Beer Competition

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

 

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The 2026 Ohio Beer Awards, the inaugural statewide competition presented by the Ohio Craft Brewers Association and proudly sponsored by Lagersmith, celebrated the exceptional talent and innovation of Ohio’s craft brewers, cider makers, and mead producers. With nearly 500 entries submitted from over 100 breweries, cideries, and meaderies across the Buckeye State, expert judges blind-tasted beers in 26 diverse categories during judging sessions held January 19–21 at MadTree Brewing in Cincinnati. Winners were announced on February 16 at a lively ceremony at Seventh Son Brewing in Columbus, where 47 producers earned well-deserved gold, silver, and bronze medals. Highlights included Masthead Brewing and Noble Beast Brewing (both from Cleveland) sharing Brewery of the Year honors for their standout medal hauls, alongside special recognitions like the Aluminate Award for Best Can Design. This exciting new event shines a spotlight on Ohio’s thriving craft beverage scene, highlighting the quality, creativity, and community spirit that make Buckeye State beers, ciders, and meads among the best in the nation.

Ohio Craft Beer Medal Winners
Category 1: European Pilsner
Gold: Daytonian Rhapsody, Eudora Brewing Company, Kettering, Ohio
Silver: Geist der Glocke, Bell Tower Brewing Co., Kent, Ohio
Bronze: Golem, Gemüt Biergarten, Columbus, Ohio

Category 2: Golden, Blonde and Other Light Ales
Gold: Sampsel House Kölsch, Uniontown Brewing Co., Ashland, Ohio
Silver: Little Kings Cream Ale, Cincinnati Beverage Company, Cincinnati, Ohio
Bronze: Hungarian Pearl, Immigrant Son Brewery, Lakewood, Ohio

Category 3: Hoppy Lagers
Gold: Stinkin Lincoln New Zealand Pilsner, Uniontown Brewing Co., Ashland, Ohio
Silver: IPL Eins, Wooly Pig Farm Brewery, Fresno, Ohio
Bronze: Scusi, Traum Brewing, Upper Sandusky, Ohio

Category 4: Light European Lagers
Gold: Rustic Helles, Wooly Pig Farm Brewery, Fresno, Ohio
Silver: Brewer, Northern Row Brewery & Distillery, Cincinnati, Ohio
Bronze: Lakeshore Lager, Collision Bend Brewing Company, Cleveland, Ohio

Category 5: Dark European Lagers
Gold: Svartalfheim, Masthead Brewing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
Silver: Tmavé Pivo, Birdfish Brewing Company, Columbiana, Ohio
Bronze: Rubezahl, Gemüt Biergarten, Columbus, Ohio

Category 6: World Lagers
Gold: Float Day, Yellow Springs Brewery, Yellow Springs, Ohio
Silver: Shower Beer, Masthead Brewing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
Bronze: Multinational Pilsner, Crooked Can Brewing Company, Hilliard, Ohio

Category 7: Porter and Stout
Gold: Punderson Porter, Bummin’ Beaver Brewery, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Silver: Shuck Yeah, The 1547 Project, Cortland, Ohio
Bronze: Porter, The Brew Brothers, Columbus, Ohio

Category 8: Classic UK and American Styles
Gold: Old School, Three Tigers Brewing, Granville, Ohio
Silver: All the Leaves, Broadview Brewing Company, Broadview Heights, Ohio
Bronze: Stone Fort, Seventh Son Brewing Co., Columbus, Ohio

Category 9: Belgian Beers, German Wheat Beers and Traditional Brett Beers
Gold: Valor, Noble Beast Brewing Co., Cleveland, Ohio
Silver: Hefeweizen, JAFB Wooster Brewery, Wooster, Ohio
Bronze: Captain Stardust, Yellow Springs Brewery, Yellow Springs, Ohio

