Andy’s Frozen Custard with 50 pints — a full keg — of Temptress, their top-selling craft milk stout in Texas. Crowds gathered at the taproom to watch, with a kid-friendly version made with root beer on hand for anyone not yet 21.

It’s the kind of rivalry that could only exist in craft beer: two breweries, a thousand miles apart, one-upping each other with stout and ice cream instead of trophies. And somewhere in Hamilton, Ohio, the guy who started it all isn’t done yet — word is a new attempt to reclaim the title is already in the works, with details expected in the next month or two. Stay tuned.

 

For Brewing fun fact, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.

Hartsville, South Carolina isn’t exactly a beer mecca — but Wild Heart Brewing Company just put it on the map. The brewery walked away from the 2026 U.S. Open Beer Championship with four medals and the title of Brewery of the Year in the 501-to-1,000-barrel division, beating out  hundreds of competitors.

U.S. Open Beer Championship founder Dow Scoggins drove in from Ohio to hand-deliver the trophy and medals to head brewer Zach Riner and assistant brewer Jerry Rivers at a small ceremony in town. For a brewery that only started entering the competition three years ago, the results were a pleasant shock. Wild Heart submitted five beers and four medaled — a hit rate most breweries would kill for.

The standout was Convergence, a New England-style hazy DIPA that took gold and has already sold out. The brewery also shared a gold medal with Boulevard Brewing Company for Wild Culture Brett Beer Slow Bloom — of which only a limited supply remains before it’s gone for good. Rounding out the haul: silver for the West Coast-style pilsner Hop Atlas, and another silver for Weight of Sound, a collaboration brew made with Southern Hops Brewing Company and Riverbend Malt House.

For co-founders behind Wild Heart, which opened its doors on Railroad Ave. in downtown Hartsville in 2021, the win means more than trophy shelf space. The brewery was built to give locals a reason to be proud of their town — and to give visitors a reason to stop in. A national medal haul does exactly that.

South Carolina had a big showing overall, with nine breweries across the state combining for 17 medals — six gold, six silver, four bronze, and Wild Heart’s Brewery of the Year title.

About the U.S. Open Beer Championship
Founded in 2009 by Dow Scoggins, Jon Downing, and Rick Roberts — former owners and brewers of Friends Brewing, Georgia’s first craft brewery — the U.S. Open Beer Championship has grown into the third-largest beer competition in the country. Since 2023, the U.S. Open has been lead by director, Spencer Mapes, and held annually in Oxford, Ohio, the competition draws entries from professional breweries and award-winning homebrewers alike, judged across more than 170 style categories. Each year, five Brewery of the Year titles are awarded across production tiers, ranging from tiny operations under 251 barrels to giants producing more than 15,000. Beyond the trophies and medals, the competition has become known for “The Barn” — a converted 5,000-square-foot Amish agricultural building that houses coolers, a nano brewery, and even a six-hole putt-putt course built for children with special needs — along with the annual ALS Beer Bucket Challenge, reflecting the event’s roots as a community as much as a competition.

 

For Brewing fun fact, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.

Every summer, thousands of amateur brewers ship their best batches across the country hoping to hear their name called at homebrewing’s biggest stage — and 2026 was no exception. The American Homebrewers Association’s National Homebrew Competition, now in its 48th year, drew 3,575 entries from 1,054 AHA members across 46 states, Washington, D.C., and 7 countries, with 120 medals awarded across 40 categories at the awards ceremony in Asheville, North Carolina. Topping it all was San Diego’s Ben Frymark of homebrew club QUAFF, named 2026 Homebrewer of the Year after his American barleywine was crowned Best of Show out of every beer in the competition — proof that a garage setup and a great recipe can still beat the pros at their own game.

2026 National Homebrew Competition — Final Round Winners

Category 1: Pale American Beer
GOLD: Jeff Zwetsch (with Don Frakes) – Anaheim, CA – Ace Brewing Society
SILVER: Rodney Kibzey – Portland, OR – Oregon Brew Crew
BRONZE: Pete Graham – Fishers, IN – Foam Blowers of Indiana, Inc (FBI)

Category 2: Pale European Beer  
GOLD: Steven Severn – Santa Ana, CA – Orange County Mash Ups
SILVER: Ron Barnes (with Jeremy Rott) – Basehor, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters
BRONZE: Juan Pablo Salcedo – San Ysidro, CA – Tijuana Homebrew Club

Category 3: Pale Lager
GOLD: Tom Zacher – Murrysville, PA – Three Rivers Underground Brewers (TRUB)
SILVER: Ian Campbell – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective
BRONZE: Rob Hardisty – Fort Collins, CO – Liquid Poets

Category 4: German Pilsner
GOLD: Russell Berger – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective
SILVER: Mark Hughey – Gainesville, VA
BRONZE: Larry Bentley – North Plainfield, NJ – Garden State Homebrewers (GSHomebrewers)

Category 5: Pale Malty European Beer
GOLD: Chuck Beckman – Gilbert, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers
SILVER: Lee Birkett – West Dundee, IL – Midnight Carboys
BRONZE: Bob Teich – Clear Lake, MN – River City Brewers

Category 6: Amber European Beer
GOLD: David Towles – Amarillo, TX – High Plains Drafters [TX]
SILVER: Kevin Worthen – San Antonio, TX – Bexar Brewers
BRONZE: Steve Ristau – Black Hawk, SD – Ale Riders Homebrew Club

Category 7: Dark European Lager  
GOLD: David Towles – Amarillo, TX – High Plains Drafters [TX]
SILVER: Beth Migalla – Highland Park, IL – North Urban Brewing Society (NUBS)
BRONZE: Chris Kaebisch – Edgerton, WI

Category 8: American Wheat & Blonde
GOLD: Adam Wyss – Alamo, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)
SILVER: Alex Owen – Stamford, CT
BRONZE: Alex Mullen – San Diego, CA

Category 9: German Wheat & Rye Beer
GOLD: Chuck Redpath – Downers Grove, IL
SILVER: Eric Boyle – Berkley, MI – Royal Oak Area Homebrew Club
BRONZE: Wuilmer Venegas – Toronto, ON – GTA Brews Homebrew Club

Category 10: Pale British Ale
GOLD: Tim Lambert – Albuquerque, NM – Dukes Of Ale
SILVER: Jamye & Cody Naramore – Quenemo, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters
BRONZE: Michael Johnson – Salt Lake City, UT

Category 11: Scottish & Irish Ale
GOLD: Greg Winterburn – Rockaway, NJ
SILVER: Stephen P Polczynski – Moore, OK – Red Earth Brewers
BRONZE: David Carruthers – Puyallup, WA – Puyallup Brew Crew

Category 12: American Pale Ale
GOLD: Jamye & Cody Naramore – Quenemo, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters
SILVER: Tom Leonard (with Ross Stuart) – Chandler, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers
BRONZE: Taylor Shastid – Walnut Creek, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

Category 13: Amber & Brown American Ale
GOLD: Craig Martin – Louisville, KY – Louisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society (LAGERS)
SILVER: Jeffry Battles (with Bob Cook) – Lemon Grove, CA – QUAFF
BRONZE: Larry Reuter (with Donna) – Akron, OH – Society of Akron Area Zymurgists (SAAZ)

Category 14: Brown British Beer
GOLD: Sebastian Seith – Hinsdale, IL – Brixie’s Brewers
SILVER: John Luhmann – West Des Moines, IA – Kansas City Bier Meisters
BRONZE: Jeff Ong – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective

Category 15: Irish & British Stout
GOLD: Preston Booth – Easley, SC – South Carolina Upstate Homebrewers Anonymous
SILVER: Steven Jones – Fort Collins, CO – Liquid Poets
BRONZE: Peter Daniels – Columbus, OH – SODZ

Category 16: American Porter & Stout
GOLD: Trevor McGuire – Concord, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)
SILVER: Chris Johnson – Maplewood, NJ – Morris Area Society of Homebrewers
BRONZE: Taylor Shastid – Walnut Creek, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

Category 17: American IPA
GOLD: Weston Wright – Thornton, CO – Indian Peaks Alers
SILVER: Russell Berger – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective
BRONZE: Metts Potter – Morrow, OH – Bloatarian Brewing League

Category 18: Specialty IPA
GOLD: Jarrett Long (with Amanda Long) – Arlington, TX – Horsemen of the Hopocalypse
SILVER: Steven Severn – Santa Ana, CA – Orange County Mash Ups
BRONZE: Mark Pennick – Denver, CO – The Brew Crew

Category 19: Hazy IPA
GOLD: David James – Eugene, OR – Cascade Brewers Society
SILVER: Tom Fontes – Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Homebrewers
BRONZE: Colby Reineke – Minnesota, MN – Minnesota Home Brewers Association