Category 10: Red Beers
Gold: Ida Love a Red, Red Wagon Brewing, Columbia Station, Ohio
Silver: Frontline, Akronym Brewing, Akron, Ohio
Bronze: Scot’s an Evil Man, Schnitz Ale Brewery, Parma, Ohio

Category 11: Strong Beers
Gold: Old Dick, New Berlin Brewing Company, North Canton, Ohio
Silver: Brasky, Combustion Brewery & Taproom, Pickerington, Ohio
Bronze: We Don’t Rat, We Don’t Run 2025, Noble Beast Brewing Co., Cleveland, Ohio

Category 12: Sessionable Hoppy Beers
Gold: Henry, Akronym Brewing, Akron, Ohio
Silver: Light Rajah, The Brew Kettle, Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Bronze: Small Axe, Three Tigers Brewing, Granville, Ohio

Category 13: American IPA
Gold: Ca$h After Ten, Ghost Tree Brewing Company, Amherst, Ohio
Silver: Evil Motives, Noble Beast Brewing Co., Cleveland, Ohio
Bronze: JAF IPA, JAFB Wooster Brewery, Wooster, Ohio

Category 14: West Coast IPA
Gold: Danko, Three Tigers Brewing, Granville, Ohio
Silver: The Cleveland Experiment V7, Masthead Brewing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
Bronze: Isolated IPA, JAFB Wooster Brewery, Wooster, Ohio

Category 15: Hazy, Juicy, New England IPA
Gold: Fast Friends, Derive Brewing Company, Columbus, Ohio
Silver: Creative Space, Yellow Springs Brewery, Yellow Springs, Ohio
Bronze: Captain Hazy, Collision Bend Brewing Company, Cleveland, Ohio

Category 16: Imperial IPA and Dark Hoppy Beers
Gold: The Word, Collision Bend Brewing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
Silver: Turtlenecks and Gold Chains, Derive Brewing Company, Columbus, Ohio
Bronze: Now We’re Talkin’, Combustion Brewery & Taproom, Pickerington, Ohio

Category 17: Barrel-Aged Beers
Gold: Celestial Reserve (Dow’s 65th Birthday Blend), Third Eye Brewing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio
Silver: Pounding Husks, Wandering Monsters Brewing, Cincinnati, Ohio
Bronze: Bag of Hammers, Akronym Brewing (in collaboration with The Brew Kettle), Akron, Ohio

Category 18: Barrel-Aged Stout
Gold: Faded Echoes – Ivory Depths, Counterbalance Brewing, Columbus, Ohio
Silver: Underverse, Masthead Brewing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
Bronze: Barrel Aged Cheap Heat, Streetside Brewery, Cincinnati, Ohio

Category 19: Spiced Holiday Beers
Gold: Winter Warmer, New Berlin Brewing Company, North Canton, Ohio
Silver: Slow Toboggan, Brink Brewing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio
Bronze: John Dough, Wandering Monsters Brewing, Cincinnati, Ohio

Category 20: Flavored Beers
Gold: Fox in the Stout, Seventh Son Brewing Co., Columbus, Ohio
Silver: Chunkzilla, Wandering Monsters Brewing, Cincinnati, Ohio
Bronze: Chai Spiced Imperial Stout, Parsons North Brewing Company, Columbus, Ohio

Category 22: Fruit Beers
Gold: Cha-Cha-Cha… Cherry Bomb!, Four Paws Brewing, Columbia Station, Ohio
Silver: Blood Brothers, Hop Brothers Brewing Company, North Ridgeville, Ohio
Bronze: Nightfall, Traum Brewing, Upper Sandusky, Ohio

Category 23: Coffee Beer
Gold: Wired Euphoria, Third Eye Brewing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio
Silver: Good Morning 818, Southern Ohio Brewing, Beavercreek, Ohio
Bronze: The Daily Grind, Akronym Brewing, Akron, Ohio

Category 24: Historical Beer, Smoked Beer, Experimental Beer and Specialty Beverages
Gold: Rauchfräug Strong Märzen Lager, Hoppin’ Frog Brewery, Akron, Ohio
Silver: Lee Morgan, GlendAlehouse, Cincinnati, Ohio
Bronze: Hanayori Mo Bīru, Eighty-Three Brewery, Akron, Ohio

Category 25: Sour and Mixed Culture Beers
Gold: Barrel Aged Flemish Kriek, Parsons North Brewing Company, Columbus, Ohio
Silver: Eau Rouge, Noble Beast Brewing Co., Cleveland, Ohio
Bronze: Reverie, Edison Brewing Company, Gahanna, Ohio

Category 26: Cider
Gold: Kelly’s Dry, West End Ciderhouse, Athens, Ohio
Silver: Shell Jelly, Funky Turtle Brewing Co., Toledo, Ohio
Bronze: TinCap Pineapple, TinCap Hard Cider, Wilmington, Ohio

Category 27: Mead
Gold: MVWS, Four Fires Meadery, Maumee, Ohio
Silver: Booty Blue, Dutch Creek Winery, Athens, Ohio
Bronze: Stonefruit Slow Jams, Four Fires Meadery, Maumee, Ohio

About the Ohio Craft Brewers Association
The Ohio Craft Brewers Association (OCBA), founded in 2008 as a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization, was established to unify Ohio’s brewing community, market Ohio-manufactured craft beers throughout the state and beyond, and advocate for a strong, thriving beer industry.

Over the past 18 years, the OCBA has grown into the official unified voice for the state’s craft brewers, with a mission “to promote, preserve, diversify, and unify Ohio’s craft brewing industry.” The association represents hundreds of operating breweries, breweries-in-planning, allied trade partners, and enthusiast supporters through tiered memberships—including Brewery, Allied, and Enthusiast levels—that deliver marketing and promotional support, legislative advocacy, educational programming such as the annual Ohio Craft Brewers Conference, signature events like Ohio Pint Day, and a collaborative network that fosters industry growth and camaraderie. Today, OCBA member breweries and partners help drive Ohio’s dynamic craft beer scene, which boasts more than 440 licensed craft breweries (ranking 8th nationally) and contributes nearly $3 billion in total economic impact to the state.

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In the heart of Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, a routine facade renovation at Rhinegeist Brewery turned into an extraordinary archaeological find in late 2025. What began as peeling paint revealed a breathtaking, century-old encaustic tile mural —hidden for over 100 years beneath layers of paint applied during Prohibition. This vibrant artwork, dating to 1896, celebrates the city’s legendary brewing heritage and has quickly become a new landmark for locals and visitors alike.

The Unexpected Discovery
Rhinegeist, housed in the former Christian Moerlein Brewing Company’s bottling plant on Elm Street since 2013, was undergoing much-needed repairs and tuckpointing by Buckeye Construction & Restoration. As workers prepped the exterior walls, superintendent Vince Vickers noticed unusual colors emerging from beneath the flaking paint.

“We started pulling off more of the paint, and little by little, the century-old mural began to show itself—hidden in plain sight for decades,” Vickers recounted.

What emerged was a massive, exceptionally well-preserved mosaic composed of approximately 2,000 unique six-inch encaustic tiles. The artwork had been deliberately covered during the Prohibition era (1920–1933), when non-brewing businesses occupied the space and sought to erase any traces of its alcoholic past.

A Masterpiece by Herman Mueller
Research quickly attributed the tile mural to Herman C. Mueller, a pioneering American ceramicist who co-founded the Mosaic Tile Company in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1894. Mueller, known for his innovative dust-pressed tiles and handcrafted designs, later established the Mueller Mosaic Company in Trenton, New Jersey. His works grace prestigious collections at institutions like the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Brooklyn Museum—making this brewery exterior a rare public showcase of his talent.