Category 20: Strong American Ale
GOLD: Benjamin Frymark – San Diego, CA – QUAFF
SILVER: Eli Palma – San Diego, CA – QUAFF
BRONZE: Jeremy Gramkow (with Nicole Thompson) – Boise, ID – Snake River Brewers

Category 21: Strong European Lager
GOLD: Alex Rezmerski – Louisville, KY – Louisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society (LAGERS)
SILVER: Karl Wayne King – Colleyville, TX – Cap and Hare Homebrew Club
BRONZE: Brady Smith – Westfield, IN – Foam Blowers of Indiana, Inc (FBI)

Category 22: Strong British Ale
GOLD: Tony Hamric – Leland, NC – Wort City Brewers
SILVER: Mark Unick – Wentzville, MO – St Charles County Society of Brewers
BRONZE: Andy Cox – Wilton, CT – Underground Brewers of Connecticut

Category 23: Imperial Porter & Stout
GOLD: Joe Formanek – Bolingbrook, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain
SILVER: Gerad Miller – Dayton, OH – Dayton Regional Amateur Fermentation Technologists
BRONZE: David Zwach – Manassas, VA – Downright Obsessed Homebrewers (DOH)

Category 24: Saison
GOLD: Mark Pennick – Denver, CO – The Brew Crew
SILVER: Magnus Vasilis – Gothenburg, Sweden – Hembryggning Halleluja!
BRONZE: Bradford Berger – Pioneertown, CA – Mojave Desert Brewers Guild

Category 25: Belgian Ale
GOLD: James Allen (with Steve Speth and Heather McCullough) – Highlands Ranch, CO – Rock Hoppers Brew Club
SILVER: Michael Johnson – Salt Lake City, UT
BRONZE: Pete Graham – Fishers, IN – Foam Blowers of Indiana, Inc (FBI)

Category 26: Strong Belgian Ale  
GOLD: Nicholas B Griner – Ayer, MA – Merrimack Valley Homebrew Club
SILVER: Kevin Kiernan – Washington, DC – DC Homebrewers
BRONZE: Guillermo Velasco (with Antonio Aguirre) – Tijuana, BC – Tijuana Homebrew Club

Category 27: European Sour Ale
GOLD: Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain
SILVER: Kris Gould – Hamilton Township, NJ – ALEiens Homebrew Club
BRONZE: Ian Campbell – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective

Category 28: Fruit Beer
GOLD: Josh Willard – Ocala, FL – Brick City Brewers
SILVER: Andy Scherzinger (with Fernando Puga) – Berthoud, CO – Weizguys Homebrew Club
BRONZE: Eric Boyle – Berkley, MI – Royal Oak Area Homebrew Club

Category 29: Spice, Herb & Vegetable Beer
GOLD: Steve Powell – Sioux Falls, SD – Big Sioux Brewing Society
SILVER: Andres Teene – Fort Collins, CO – Liquid Poets
BRONZE: Art Kim – Highland, IN – Illiana Beer Rackers Union (IBRU)

Category 30: Specialty & Seasonal Spiced Beer
GOLD: Douglas Mandic – Denver, CO – Aurora City Brew Club
SILVER: Eli Palma – San Diego, CA – QUAFF
BRONZE: Steven Jones – Fort Collins, CO – Liquid Poets

Category 31: Smoke-Flavored Beer
GOLD: Russell Berger – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective
SILVER: Barry Forrest – Dallas, TX – Horsemen of the Hopocalypse
BRONZE: Matthew Johnsen – Castle Rock, CO – Rock Hoppers Brew Club

Category 32: Wood-Aged Beer
GOLD: Wesley Kulcak (with Megan Kulcak) – El Campo, TX – Bay Area Mashtronauts
SILVER: Doug Brown – San Diego, CA – QUAFF
BRONZE: Robbie Proctor – Pleasant Hill, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

Category 33: American Wild Ale
GOLD: Paul Pitre – Eunice, LA – Redstick Brewmasters
SILVER: Shaun Huggins – Universal City, TX – San Antonio Cerveceros
BRONZE: Kyle Hufford – Santa Barbara, CA

Category 34: Specialty Beer
GOLD: Kenneth Troy Traynham (with Sue Traynham) – Spring Hill, FL – Pour Decisions Home Brew Club
SILVER: Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain
BRONZE: Ben Jankowski – Oyster Bay, NY

Category 35: Traditional Mead
GOLD: Kevin Wagner – Stilwell, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters
SILVER: Shane Kammerer (with Susan Kammerer) – Shawnee, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters
BRONZE: Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain

Category 36: Fruit Mead
GOLD: Allen Martin – Gilbert, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers
SILVER: Kyle Ducharme – Saint Albans, VT – Green Mountain Mashers
BRONZE: Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain

Category 37: Spice Mead
GOLD: Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain
SILVER: Austin Brown – Sterling Heights, MI – Brewers Anonymous
BRONZE: Kyle Ducharme – Saint Albans, VT – Green Mountain Mashers

Category 38: Specialty Mead
GOLD: Kyle Ducharme – Saint Albans, VT – Green Mountain Mashers
SILVER: Kyle Ducharme – Saint Albans, VT – Green Mountain Mashers
BRONZE: Jarrett Long (with Amanda Long) – Arlington, TX – Horsemen of the Hopocalypse

Category 39: Traditional Cider & Perry
GOLD: Jeffrey Carlson – Grand Rapids, MI – PrimeTime Brewers
SILVER: Doug Brown – San Diego, CA – QUAFF
BRONZE: Kristyn Minkoff – Gainesville, FL – Hogtown Brewers

Category 40: Strong & Specialty Cider & Perry
GOLD: Nelson Crowle – Foxfield, CO – Indian Peaks Alers
SILVER: Mark Kunzelmann – St Louis, MO – St. Louis Brews
BRONZE: James Werner – New Berlin, WI – Beer Barons of Milwaukee

Overall AHA Awards
Samuel Adams Ninkasi Award
Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain

Gambrinus Club Award
Portland Brewers Collective – Portland, OR

Homebrew Club of the Year Award
Kansas City Bier Meisters – Kansas City, MO

Homebrewer of the Year
Benjamin Frymark – San Diego, CA – QUAFF

Meadmaker of the Year
Kyle Ducharme – Saint Albans, VT – Green Mountain Mashers

Cidermaker of the Year
Jeffrey Carlson – Grand Rapids, MI – Prime Time Brewers

More about the American Homebrew Association and the U.S. Open Beer Championship
The American Homebrewers Association (AHA), founded in 1978 by Charlie Papazian, has grown into the leading membership organization for homebrewers across the United States, with tens of thousands of members supporting its mission to promote and advance the art and hobby of homebrewing. A division of the Brewers Association, the AHA hosts the National Homebrew Competition, the world’s largest beer competition judged exclusively by style, and its annual Homebrew Con event draws thousands of hobbyist and craft brewers together each year for education, camaraderie, and the exchange of ideas that have shaped the American craft beer movement. That same spirit of homebrewer excellence has long found a home at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, where amateur and professional brewers compete side by side and homebrewers frequently medal against commercial breweries with decades of production experience. Over its 18-year history, the U.S. Open has celebrated countless homebrewers who got their start through AHA-affiliated clubs and competitions, underscoring the vital role the AHA plays in developing the next generation of talent in American brewing.

For Brewing fun fact, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.

From the Garage to the Podium: A History of Homebrewers Who Medaled at the U.S. Open Beer Championship

Every year since 2009, thousands of beers from professional breweries around the world pour into the U.S. Open Beer Championship for blind judging. But there’s a twist that sets the U.S. Open apart from nearly every other major beer competition: it’s the only major championship that invites gold-medal-winning homebrewers from the American Homebrewers Association’s National Homebrew Competition to enter their beers against the pros — same categories, same blind judging, no special treatment.

Since the competition’s founding in 2009, dozens of homebrewers have taken that invitation and walked away with medals, occasionally even gold, standing shoulder to shoulder with breweries that have full-time brewers, commercial equipment, and years of production experience. Here’s a look back at every homebrewer who’s medaled at the U.S. Open over the years.

The Full Medal Roll

2009

• Gold, Strong Scottish Ale — Phil Ferrall (Cumming, GA), The Next to Last King of Scotland
• Bronze, Specialty/Anything Goes — Kevin Cosentino, Kevin’s Wild Ale

2010

• Bronze, ESB — Jimmy Vervaecke, Pub Ale
• Bronze, English Brown Ale — Jake Ocque & Tom Ocque, Mutter 5

2011

• Silver, English Pale Ale — Matt Tucker & Jake Tucker (Oviedo, FL), Pale Ale
• Bronze, Rye/Roggen — Stacy Myers, Horseman of the Hopocalypse
• Bronze, French/Belgian Ale — Phil Sullivan, Sully’s Belgian Blonde

2012

• Gold, Barley Wine — Michael Habrat, Chris Bartik, Brett Goldstock & Suzy Pessutti (San Diego, CA), Nevral Rust
• Silver, German Alt — Kent Shultz, Alt
• Bronze, ESB — David Motter, Crown Jewels ESB

2013

• Silver, German Lager/Pilsener — Gautam Bagchi (Ohio), Barky Pilsner
• Bronze, American IPA — Kelsey McNair, Hop-Fu! IPA
• Bronze, German Alt — Mark Girard, Ctrl+Alt+Delete
• Bronze, Herb and Spice Beer — Andrew Mitchell, Hibiscus Saison

2014

• Silver, Altbier — Jeffrey Jantz (Albuquerque, NM), Rauch Katze
• Bronze, Schwarzbier — Jeff Lewis (Hilliard, OH), Brandy’s Black Lab Lager

2015

• Silver, German Wheat — Scott Hixson (Mississippi), YYY’s Man Says
• Bronze, Marzen/Oktoberfest — Nick Rodammer (Michigan), Rodtoberfest
• Bronze, Spice Cider — Jeff Carlson (Michigan), Westside Sweet Heat

2016

• No homebrewer medalists recorded.

2017

• Silver, American Amber/California Common — Keith Eisel (North Carolina), Dream Steam
• Bronze, American Light — Derrick Flippin (North Carolina), Pinky Restraint
• Bronze, Vienna — Derrick Flippin (North Carolina), Thanks for the Decoction Pot

2018

• Silver, Imperial IPA — Randy Sauter (South Dakota), Double IPA
• Silver, American Stout — David Byer (North Carolina), Session RIS

2019

• Bronze, English Barley Wine Ale — David Byer & John O’Brien (Hot Springs, NC), Don’t Swallow the Cap

2020

• Bronze, Baltic-Style Porter — Justin McClenahan (Silver Spring, MD), Odin’s Beard

2021

• No homebrewers competed — the AHA’s National Homebrew Competition was canceled that year due to COVID-19, leaving no gold-medal homebrews eligible to enter.

2022

• Gold, American Wheat — Caleb Meinke (Cambridge, WI), Willow Run
• Bronze, Heller Bock/Maibock — Jeff Klatt, Perfidious Bock

2023

• Silver, French/Belgian Ale (Belgian Session Ale) — Joseph Belevender (Warren, MI), North Biere
• Silver, Light Lager — Caleb Meinke (Cambridge, WI), Len’s Light Lager
• Bronze, American Barley Wine — Alex Cigan (Brooklyn, NY), Contrived Spontaneity

2024

• Gold, Brut IPA — Christopher Burgess (Castle Rock, CO), Like Falling Off a Bike
• Gold, Strong Scottish Ale — Lucas Orr (San Diego, CA), Kilt Dropper
• Bronze, Belgian Pale Ale — Mark Kunzelmann (St. Louis, MO), Belgian Pale Ale

2025

• Gold, Historical Beer — LaVaughn Barker (Wisconsin), Sheba’s Nectar

2026

• Gold, American Lager — Wayne Doucette (Big Lake, MN), Lynn’s Lager
• Gold, English Barley Wine Ale — Joe Skiles (Carol Stream, IL), Calculating Infinity

A Few Standouts

Caleb Meinke of Cambridge, Wisconsin has quietly built one of the best track records of any homebrewer at the U.S. Open, medaling in three separate years — 2022, 2023 (twice, in different categories the same year), making him one of the most decorated homebrewers in the competition’s history.

David Byer of North Carolina also medaled multiple times, first solo in the American Stout category in 2018, then teaming up with fellow homebrewer John O’Brien for a bronze in English Barley Wine Ale the following year.

2024 stands out as a banner year for homebrewers, with two gold medals awarded to homebrewed beers — Christopher Burgess’s Brut IPA and Lucas Orr’s Strong Scottish Ale — tying the U.S. Open’s single-year record for homebrewer medals.

Why It Matters

The U.S. Open’s decision to let homebrewers compete against professional breweries isn’t just a nice gesture — it’s a genuine test. These aren’t novice recipes; every homebrewer on this list had already won gold at the AHA’s National Homebrew Competition, the most competitive amateur brewing contest in the country, before ever setting foot in the U.S. Open’s blind judging room. Standing toe-to-toe with commercial breweries and walking away with a medal is proof that great beer really can come from anywhere — including a five-gallon carboy in someone’s garage.

For Brewing fun fact, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.

If the words “beer” and “championship” belong in the same sentence anywhere in America, it’s here. The U.S. Open Beer Championship isn’t just another medal ceremony with a folding table and a box of ribbons — it’s the third-largest beer competition in the country, judging beer across more than 180 categories and subcategories, with entries pouring in from breweries as far-flung as Alaskan Brewing in Juneau and Damm Brewing all the way from Barcelona, Spain.

Started in 2009, the competition was founded by the former owners, brewers, and directors of Friends Brewing, including Dow Scoggins, Jon Downing, and Rick Roberts, and has spent nearly two decades growing into one of the most respected — and most delightfully chaotic — beer judgings in the world. Over 140 (now 180+) styles get judged every year, medals are shaped like little beer steins, and the whole thing wraps up every July with a Grand National Champion crowned based on total medal points across the field.

Who Took Home the Big Trophy in 2026?
This year’s Grand National Champion is Third Eye Brewing of Hamilton, Ohio, and they didn’t just win — they made history doing it. Third Eye hauled in five gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, for nine total medals, tying the all-time record for most medals won by a single brewery in one year (a mark set by Maui Brewing back in 1990). Their five golds also set a brand-new record for most gold medals won by one brewery in a single competition. This is Third Eye’s second Grand National Champion title in the competition’s 18-year history.

Their gold medal lineup reads like a greatest-hits album:
Mocha Operandi – Breakfast Stout
Double Astral – Chocolate Beer
Unleashed Potential – Coffee Beer
Kelly’s Private Stash Barley Wine – took gold in two separate barleywine subcategories

Rounding out the podium: River North Brewery of Denver, Colorado took second place with four golds (including the deliciously named “Bucket of Bolts” strong ale and “Nightmare Fuel” dark coffee beer), and Feather Falls Brewing of Oroville, California — yes, the brewery attached to a casino — grabbed third with four golds of its own, including an imperial porter called “Angry Mama Bear.”

Breweries of the Year, by Size Class
Because a 200-barrel nano-brewery and a 20,000-barrel regional powerhouse aren’t exactly playing the same game, the U.S. Open also crowns Brewery of the Year across seven output tiers:
0–250 barrels: Sandy Springs Brewing Co, Ohio
251–500 barrels: Forgotten Road Ales, North Carolina
501–1,000 barrels: Wild Heart Brewing Co, South Carolina
1,001–2,000 barrels: River North Brewery, Colorado
2,001–5,000 barrels: Third Eye Brewing, Ohio
5,001–15,000 barrels: Altstadt Brewery, Texas
15,000+ barrels: Alvarado Street Brewery, California

Ohio’s Big Moment
Ohio beer fans have plenty to celebrate this year. Not only did Third Eye Brewing take the top overall prize, but Ohio breweries like Rhinegeist, Masthead, Municipal Brew Works, Streetside Brewery, and Southern Ohio Brewing all picked up gold medals across categories ranging from American IPA to Irish Dry Stout to American Black Ale. For a state that doesn’t always get top billing in national craft beer conversations, that’s a serious flex.

The Funniest Beer Names of the Year
Every year, U.S. Open judges unofficially rank entries by a very scientific metric: laughter volume. This year’s top contenders for funniest name include a North Carolina IPA called “Middle Finger to Monday,” an Ohio brew titled “Beaver on a Big Wheel IPA,” and an Oklahoma City lager that goes by “The Spanish Word for Mango is Mango.” Honorable mention goes to Ohio’s own Narrow Path Brewing for “Ghost Railroad IPA,” which, if you ask us, sounds like it belongs on the side of a caboose.

Top 10 funniest names were:
1. Middle Finger to Monday IPA — Bright Penny Brewing (North Carolina)
2. Beaver on a Big Wheel IPA — Southern Ohio Brewing (Ohio)
3. Tarty to the Party Marion Sour Ale — Wild Ride Brew (Oregon)
4. Yaba Daba Brew! — Three Blondes Brewing (Michigan)
5. The Spanish Word for Mango is Mango – Flix Brewhouse – OK City(Oklahoma)
6. Effed Up Quad – River North Brewery(Colorado)
7. Hop Drop n’ Roll IPA — NoDa Brewing Company (North Carolina)
8. Creamy Fookin’ Pints – Liquid Mechanics Brewing(Colorado)
9. Mermaid Milk Stout — Marker 48 Brewing (Florida)
10. Skool House Bock — Moontown Brewing (Indiana)
10. George Sloshington Pilsner – Mutation Brewing(Georgia)

Honorable Mention(My son, Cameron’s Favorite)
Ghost Railroad IPA — Narrow Path Brewing (Ohio)

A Category for Every Kind of Beer Drinker
What makes the U.S. Open stand out from other big-name competitions is sheer category breadth. This isn’t just IPAs and stouts — although there’s plenty of both. Judges this year sorted through everything from Mexican-style lagers and Baltic porters to gluten-free beers, tea beers, peanut beers, and even a dedicated kids’ and adults’ root beer category. The competition also keeps adding new categories as trends shift: Rice Lager debuted in 2026 after judges noticed a wave of rice-lager entries crowding the International Pilsner category, following the introduction of Imperial Hazy IPAs, Barrel-Aged German Lagers, and Near Gluten-Free beers in recent years.