The mural features a festive scene: a jovial couple in traditional German attire raising beer steins amid hop vines and barley motifs, symbolizing Cincinnati’s 19th-century German immigrant brewing culture. A flowing banner proudly declares “Moerlein’s Bottling Dept. 1896”, with the year flanked by stars and decorative flourishes. Below the main panel, restored roundels display the original Christian Moerlein logo.

One charming detail has captured hearts: a single tile forming the corner of the man’s hat was installed rotated 90 degrees—the “wrong” way—from the very beginning. This imperfection, preserved perfectly under the paint, adds a human touch to the otherwise flawless craftsmanship.

Rhinegeist’s Joyful Response
Rhinegeist CEO Adam Bankovich called the find a “complete surprise,” despite the brewery’s deep awareness of the building’s history. To honor the discovery—and that quirky misplaced tile—the team released a limited-edition pre-Prohibition-style lager named Tip of the Hat. Available on draft in the taproom, it’s a crisp, malty tribute poured alongside views of the restored mural.

The brewery has fully preserved the mosaic as part of the ongoing renovations, ensuring it remains visible to the public without altering their plans.

Echoes of Cincinnati’s Brewing Golden Age
At its peak in the late 1800s, Cincinnati was known as the “Beer Capital of the World,” with Over-the-Rhine boasting dozens of breweries driven by German immigrants. Christian Moerlein was among the most prominent, and this building served as its bottling department.

Discoveries like this underscore the neighborhood’s ongoing revival and the importance of historic preservation. As Beth Johnson, executive director of Cincinnati Preservation, noted, it’s one of the largest examples of Mueller’s tile work in the city.

If you’re in the Cincinnati area, swing by Rhinegeist on Elm Street to see this piece of living history. Grab a pint, tip your hat to the past, and marvel at how a simple renovation peeled back time itself. Prost!

More about Rhinegeist Brewery
Nestled in Cincinnati’s vibrant Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, Rhinegeist Brewery (that’s “Ghost of the Rhine” for the non-German speakers) rose from the ashes of a pre-Prohibition bottling plant once owned by the legendary Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. Founders Bob Bonder and Bryant Goulding teamed up in 2013 to resurrect the city’s historic brewing spirit, turning a cavernous, century-old space into a massive taproom that’s equal parts industrial cool and community hangout. What started with a handful of beers on opening day has exploded into one of Ohio’s craft beer powerhouses, cranking out flavorful brews that keep locals and visitors coming back for more—proving the Queen City still knows how to throw a great party in its old brewery bones.

When it comes to the good stuff, Rhinegeist’s lineup is a hop-head’s dream with something for everyone. Their flagship Truth IPA is the undisputed king—bold, juicy, piney, and stone-fruit forward, it’s been Ohio’s best-selling IPA for years and the kind of beer that turns “just one more” into a whole session. For lighter vibes, grab Franz (a crisp Märzen) or Dad (a balanced pale ale perfect for backyard hangs). At the same time, adventurous sippers love hazy options like Juicy Truth, fruited sours, or big hitters like Sabre Tooth Tiger imperial IPA. Whether you’re chasing that first-sip buzz or just want to Google “best Cincinnati brewery” and end up here, Rhinegeist keeps the good times flowing with beers that sing with flavor and zero pretension. Cheers to the ghosts that keep on brewing!
Address: 1910 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: https://rhinegeist.com/  

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The 2026 Colorado Brewers Cup, organized by the Colorado Brewers Guild, stands as a premier professional beer competition dedicated to showcasing the exceptional quality and innovation within Colorado’s vibrant craft brewing scene. As the only event of its kind run entirely by the Guild, it brings together member breweries from across the state to compete in a rigorous judging process. This year’s competition highlighted the diversity and creativity of Colorado’s brewers, with entries spanning a wide array of styles from lagers and IPAs to sours and experimental brews.