Pink Boots Blend Category
There’s also a category with real heart behind it: the Pink Boots Blend Category, brewed using a special hop blend created by the Pink Boots Society and Yakima Chief Hops. This year’s gold went to Project Halo Brewing of Fulshear, Texas, for their Maverick Imperial Hazy IPA. Every entry fee in the category gets matched by the U.S. Open and donated to the Pink Boots Society Scholarship Fund, which supports women and non-binary professionals in the fermentation industry — over $12,000 raised through the category so far.

We have 8 judging tables for 32 judges. Click the picture to the U.S. Open live.

Welcome to “The Barn”
All those thousands of entries have to go somewhere, and that somewhere is The Barn — the U.S. Open’s home base and event center in Oxford, Ohio. It’s a converted 5,000-square-foot Amish agricultural barn that Scoggins transformed into a full-blown competition headquarters, complete with two 420-square-foot coolers to keep thousands of entries at the right temperature, a nano brewery, and a dedicated whiskey office for the U.S. Open’s spirits judging. Tucked into the property is also a six-hole putt-putt course built for special needs kids to have a place to play, including Scoggins’ own son, Cameron. It’s the kind of detail that sums up the whole operation: a serious, third-largest-in-the-country beer competition that still runs on volunteers, pizza, and a genuine sense of community.

The ALS Beer Bucket Challenge
Every beer competition ends up with leftover product — cases and cases of cold beer that’s already been poured, sampled, and judged, with nowhere left to go. Founder Dow Scoggins turned that leftover beer into a cause: the ALS Beer Bucket Challenge, a riff on the viral Ice Bucket Challenge that swaps ice water for coolers and buckets of the competition’s leftover cold beer. The U.S. Open donates a portion of its competition proceeds to the ALS Foundation, and as part of the challenge, it’s calling out the other major beer competitions in the country — the Great American Beer Festival, the World Beer Cup, and the New York State Craft Beer Competition — to step up and match the effort.
It’s a fittingly irreverent, big-hearted move from a competition that got its start on pizza money and a brewer’s flight from Canada: put the extra beer to work for a cause instead of pouring it down the drain.

Why It Matters (Beyond Bragging Rights)
For breweries, a U.S. Open medal is more than a shiny sticker for the taproom window — it’s a data point judged blind, style-by-style, by trained beer judges evaluating aroma, appearance, flavor, and overall balance against the official style guidelines. For drinkers, the medal list doubles as a shopping list: if you’re standing in a bottle shop wondering what to grab, “gold medal winner, U.S. Open Beer Championship” is about as reliable a signal as you’ll find on a six-pack.

So next time you crack open a cold one, take a second to check the label. There’s a decent chance it already has a stein-shaped medal to its name.

For Brewing fun fact, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.

 The world’s most prestigious beer competition, the World Beer Cup, concluded its milestone 30th anniversary edition yesterday, honoring the finest beers and ciders from breweries and cideries across the globe. Organized by the Brewers Association, this year’s event showcased unparalleled technical mastery, bold creativity, and a shared passion for craft that continues to elevate the global beer community.

Held in conjunction with the Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America® at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the 2026 World Beer Cup  judged entries across 118 categories, awarding a total of 353 medals to 273 producers from around the world. Judges evaluated beers and ciders on flavor, aroma, appearance, and overall harmony, upholding the highest standards of excellence that have defined the competition since its founding in 1996.

“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. “This year’s winners demonstrated that innovation, precision, and passion for craft are stronger than ever, even as the industry continues to evolve.”

Highlights from the 2026 World Beer Cup 
– Global Representation: Entries from dozens of countries highlighted the diversity of brewing traditions, from classic lagers and IPAs to experimental styles and gluten-free innovations.
– Medal-Worthy Standouts: Gold, silver, and bronze medals recognized top performers in categories ranging from American Light Lager to Belgian-Style Witbier and beyond. Full results, including category winners, are available on the official World Beer Cup website.
– Milestone Celebration: Marking three decades, the competition reinforced its role as the ultimate benchmark for brewing excellence, inspiring brewers to push boundaries while honoring time-tested techniques.

The awards ceremony, held on April 22, 2026, was livestreamed by The Brewing Network, allowing beer enthusiasts worldwide to join the celebration virtually.
Watch Here!

2026 World Beer Cup Medal Winners
Category: 1: American-Style Wheat Beer
Gold: Silk Ale White – Spring Valley Brewery – Japan
Silver: Lunar Fallout – Tilted Axis Brewing Co. – Michigan
Bronze: Summerfield Wheat – Grand Fir Brewing – Oregon

Category: 2: Fruit Beer
Gold: Yuzu Lager – Market Garden Craft Brewery – Ohio
Silver: Lime Drop – Wicked Weed Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Aqua Fresca – Los Dos Potrillos Cervecería – Parker – Colorado

Category: 3: Fruit Wheat Beer
Gold: Raspberry Rush – Armored Cow Brewing Co. – North Carolina
Silver: Scent of a Lesser Stag – BabyCat Brewery – Maryland
Bronze: Key Lime Pie in the Sky – The Sandlot Brewery – Coors Field – Colorado

Category: 4: Field Beer
Gold: Green Bean Paste Wheat Beer – Peiping Machine Brewing – China
Silver: UPP Yours – UPP Liquids – Oregon
Bronze: Double Astral w/ Coconut – Third Eye Brewing Co. – Ohio

Category: 5: Pumpkin/Squash or Pumpkin Spice Beer
Gold: Pumpkin Ale – 2 Silos Brewing Co. – Virginia
Silver: Pumpkin Spice J. Marie – River North Brewery – Colorado
Bronze: Barrel Aged Double Zombies – New Trail Brewing Co. – Pennsylvania

Category: 6: Chili Beer
Gold: Ay Dios Mios! – Silver Reef Brewing Co. – Utah
Silver: Pyros Prost – Hop Dogma Brewing Co. – California
Bronze: El Poblano Borracho – Liquid Mechanics Brewing – Colorado

Category: 7: Herb and Spice Beer
Gold: Sansho Lager – Craftrock Brewing – Japan
Silver: A Date In Jotenheim – Bullfinch Brewpub – New York
Bronze: Hecho En Szechuan – Pinhouse Brewing – Texas

Category: 8: Tea Beer
Gold: Helper Beer Archaic Forrest – Helper Beer – Utah
Silver: Ceylon Black Tea Beer – NBeer Craft Brewing Co. – China
Bronze: Breakside White Tea Lager – Breakside Brewery – Oregon

Category: 9: Chocolate Beer
Gold: Viator Obscura: Triple Chocolate – Wandering Monsters Brewing Co. – Ohio
Silver: Whistler Winter Dunkel – Whistler Brewing Co. – Canada
Bronze: Cocoa Cow – Sunriver Brewing Co. – Oregon

Category: 10: Coffee Beer
Gold: Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun – River North Brewery – Colorado
Silver: Stay Calm – East Village Brewing Co. – California
Bronze: Golden Stout – Karl Strauss Brewing Co. – California

Category: 11: Coffee Stout or Porter
Gold: Kaffe Americano – Urban Roots Brewing – California
Silver: Espresso Hello Darkness – River North Brewery – Colorado
Bronze: Lil Zoomie – Brink Brewing Co. – Ohio

Category: 12: Dessert or Pastry Beer
Gold: Coconut Mafia – Parlay 6 Brewing Co. – Nevada
Silver: Kauai Pie – Bull & Bush Brewery – Colorado
Bronze: 10W-40 Coconut Candy Bar – Hi-Wire Brewing Co. – North Carolina

Category: 13: Rye Beer
Gold: Roggenschnizzle – Bier Brewery and Taproom – Indiana
Silver: Steamy Wonder – Proper Brewing Co. – Utah
Bronze: Howdyfest – Lago Vista Brewing Co. – Texas

Category: 14: Honey Beer
Gold: BEE-ginning – The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. – Texas
Silver: Hachimitsu Mai – Deschutes Brewery – PDX Pub – Oregon
Bronze: Animals Strike Curious Poses – The Empourium Brewing Co. – Colorado