Held in conjunction with the Colorado Craft Brewers Summit, the 2026 event took place at the Hyatt Regency in Aurora, CO. Key dates included beer judging from January 9th to 11th, followed by the awards ceremony on the evening of January 23rd. Open exclusively to operating Colorado breweries that are Guild members, the competition saw breweries submitting up to 14 beers each at a cost of $55 per entry. Judges evaluated submissions across 29 categories, awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals based on criteria such as flavor, aroma, appearance, and adherence to style guidelines. In total, 87 medals were distributed, reflecting the high caliber of participants.

The Colorado Brewers Cup not only recognizes outstanding beers but also honors the broader contributions to the industry. This year, the Ambassador of Craft award went to Tim Myers of Strange Craft Beer Co. in Denver, celebrating his leadership and commitment to the brewing community.

Breweries of the Year
Two breweries were crowned as standouts for their overall performance:

Small Brewery of the Year: Glenwood Canyon Brewpub, located in Glenwood Springs. This accolade recognizes their consistent excellence across multiple entries, including standout wins in categories like International Pale Lagers and West Coast-Style IPAs.

Mid-Sized Brewery of the Year: WeldWerks Brewing Co. in Greeley. Known for their innovative hazy IPAs and sours, they dominated in hop-forward categories and secured multiple medals, underscoring their influence in the craft beer landscape.

These honors highlight the dedication and skill of these breweries in pushing the boundaries of craft brewing.

Highlights from the 2026 Colorado Brewers Cup Medal Winners
The competition featured fierce rivalry across 29 categories, with medals awarded to a diverse group of breweries from cities like Denver, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs. Below is a comprehensive table of all medal winners, organized by category:

American Pale Lagers
GOLD: Gold in the Buckle – Verboten North Brewpub
SILVER: Mexican Lager – Los Dos Potrillos Cerveceria
BRONZE: Louisville Lager – Crystal Springs Brewing

International Pale Lagers
GOLD: Mexican Lager – Lone Tree Brewing
SILVER: Hanging Lake – Glenwood Canyon Brewing
BRONZE: Lightner Creek Lager – Carver Brewing

Pale Bitter European Lagers
GOLD: Prost Winter Lager – Prost Brewing
SILVER: Prost Pilsner – Prost Brewing
BRONZE: Pillow Drops – New Terrain Brewing

Hoppy Pale Lagers
GOLD: Wolf of the Woods – Second Dawn Brewing
SILVER: Xxplosive – Joyride Brewing
BRONZE: Dust Up – Cerebral Brewing

Pale Malty Lagers
GOLD: Everflow – Glenwood Canyon Brewpub
SILVER: Colt 121 – Old 121 Brewhouse
BRONZE: Festbier – Bent Barley Brewing

Amber Lagers
GOLD: King of Luck – Second Dawn Brewing
SILVER: Amber Lager – Elevation Beer
BRONZE: Seedstock Bohemian Dunkel – Seedstock Brewery

Dark Lagers
GOLD: Butt Head Bock – Tommyknocker Brewery
SILVER: Bärenbräu Bock – Peculier Brewing
BRONZE: Dark Matter – Soulcraft Brewing

Pale Malty Ales
GOLD: Rise and Climb – New Terrain Brewing
BRONZE: Ice Cutter Kölsch – Joyride Brewing
BRONZE: Kingdom Kolsch – Highside Brewing

Session & Pale Ales
GOLD: Trump Hands – Cannonball Creek Brewing
SILVER: Inner Light – Our Mutual Friend Brewing
BRONZE: Colorado Pale Ale – Westbound & Down Brewing

Standard American-Style IPAs
GOLD: Bout Damn Time IPA – 4 Noses Brewing
SILVER: American Idle – Liquid Mechanics Brewing
BRONZE: Just Logic – Verboten North Brewpub

West Coast-Style IPAs
GOLD: I Didn’t Hear No Bell – River North Brewery
SILVER: Vapor Cave IPA – Glenwood Canyon Brewing
BRONZE: Project Alpha – Cannonball Creek Brewing

Standard International & Experimental IPAs
GOLD: Ultimate Showdown – Cerebral Brewing
SILVER: Nuthin’ But a G(uava) Thang – Phantom Canyon Brewing
BRONZE: Colorful Colorado IPA – Left Hand Brewing

Hazy IPAs
GOLD: DDH Hollow Fang – Cerebral Brewing
SILVER: Juicy Bits – WeldWerks Brewing
BRONZE: Trailhead Fog – Living the Dream Brewing

Strong & Imperial Hoppy Beers
GOLD: JuicyFish – WeldWerks Brewing
SILVER: Extra Extra Juicy Bits – WeldWerks Brewing
BRONZE: 1000 Barrels Imperial IPA – Strange Craft Beer Co

Malty North American Beers
GOLD: Midnight Toker – Comrade Brewing
SILVER: Face Down Brown – Telluride Brewing
BRONZE: Power Brake Black IPA – Mash Mechanix Brewing

Classic UK Amber & Brown Ales
GOLD: Young Dukinfield – Salt Road Brewing
SILVER: Dark Mild – Phantom Canyon Brewing
BRONZE: Sawtooth – Left Hand Brewing

Stouts
GOLD: Winter Warlock Oatmeal Stout – Bristol Brewing
SILVER: Mr. Sandman – River North Brewery
BRONZE: Old Doods Stout – Odell Brewing

Porters
GOLD: Night Laps – Vail Brewing
SILVER: Oba Pot’a – Barrels & Bottles Brewery
BRONZE: English Porter – Stodgy Brewing

Barleywines & Strong Ales
GOLD: Grow Old With You – Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project
SILVER: Mountain Man – Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project
BRONZE: Scottish Wildcat – Wild Blue Yonder Brewing

Herb, Spice, & Smoked Beers
GOLD: Honey Panda – The Empourium Brewing
SILVER: Bullitt Green Chile – Mash Mechanix Brewing
BRONZE: Sweater Gang – The Post Brewing

Rye & Wheat Beers
GOLD: Dame Blanche – Bruz Beers
SILVER: Hamer Time – Tres Litros Brewing
BRONZE: Haystack Hefe – Fritz Family Brewers

Fruit & Field Beers
GOLD: Blood Orange Kolsch – Crystal Springs Brewing
SILVER: Luna Lucha – TightKnit Brewing
BRONZE: Agua Fresca – Los Dos Potrillos Cerveceria

Belgian & French Pale Ales
GOLD: Windfall Saison – Windfall Brewing
SILVER: Buffalo Blond – Resolute Brewing
BRONZE: Plezant – Hideaway Park Brewery

Belgian & French Strong Ales
GOLD: Naughty Marilyn – Crystal Springs Brewing
SILVER: Abbey Quadrupel – Bruz Beers
BRONZE: Le Bruit du Diable Farmhouse Ale – Strange Craft Beer Company

Sour, Brett, & Wild Ales
GOLD: Grandma J’s Strawberry Rhubarb Pie – WeldWerks Brewing
SILVER: Desert Runner – New Terrain Brewing
BRONZE: Tributary on Cherries – New Terrain Brewing

Coffee Beers
GOLD: Nightmare Fuel – River North Brewery
SILVER: Golden Roast – Monolith Brewing
BRONZE: Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun – River North Brewery

Chocolate & Dessert Beers
GOLD: Others in Darkness: Coconut Vanilla – Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project
SILVER: Candy Cane Imperial Porter – River North Brewery
BRONZE: Parallel Minds – Cerebral Brewing

Wood & Aged Beers
GOLD: Lift Line Barleywine – Highside Brewing
SILVER: – Rally Round the Family – Liquid Mechanics Brewing
BRONZE: Ember – Hideaway Park Brewery

Experimental & Specialty Beers
GOLD: Camp Zero – 4 Noses Brewing
SILVER: Her Majesty’s Hammer – Phantom Canyon Brewing
BRONZE: Isaac’s Big A** Braggot – Mythmaker Brewing

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The 2026 Alaska Craft Brew & Barley Wine Festival is set to return as one of Anchorage’s most anticipated winter events, bringing together craft beverage enthusiasts for a weekend of tastings, live music, and community vibes. Organized by the Brewers Guild of Alaska in partnership with Peak 2 Peak Events, this festival highlights the thriving craft scene in the Last Frontier.