Category: 15: Classic Non-Alcohol Ale or Lager
Gold: Non-Alcohol Weissbier – Fresh Beer 30 Kilometres – China
Silver: Švyturys Ekstra Non Alko – Švyturys – Utenos alus – Lithuania
Bronze: NA Dark – Fremont Brewing – Washington

Category: 16: Hoppy Non-Alcohol Beer
Gold: Mash Gang ‘Chug’ Hazy IPA – Mash Gang – United Kingdom
Silver: Zero Eddy – Big Grove Brewery – Iowa
Bronze: Space Camper Low Gravity IPA – Boulevard Brewing Co. – Missouri

Category: 17: Specialty Non-Alcohol Beer
Gold: Tripel Karmeliet Alcohol Free – Brouwerij Bosteels – Belgium
Silver: Nobody’s Gonna Know – Go Brewing – Illinois
Bronze: New School – Go Brewing – Illinois

Category: 18: Session Beer
Gold: Lighthouse – Nara Brewing Co. – Japan
Silver: Guillaume – Pizza Port Ocean Beach – California
Bronze: Petite Saison – Third Window Brewing Co. – California

Category: 19: Session India Pale Ale
Gold: Which Way – BKS Artisan Ales – Missouri
Silver: Breakside Total Entertainment Forever – Breakside Brewery – Oregon
Bronze: Josh’s Lil’ Shoes – Green Cheek Beer Co. – California

Category: 20: Strong Porter
Gold: Dark Skies Baltic Porter – Forgotten Star Brewing Co. – Minnesota
Silver: Lodge Life – Hobbs Brewing Co. – New Hampshire
Bronze: Battle Axe – Fat Heads Brewery – Ohio

Category: 21: Other Strong Beer
Gold: Inferno – The Lost Abbey – California
Silver: Jeremiah Red – BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery – Temple – Texas
Bronze: East County Fine Malt Liquor – The Post Brewing Co. – Colorado

Category: 22: Experimental Beer
Gold: Catharina Sour Caju Pytang – Caju & Pitanga – Cervejaria UNIKA – Brazil
Silver: Karo Ya Maro – Terranaut Beer – Oregon
Bronze: House Red – Odd Bird Brewing – New Jersey

Category: 23: Experimental India Pale Ale
Gold: Flint – Bighand Bros. Brewery – Japan
Silver: Escaping Gravity – Roadhouse Brewing – Wyoming
Bronze: Conix Brut IPA – Repubrew – Japan

Category: 24: Historical Beer
Gold: Kaptain Lisa – Cervejaria Stannis – Brazil
Silver: Steam Engine – Adams Street Brewery – Illinois
Bronze: Burton Reynolds – Subculture Artisan Ales – New Jersey

Category: 25: Gluten-Free Beer
Gold: It Came From the Haze – Ghostfish Brewing – Washington
Silver: Rum Smuggler Barrel Aged Imperial Stout – TWOBAYS Brewing Co. – Australia
Bronze: Guava Sour – Orange Bike Brewing Co. – Maine

Category: 26: American-Belgo-Style Ale
Gold: Function – Nara Brewing Co. – Japan
Silver: Sandy Dunes – River Bluff Brewing – Missouri
Bronze: Dear You – Ratio Beerworks – Colorado

Category: 27: American-Style Sour or Wood & Barrel Aged Sour Beer
Gold: Engeltjes Pis – Garage Project – New Zealand
Silver: Emergency Tequila Barrel Aged Tart Kit – Sun King Brewery – Indiana
Bronze: Gin Barrel Sour Red – Stodgy Brewing Co. – Colorado

Category: 28: Fruited American-Style Sour Ale
Gold: Howzit Punch – Alvarado Street Brewery – California
Silver: Friek – Odell Brewing Co. – Colorado
Bronze: Dominga Grapefruit Paloma – New Belgium Brewing Co. – Colorado

Category: 29: Brett Beer
Gold: Pear Saison – Firestone Walker Brewing – Barrelworks – California
Silver: Jong – Brasserie Spontanerie – France
Bronze: Belle Saison – Third Window Brewing Co. – California

Category: 30: Mixed-Culture Brett Beer
Gold: Operis – Four Winds Brewing Co. – Canada
Silver: Twig – Lost Forty Brewery – Arkansas
Bronze: Red Solera – Cerveza 7 Vidas – Peru

Category: 31: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer
Gold: Ghoul Fuel – Rum Diaries Edition – Bull & Bush Brewery – Colorado
Silver: Night Trekker Baltic Porter – Aquavit Barrel Aged – Canal Park Brewing Co. – Minnesota
Bronze: Sensationator – Deschutes Brewery – PDX Pub – Oregon

Category: 32: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer
Gold: Terminus 2026 – Daoravida Brewpub – Brazil
Silver: Whiskey Throttle – Jackknife Brewing – Canada
Bronze: Bourbon Barrel Quad – Boulevard Brewing Co. – Missouri

Category: 33: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout
Gold: Demons Run 2025 Reserve – Urban Roots Brewing – California
Silver: Paradoja Nocturna – Okcidenta – New Mexico
Bronze: Eclipse 2025 Garrison Brothers – FiftyFifty Brewing Co. – California

Category: 34: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Dessert or Pastry Beer
Gold: 2025 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout – Goose Island Beer Co. – Illinois
Silver: Barrel-Aged Kelly’s Private Stash (Ferd’s Addition) – Third Eye Brewing Co. – Ohio
Bronze: Beauty Everywhere – Firestone Walker Brewing – Barrelworks – California

Category: 35: Fruited Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer
Gold: Virtue of Patience – Bold Monk Brewing Co. – Georgia
Silver: AJB Cassis Barrel – Anglo Japanese Brewing Co. – Japan
Bronze: Frutas Vermelhas 277 – Wood Aged – 277 Craft Beer – Brazil

Category: 36: Kellerbier or Zwickelbier
Gold: Kellerbier – pFriem Family Brewers – Oregon
Silver: Desítka – Pivovar Matuška – Czech Republic
Bronze: Pleasing Tony Italian Pilsner – Little Brother Brewing – North Carolina

Category: 37: Smoke Beer
Gold: Dawdle #2 – Cold Bear Brewing Co. – Canada
Silver: Drudenhaus – Counter Weight Brewing Co. – Connecticut
Bronze: Smokehaus Lager – Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows – Virginia

Category: 38: International Light Lager
Gold: Kirin Light – Kirin Brewery – Colorado
Silver: Day Drinker Light Lager – Pedal Haus Brewery – Arizona
Bronze: Friendly Lager – Shaketown Brewing – Canada

Category: 39: International-Style Pilsener
Gold: Birkebeinerpils – Victor 23 Brewing – Washington
Silver: Kamakura – Ketch Brewing – California
Bronze: Velvet Glow – Russian River Brewing Co. – California

Category: 40: Rice Lager
Gold: Exquisite Taste – Cloudburst Brewing – Washington
Silver: Kanpai Krush – Breweryard Beer Co. – California
Bronze: Japanese Lager – pFriem Family Brewers – Oregon

Category: 41: Hoppy Lager
Gold: High & Fine – Fieldwork Brewing Co. – California
Silver: Rancho Cowabunga – Grains of Wrath Brewing – Washington
Bronze: Modern IPA – Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers – Massachusetts

Category: 42: Italian-Style Pilsener
Gold: Breakside It’s A Me Mariol – Breakside Brewery – Oregon
Silver: Now That’s A Sandwich – Vault 202 Brewery & Taproom – Wisconsin
Bronze: Wassah Matta U – Synth Beer Co. – California

Category: 43: German-Style Pilsener
Gold: 801 Pilsner – Uinta Brewing Co. – Utah
Silver: Southern German Style Pilsener – Craft Beer Base – Japan
Bronze: Pilsner – Hop Dogma Brewing Co. – California

Category: 44: Czech-Style Pale Lager
Gold: Lockport Lager – New York Beer Project – New York
Silver: Dvanactka – Pivovar Matuška – Czech Republic
Bronze: Chuckanut Pilsner – Chuckanut Brewery – Washington

Category: 45: Munich-Style Helles
Gold: Wander Back Lager – Wander Back Beerworks – New Jersey
Silver: Lager – Noble Twist – Michigan
Bronze: Kirkland Signature Helles Lager – Deschutes Brewery – Oregon

Category: 46: Dortmunder/Export or German-Style Oktoberfest
Gold: Used 8 Track – Discourse Brewing – Kansas
Silver: Guldkanlan – Spendrups Bryggeri – Sweden
Bronze: Munder – She Wrote – Ex Novo Brewing – New Mexico

Category: 47: Vienna-Style Lager
Gold: Friends & Neighbors – North Park Beer Co. – California
Silver: Greif Schlöbberla – Brauerei Greif – Germany
Bronze: Danish Red Lager – Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. – California

Category: 48: International Amber Lager
Gold: Harvest Moon – Tellico Brewing Co. – Tennessee
Silver: Yinz Jawn Pennsylvania Lager – Lucky Envelope Brewing – Washington
Bronze: Czech Amber – Field Day Brewing Co. – Iowa

Category: 49: Munich-Style Dunkel
Gold: Bru Ski Patrol – Dru Bru – Washington
Silver: Chuckanut Dunkel Lager – Chuckanut Brewery – Washington
Bronze: The Dark – BarrieHaus Beer Co. – Florida

Category: 50: German-Style Schwarzbier
Gold: Fables Overturned – Wild Yarrow Brewing – South Carolina
Silver: Tamno Pivo – Side Project Brewing – Missouri
Bronze: Tank Top & Schwartz – Burgeon Beer Co. – California

Category: 51: International Dark Lager
Gold: Common Nightjar – Attic Brewing Co. – Pennsylvania
Silver: Secret Secret – Wayfinder Beer – Oregon
Bronze: Tarboroughhaus – Tarboro Brewing Co. – North Carolina

Category: 52: German-Style Bock or Maibock
Gold: Lock’d – Bock’d – & Ready to Rock – Morgan Territory Brewing – California
Silver: Bärenbräu Bock – Peculier – Colorado
Bronze: Altstadt Bock – Altstadt Brewery – Texas

Category: 53: German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock
Gold: Eisbock – Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub – Minnesota
Silver: Doppelbock – Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub – Minnesota
Bronze: Gilbert & Olivator – Moontown Brewing Co. – Indiana

Category: 54: American Light Lager
Gold: Transmission Light – Transmission Brewing – California
Silver: Clubhaus Lager – Von Ebert Brewing – Oregon
Bronze: Kick Back – Goose Island Beer Co. – Illinois

Category: 55: Mexican-Style Light Lager
Gold: Cultura Cerveza – Ogden Beer Co. – Utah
Silver: Nueve Grados – Riip Beer Co. – California
Bronze: Texian – 3 Nations Brewing – Texas

Category: 56: American-Style Lager
Gold: Floyds Deluxe – Three Floyds Brewing – Indiana
Silver: Salva Vida – Cerveceria Hondurena – Honduras
Bronze: Shiner Premium – Spoetzl Brewery – Texas

Category: 57: Contemporary American-Style Lager
Gold: Adams Pilsner – Single Hill Brewing Co. – Washington
Silver: Crisp – New Trail Brewing Co. – Pennsylvania
Bronze: Gold Leaf Lager – Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows – Virginia

Category: 58: American-Style Pilsener
Gold: Bullpen Pilsner – Atlas Brew Works – District of Columbia
Silver: Pea Island Park Pilsner – Swells’a Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Double Elbow – Tonks Tuesday Pils – Little Thistle Brewing – Minnesota

Category: 59: West Coast-Style Pilsener
Gold: Long Time Sunshine – Cloudburst Brewing – Washington
Silver: Cold Cutz – Grand Fir Brewing – Oregon
Bronze: Uchu Pils – Uchu Brewing – Japan

Category: 60: Mexican-Style Pale Lager
Gold: Saca La Bolsita – Villains Brewing Co. – California
Silver: Abrazo – Mexican Lager – Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co. – Canada
Bronze: Mexican Lager – Lone Tree Brewing Co. – Colorado

Category: 61: American-Style Cream Ale
Gold: 4 the Ward – Resurgence Brewing – New York
Silver: Snap Shot – Morgan Territory Brewing – California
Bronze: Was Angeles Premium American Lager – Uinta Brewing Co. – Utah

Category: 62: American-Style Amber Lager
Gold: Just Like Himmel – New Ridge Brewing Co. – Pennsylvania
Silver: Hojun Lager 496 – Spring Valley Brewery – Japan
Bronze: California Common – Institution Ale Co. – California

Category: 63: Australian-Style Pale Ale
Gold: Breakside Hello My Alien – Breakside Brewery – Oregon
Silver: Little Mac – Hideaway Park Brewery – Colorado
Bronze: Dragontail – Icicle Brewing Co. – Washington

Category: 64: International Pale Ale
Gold: Breakside Bayside – Breakside Brewery – Oregon
Silver: Stomp – Sunriver Brewing Co. – Oregon
Bronze: Sunset Sessions – Barebottle Brewing Co. – California

Category: 65: New Zealand-Style India Pale Ale
Gold: Westland – BKS Artisan Ales – Missouri
Silver: Chepedelic – ISM Brewing – California
Bronze: Wannabe Wallaby – Rip Beer Co. – California

Category: 66: Barley Wine-Style Ale
Gold: Three Ryes Men – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
Silver: Grow Old With You – Verboten Brewing – Colorado
Bronze: A Story About Everything – Monday Night Brewing – Georgia

Category: 67: German-Style Koelsch
Gold: Chuckanut Kölsch – Chuckanut Brewery – Washington
Silver: Kolsch – Standard Deviant Brewing – California
Bronze: Balbilla – Caius Farm Brewery – Connecticut

Category: 68: Gose
Gold: Aloha State of Mind – Cova Brewing Co. – Virginia
Silver: The Famous Gose – Morango E Pitanga – Cervejaria UNIKÁ – Brazil
Bronze: Frutabomba – Cruz Blanca Brewpub – Illinois

Category: 69: Berliner-Style Weisse
Gold: Victory Brewing Company Sunny Monkey – Brewers at 4001 Yancey – North Carolina
Silver: Disco Lemonade – Aslan Brewing Co. – Washington
Bronze: Cactus Juice – 12Degree Brewing – Colorado

Category: 70: South German-Style Weissbier
Gold: Windansea Wheat – Karl Strauss Brewing Co. – California
Silver: Weihenstephaner Kristallweissbier – Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan – Germany
Bronze: Goggle Fogger – Fat Heads Brewery – Ohio

Category: 71: South German-Style Dunkel Weizen
Gold: Dark N’ Curvy – Piece Brewery – Illinois
Silver: Hidden Gem – OB Brewery – California
Bronze: Kuchlbauer Alte Liebe – Brauerei zum Kuchlbauer – Germany

Category: 72: South German-Style Weizenbock
Gold: Weihenstephaner Vitus – Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan – Germany
Silver: Ladenburger Weizenbock Hell – Brauerei Ladenburger – Germany
Bronze: Kuchlbauer Aloysius – Brauerei zum Kuchlbauer – Germany

Category: 73: German-Style Altbier
Gold: Archive: Allegheny Altbier – Cinderlands Beer Co. – Pennsylvania
Silver: Lithium – Resonate Brewery – Washington
Bronze: ALteration – Mountain Layers Brewing Co. – North Carolina

Category: 75: Belgian-Style Witbier
Gold: Allagash White – Allagash Brewing Co. – Maine
Silver: La Trappe Witte Trappist – Bierbrouwerij de Koningshoeven – Netherlands

Category: 76: Classic Saison
Gold: Summer Wild Saison – JING-A – China
Silver: Saison For Papa – Green Cheek Beer Co. – Costa Mesa – California
Bronze: Valour – Tooth and Nail Brewing Co. – Canada

Category: 77: Specialty Saison
Gold: Foxfield Saison – Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows – Virginia
Silver: Petit MC – Monday Night Brewing – Georgia
Bronze: Chakabuki – Yamorido – Japan

Category: 78: Belgian-Style Flanders Oud Bruin or Oud Red Ale
Gold: De Rode Duivels – Elliott Bay Brewing Co. – Washington
Silver: Rodenbach Vintage – Swinkels Belgium – Belgium
Bronze: Flanders Red – Cerveza 7 Vidas – Peru

Category: 79: Belgian-Style Spontaneous Sour Ale
Gold: Spontanée – pFriem – Cascade Locks Barrel House – Oregon
Silver: Chance – Luck and Magic 2020 – Garage Project – New Zealand
Bronze: Spontaneous Manifesto 2024 – Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Co. – Canada

Category: 80: Belgian-Style Blonde Ale
Gold: Feral Garden Gnome – Liability Brewing Co. – South Carolina
Silver: Jedburgh – Longtab Brewing – Texas
Bronze: Nenette – Kern River Brewing Co. – California

Category: 81: Belgian-Style Dubbel
Gold: Deduction – Taxman Brewing Co. – Indiana
Silver: Dedication – Vintage Brewing Co. – Wisconsin
Bronze: Maudite – Unibroue – Canada

Category: 82: Belgian-Style Tripel
Gold: Templin Family Albion Tripple – Templin Family Brewing – Utah
Silver: Trippel – New Belgium Brewing Co. – Colorado
Bronze: La Fin du Monde – Unibroue – Canada