Event Details: Dates, Location, and Sessions
Mark your calendars for January 30–31, 2026. The festival will take place at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in downtown Anchorage, a spacious venue perfect for hosting multiple tasting sessions.
Expect three distinct sessions across the two days, allowing attendees flexibility:
Friday evening session
Saturday afternoon session
Saturday evening session

Each session features unlimited samples from a wide array of beverages, paired with food vendors and live performances by local bands.

What to Expect: Over 250 Beverages and More
This expanded event showcases over 250 regional beverages, going far beyond traditional beer. Highlights include:
Award-winning craft beers from Alaskan and Pacific Northwest breweries
Rich, high-alcohol barley wines – a specialty that’s rare to find in such concentration
Ciders, meads, seltzers, wines, and an increasing selection of non-alcoholic options like creative kombuchas and botanical drinks

The festival is known for its barley wine competition, one of only a handful in the U.S., where brewers vie for gold pan trophies in categories like Barley Wine and Winter Warmer. Past winners have included standout entries from breweries like Midnight Sun Brewing and Reuben’s Brews.
Food pairings from local vendors complement the drinks, with options ranging from hearty appetizers to sweet treats. Live music adds to the festive atmosphere, making it a perfect mid-winter gathering.

Why Attend the Alaska Craft Brew & Barley Wine Festival?
Alaska’s craft beverage industry has exploded in recent years, with over 50 breweries statewide producing world-class drinks inspired by the rugged landscape and pure ingredients. This festival is the ultimate showcase:

Discover new favorites: Try limited-edition pours unavailable elsewhere.
Support local: Proceeds benefit the Brewers Guild of Alaska.
Inclusive fun: Designated driver tickets are affordable, and non-alcoholic options ensure everyone can join.
Winter escape: Combat the January blues with warmth, flavors, and camaraderie.

Whether you’re a seasoned beer connoisseur chasing bold barley wines or a casual visitor exploring ciders and meads, there’s something for every palate.

Tickets and Practical Information
Tickets are available exclusively through the official platform, MyAlaskaTix, via the event website: www.alaskacraftbrewandbarleywine.com. Beware of resale scams – only purchase from authorized sources.
Sessions typically sell out quickly, so early booking is recommended. The event is 21+ for alcohol sampling, with ID required.

For the latest updates on participating breweries, competition details, and session times, check the official site or follow on social media.

Join thousands of attendees in celebrating Alaska’s craft heritage at the 2026 Alaska Craft Brew & Barley Wine Festival – a true highlight of Anchorage’s winter calendar!

Here are the 2025 Alaska Craft Brew and Barley Wine Festival – Medal Winners
Barley Wine Winners
Gold – Three Ryes Men Barleywine – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
Silver – Arctic Devil – Midnight Sun Brewing – Alaska
Bronze – Apocalyptic Sky Trumpet – 49th State Brewing – Alaska
Honorable Mention – 2025 Barley Wine – Hoodoo Brewing – Alaska

Winter Warmer Winners
Gold – 2024 Jim Beam Double Barrel Aged Eisboch – Glacier Brewhouse – Alaska
Silver – Barrel Aged Black Pearl Imperial Coconut – Maui Brewing – Hawaii
Bronze – Reuben’s Brew Barrel Aged Stout – Reuben’s Brews – Washington