Category: 83: Belgian-Style Quadrupel
Gold: Quad Bless Your Heart – The Southern Growl Beer Co. – South Carolina
Silver: Pour Pour Pitiful Me – Monkless Belgian Ales – Oregon
Bronze: La Trappe Quadrupel – Bierbrouwerij de Koningshoeven – Netherlands

Category: 84: Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale
Gold: Trois Pistoles – Unibroue – Canada
Silver: Urbrew Adventure Strong Ale – Urbrew – China
Bronze: Allagash Ski House – Allagash Brewing Co. – Maine

Category: 85: Belgian-Style Fruit Beer
Gold: Handgepluckte Kriek – AleSmith Brewing Co. – California
Silver: Criolla – Bichofeo Brewing Co – Argentina
Bronze: Torrontés – Bichofeo Brewing Co – Argentina

Category: 86: English Mild or Bitter
Gold: Trafford Ale – Arlington Brewing Co. – Massachusetts
Silver: Uncle – Rhinegeist Innovation Brewery – Ohio
Bronze: Compensation – Lion Bridge Brewing Co. – Iowa

Category: 87: English-Style Pale Ale
Gold: True Blonde – Ska Brewing – Colorado
Silver: Mosaic – Instution Ale Co. – California
Bronze: Famous Fanny – Worthy Brewing – Oregon

Category: 88: English-Style Brown Ale
Gold: Backcountry – Lewis & Clark Brewing Co. – Montana
Silver: Nut Brown Ale – Blackstone Brewing Co. – Tennessee
Bronze: Before the Break – Worthy Brewing – Oregon

Category: 89: Brown Porter
Gold: Nolan’s Porter – Barrio Brewing Co. – Arizona
Silver: St. Charles Porter – Blackstone Brewing Co. – Tennessee
Bronze: London Porter – New Ridge Brewing Co. – Pennsylvania

Category: 90: Robust Porter
Gold: Oaty McOatface – East Village Brewing Co. – California
Silver: Captain Doug’s Porter – MudHen Brewing Co. – New Jersey
Bronze: Dark Portal – Blue Point – New York

Category: 91: Sweet Stout or Cream Stout
Gold: Moozie – Brink Brewing Co. – Ohio
Silver: Higher Purpose – Third Eye Brewing Co. – Ohio
Bronze: Irish Prenup – Barley Naked Brewing Co. – Virginia

Category: 92: Oatmeal Stout
Gold: Voided – Counter Weight Brewing Co. – Connecticut
Silver: Event Horizon – SPACECRAFT Brewing Co. – Thailand
Bronze: Oats – Pizza Port Solana Beach – California

Category: 93: British-Style Imperial Stout
Gold: 15th Anniversary – Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. – California
Silver: Reduction Ratio – UPP Liquids – Oregon
Bronze: Touch of Chaos – Formula Brewing – Washington

Category: 94: Old Ale, Strong Ale or Aged Beer
Gold: Forest Hills – Olde Hickory Brewery – North Carolina
Silver: Old Scrooge – Silver City Brewery – Washington
Bronze: Death or Glory – Samuel Adams Brewery – Massachusetts

Category: 95: Irish-Style Red Ale
Gold: Goibniu – Trágmar Ale Works – Rhode Island
Silver: Crimson Lass – Quarter Celtic Brewpub – New Mexico
Bronze: Romulus Red – Gladfoor Brews and Billiards – California

Category: 96: Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout
Gold: Olde 17 – Lion Bridge Brewing Co. – Iowa
Silver: Minoh Beer Stout – Minoh Brewery – Japan
Bronze: Dri-Dek – Industry Ales – Illinois

Category: 97: Export Stout
Gold: Irish Extra Stout – Diatribe Brewing Co. – North Carolina
Silver: Trade Deficit – Westbound & Down Brewing Co. – Westbound Mill – Colorado
Bronze: Zonker Stout – Snake River Brewing Co. – Wyoming

Category: 98: Scottish-Style Ale
Gold: BierKraft 80 Shilling – BierKraft – Oklahoma
Silver: Seven Gables – Mountain Rambler Brewery – California
Bronze: Isle of Pitt – Hazel Grove Brewing – Pennsylvania

Category: 99: Scotch Ale
Gold: Higher Consciousness – Third Eye Brewing Co. – Ohio
Silver: Real Heavy – Real Ale Brewing Co. – Texas
Bronze: Great Falls – Land-Grant Brewing Co. – Ohio

Category: 100: Golden or Blonde Ale
Gold: Chargie – Hopsized Brewing Co. – Florida
Silver: Lawnmower Beer – Saint Arnold Brewing Co. – Texas
Bronze: Pool Party Blonde – Cold Garden Beverage Co. – Canada

Category: 101: American-Style Pale Ale
Gold: Double Nickels – Docent Brewing – California
Silver: Mosaic Pale – Stoup Brewing – Ballard – Washington
Bronze: Bare Bones Disco – Bird Creek Brewing – Texas

Category: 102: Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale
Gold: Mt. Cook – Cellarmaker Brewing Co. – California
Silver: Free Drift – Eden Town Brewing Co. – Maryland
Bronze: Cloud Piercer – Icicle Brewing Co. – Washington

Category: 103: American-Style Amber/Red Ale
Gold: Redwood Remedy – Burgeon Beer Co. – California
Silver: Red Blade – Urban Roots Brewing – California
Bronze: Diablo Rojo – Boneyard Beer – Oregon

Category: 104: American-Style Brown Ale
Gold: Boxcar Brown – Caboose Brewing Co. – Virginia
Silver: Face Down Brown – Telluride Brewing Co. – Colorado
Bronze: Pacifist Pelican – Riip Beer Co. – California

Category: 105: American-Style Black Ale or American-Style Stout
Gold: Stone Cimmerian Portal – Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station – California
Silver: Black Cliffs – Boise Brewing – Idaho
Bronze: Blackside Snap – Riip Beer Co. – California

Category: 106: American-Style Imperial Stout
Gold: Doldrums of Winter – Norbrook Farm Brewery – Connecticut
Silver: Oubliette – Seventh Son Brewing Co. – Ohio
Bronze: Imperial Stout – Olde Hickory Brewery – North Carolina

Category: 107: American-Style Strong Pale Ale
Gold: In Tasty We Trust – Danville Brewing Co. – California
Silver: Mindbender – Cannonball Creek Brewing Co. – Colorado
Bronze: Pink Sky – Grand Fir Brewing – Oregon

Category: 108: Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale
Gold: Cecilia – Moontown Brewing Co. – Indiana
Silver: So Into You – Radiant Beer Co. – California
Bronze: Purrpetual Motion – Slice Beer Co. – California

Category: 109: Strong Red Ale
Gold: Happy Days – Claremont Craft Ales – California
Silver: El Lupulo Libre – The Brew Kettle – Production Works – Ohio
Bronze: Cannonball – Migration Brewing Co. – Oregon

Category: 110: Imperial India Pale Ale
Gold: Fully Adrift – Pinhouse Brewing – Texas
Silver: D.R.E.A.M. – Trap Door Brewing – Washington
Bronze: Power Plants – Barebottle Brewing Co. – California

Category: 111: Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale
Gold: Lupulin Collider – North Park Beer Co. – California
Silver: Panda – Mothfire Brewing Co. – Michigan
Bronze: Road Rash – Wagon Wheel Brewing Co. – California

Category: 112: Classic India Pale Ale
Gold: Immutable Dawn – ISM Brewing – California
Silver: Hop-Ful – North Park Beer Co. – California
Bronze: Shred IPA – Shred Beer Co. – California

Category: 113: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale
Gold: Because Science – Bend Brewing Co. – Oregon
Silver: Bolo Season – Zilker Brewing Co. – Texas
Bronze: Shifted Visions – everywhere – California

Category: 114: West Coast-Style India Pale Ale
Gold: Project Alpha 81 – Cannonball Creek Brewing Co. – Colorado
Silver: Mosaic Madness – Crystal Springs Brewing Co. – Colorado
Bronze: Electric Eagle – Firestone Walker Brewing – Propagator – California

Category: 201: Tannic Cider
Gold: Classic Dry – Gowan’s Heirloom Cider – California
Silver: 1876 – Gowan’s Heirloom Cider – California
Bronze: Excelsior Imperial Apple – Schilling Cider – Washington

Category: 202: No/Low-Tannin Cider
Gold: Gravenstein – Gowan’s Heirloom Cider – California
Silver: Cosmic Crisp – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
Bronze: BrightCider – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon

Category: 203: Fruited Cider
Gold: Moon Berries – Schilling Cider – Washington
Silver: Excelsior Imperial Blackberry – Schilling Cider – Washington
Bronze: Small Batch Guava – Coronado Brewing Co. – California

Category: 204: Botanical or Spiced Cider
Gold: Spiced Apple – Gowan’s Heirloom Cider – California
Silver: Basil Mint – Seattle Cider Co. – Washington
Bronze: Ginger Cider – Hard Candy Cider – China

Category: 205: Experimental, Barrel-Aged or Specialty Cider
Gold: The Bad Apple – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
Silver: Mango Habanero – Papa Moon Ciders – Nebraska
Bronze: BA Cider – Mojave Brewing Co. – Nevada

About the World Beer Cup®
Developed by the Brewers Association in 1996, the World Beer Cup® is the preeminent international beer competition, often called the “Olympics of Beer.” It provides a global stage for brewers to compete, learn, and connect while setting the standard for quality and innovation in the craft beverage industry. Open to commercial breweries and cideries worldwide, the competition drives continuous improvement and celebrates the art and science of brewing.
For more information, full winner lists, style guidelines, and future competition details, visit worldbeercup.org.

About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association traces its roots to the early days of the modern craft beer movement in the United States. Its predecessor organizations include the Association of Brewers, founded in 1978 by Charlie Papazian to support homebrewers and the emerging microbrewery scene through education and events like the Great American Beer Festival, and the Brewers Association of America, which originated in 1942 as the Small Brewers Committee to advocate for smaller producers during wartime resource challenges. In 2005, these two groups merged to form the modern Brewers Association, creating a unified voice dedicated to promoting and protecting small and independent American craft brewers. This pivotal merger strengthened advocacy efforts, educational resources, and industry standards that have helped fuel the explosive growth of craft beer across the nation.

Today, the Brewers Association serves as the leading not-for-profit trade organization for America’s craft brewing community, representing thousands of small and independent breweries, allied trade members, and beer enthusiasts. Guided by its mission to promote and protect American craft brewers, the organization provides essential resources, including market data, technical education, government advocacy, and high-profile events such as the World Beer Cup and Craft Brewers Conference. Through initiatives like the Independent Craft Brewer Seal and ongoing support for quality, innovation, and diversity in brewing, the Brewers Association continues to elevate the craft beer industry while fostering a vibrant community of brewers, for brewers, and by brewers.

Top 10 Beers in America – Ales  Lagers  Specialty  Barrel Aged

Top 10 Maibock Lagers Brewed in America 
This 2026 Top Ten List of Maibocks is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup.  Maibock, also known as Heller Bock or “May Bock,” is a classic German-style lager that celebrates springtime with its elegant balance of rich malt and subtle hop character. It pours a beautiful, deep gold to light amber color with excellent clarity and a large, creamy white head that lingers nicely. On the aroma and flavor, expect a prominent malty profile featuring bready, lightly toasted, and slightly sweet notes from quality continental malts like Pilsner, Vienna, and Munich—without any heavy caramel or roast flavors. Noble hops add a gentle, spicy or floral touch with moderate bitterness, keeping things refreshing rather than sweet or cloying. Typically around 6–7.5% ABV, it has a smooth, medium-to-full body, clean lager fermentation, and a crisp, satisfying finish that makes it highly drinkable for a stronger beer. Perfect for pairing with hearty foods or simply enjoying on a sunny afternoon!

1. Skoolhouse Bock – Moontown Brewing Company – Indiana
2. Maibock – Guilford Hall – Brewery – Maryland
3. Heller Bock – Cranky Sam Brewing – Montana
4. Not Yours  Maibock – Kros Strain Brewing – Nebraska
5. Maibock – Venn Brewing Company – Minnesota
6. Heller Bock – Goldfinger Brewing Company – Illinois
7. Johann Sebastian Bock Maibock – Blackbird Brewery – North Carolina
8. Maibock – Narrow Gauge Brewing – Missouri
9. Lenz Bock – Heater Allen Brewing – Oregon
10. Maypole – Grimm Artisanal Ales – New York

Evolution of the “Pale” Maibock Style (18th–19th Centuries)
Early bocks were generally darker and maltier. The distinctly pale Maibock—lighter in color, brighter, and more hopped—emerged as pale malts became widely available in the mid-to-late 19th century alongside the rise of pale lagers like Pilsner and Munich Helles. Munich brewers adapted traditional bock techniques (often including decoction mashing) with paler base malts (Pilsner, Vienna, Munich) to create a transitional spring beer.

Hofbräuhaus is widely credited as the originator of the modern Maibock style, which they still brew using a formula tracing back to Pichler’s 1614 version (pale copper hue, malty with caramel hints).

Top 10 Beers in America – Ales  Lagers  Specialty  Barrel Aged 

Favorite Beer of 2026! Cincinnati just crowned its Favorite Beer of 2026, and the winner is Vlad Pilsner from Fretboard Brewing Co.! That’s right, folks—the crisp, crushable Czech-style pilsner has taken the crown in The Cincinnati Enquirer’s epic beer bracket madness, proving once again that sometimes the classics win the day (and the votes).

In a tournament that felt like March Madness but with way better hydration options, 32 local brews battled it out over five nail-biting rounds. Voters hit refresh like it was their job, casting ballots hourly and turning the bracket into a full-on Cincinnati suds showdown. Vlad didn’t just sneak by—it dominated. In the final round, it racked up a whopping 467 votes to defeat Hofbrauhaus’s Dunkel, leaving no doubt who the people wanted on their taps.

What makes Vlad so special? This isn’t some flashy triple IPA trying to blind you with hops. Vlad is the original brew from Fretboard—the very first batch they ever made back when the Blue Ash spot (the one with the killer music theme, because who doesn’t love guitars and good beer?) fired up their system. It’s a true-to-style International Pilsner at a sessionable 5.3% ABV and a gentle 17 IBUs, brewed with imported Czech malt and hops for that clean, bready backbone and subtle herbal pop. Golden, crisp, ruthlessly drinkable—it’s the beer you reach for on a sunny patio, at a Reds game, or when you’re just chilling in the Queen City.

And let’s talk accolades: Vlad’s already a medal magnet, snagging gold and silver at the World Beer Cup, Ohio Craft Brewers Cup, and U.S. Open Beer Championship. Now you can add “Cincinnati’s Favorite Beer 2026” to the trophy case. Fretboard’s rocking the local scene hard—#drinklocal, #rocklocal, #cincybrau—and this win feels like a high-five to everyone who loves a perfectly executed lager over the latest hazy experiment.

So next time you’re in Cincinnati, swing by Fretboard Brewing Co. (or grab a six-pack wherever they distribute), raise a glass of Vlad, and toast to the people’s champ. Because in a city with more breweries than you can shake a pretzel at, the crowd has spoken: Vlad reigns supreme.
Cheers to Vlad Pilsner—Cincinnati’s undisputed beer king of 2026

Previous Winners of The Cincinnati Enquirer’s epic beer bracket madness
2026: Vlad Pilsner from Fretboard Brewing Co.
2025: Crazy Norse from Barleycorn’s Brewhouse
2024: Crazy Norse from Barleycorn’s Brewhouse
2023: Helles Real from Grainworks Brewing Co.
2022: Bohemian Special Brew from Wiedemann
2021: Bohemian Special Brew from Wiedemann
2020: Backbeat Coffee Blonde Ale from Big Ash Brewing

More about Fretboard Brewing
Fretboard Brewing Company burst onto the Cincinnati scene in late 2017, when three lifelong friends and LaSalle High School alumni decided to turn their shared passions for rock ‘n’ roll and craft beer into something extraordinary. Launching their flagship brewery and taproom in Blue Ash, Ohio—just a short drive north of downtown Cincy—the trio created a one-of-a-kind destination where live music, smoked BBQ from an in-house kitchen, and seriously impressive brews come together in perfect harmony. From day one, Fretboard has been all about striking the right chord: welcoming beer lovers, music fans, and good-time seekers to a vibrant space that feels like a backyard concert meets your favorite local brewery. With additional locations now rocking in Norwood, Harrison, and a Public House in Hamilton, Fretboard continues to expand its rhythm while staying true to its roots of adventure, creativity, and community.

At the heart of every great night at Fretboard are the beers—crisp, balanced, and built to please a crowd. The star of the show is Vlad Pilsner, a ruthlessly drinkable Czech-style pilsner that’s racked up Gold and Silver medals at the World Beer Cup and U.S. Open Beer Championship, proving it’s not just fun—it’s world-class. Other crowd-pleasers include the hop-forward flagship Improv West Coast IPA, the easy-sipping Fretboard Light Lager perfect for long sessions, and seasonal favorites like juicy hazies, barrel-aged stouts, and festive lagers. Whether you’re raising a pint to a live band, digging into some smoky BBQ, or simply toasting another great day, Fretboard Brewing delivers that unbeatable combo of killer brews, electric vibes, and pure fun. Come for the beer, stay for the show—Fretboard is where Cincinnati’s craft scene hits all the high notes!
Address: Multiple locations including Blue Ash (flagship), Norwood, Harrison, and Hamilton Public House, Ohio
Website: https://www.fretboardbrewing.com

 

For Brewing fun fact, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.