Brewers Guild of Alaska
The Brewers Guild of Alaska (BGA), founded in 2000 as a scrappy non-profit by a band of visionary craft brewers, is the beating heart of the Last Frontier’s booming beer scene—championing over 50 independent breweries, cideries, and meaderies through fierce legislative advocacy, hands-on education, and epic community events that keep Alaska’s taps flowing with bold, boundary-pushing pours like hazy IPAs brewed with midnight sun barley and barrel-aged stouts infused with wild Alaskan berries. From hosting the legendary 29th Annual Alaska Craft Brew & Barley Wine Festival in January 2025 at Anchorage’s Dena’ina Center—where 65+ breweries slinged 250+ samples amid live music and food trucks—to powering the Boots & Brews Beer Fest in Fairbanks and the massive Alaska Crafted Festival in Eagle River, the BGA turns winter nights into hoppy havens and equips brewers with everything from financial workshops to biotransformation seminars at their November 2025 Alaska Crafted Conference. Whether you’re a local chasing that perfect Arctic Devil barleywine or a visitor plotting a northern beer road trip, the BGA’s all about raising a glass to sustainable sips, small-batch innovation, and the rugged spirit that makes Alaskan craft beer as untamed as its wilderness—sláinte to the guild keeping the north’s brew game strong!

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This Top 10 Herb and Spiced beer list showcases the creative use of herbs, spices, and botanicals (such as coriander, orange peel, juniper, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, chili peppers, or unique gruit blends), drawn from medal winners and highly regarded examples in major competitions like the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, U.S. Open Beer Championship, and other notable sources.

These beers incorporate herbs and spices—distinct from or in addition to hops and roasted malts—to deliver pronounced, balanced characters ranging from refreshing citrusy notes to warming holiday spices or earthy herbal depth. Moderate hopping allows the botanicals to shine without excessive bitterness, creating harmonious and complex profiles.

Top 10 American Herb and Spiced Beers of 2025

1) Allagash White from Allagash Brewing Company is a quintessential American interpretation of the classic Belgian witbier, expertly spiced with coriander and Curaçao orange peel for bright, refreshing citrus notes and a subtle floral spice that complements its hazy, wheat-driven body. This multi-award-winning beer, including numerous Great American Beer Festival medals, offers a crisp, effervescent finish perfect for warm days or pairing with light seafood dishes.
Address: 50 Industrial Way, Portland, ME 04103
Website: https://www.allagash.com/

2) Red Nose Holiday Wassail from Great Basin Brewing Company is a richly spiced holiday ale that captures the essence of traditional wassail with warming notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and other festive botanicals blended into a malty backbone. This gold medal winner in the Herb and Spice Beer category at the 2025 Great American Beer Festival delivers comforting, seasonal flavors ideal for winter gatherings.
Address: 846 Victorian Ave, Sparks, NV 89431
Website: https://www.greatbasinbrewingco.com/

3) Chai Eye Captain from Third Eye Brewing Company is an innovative chai-spiced ale that infuses traditional Indian masala spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and clove into a smooth, balanced base, creating layers of warming aroma and flavor. A gold medalist in the Herb and Spice Beer category at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival, this beer stands out for its bold yet harmonious spice profile.
Address: 11276 Chester Rd, Sharonville, OH 45246
Website: https://thirdeyebrewingco.com/

4) Hecho En Szechuan from Pinthouse Brewing is a unique rice lager infused with Szechuan peppercorns, lime leaf, and zest, delivering a tingling, numbing spice alongside bright citrus and subtle floral notes for an intriguing, refreshing twist on the style. This silver medal winner in the Herb and Spice Beer category at the 2025 Great American Beer Festival showcases creative botanical experimentation.
Address: 2201 E Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78741
Website: https://pinthouse.com/

5) Two Wheeler from Far Field Beer Co. is a tart, effervescent Berliner Weisse delicately spiced with lavender, offering floral, herbal elegance that balances its light sourness and crisp finish. This gold medal winner in the Herb and Spice Beer category at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival highlights subtle botanical sophistication in a sessionable package.
Address: 4471 W Rosecrans Ave, Lawndale, CA 90250
Website: https://farfieldbeer.com/

6) Station 3 Habanero IPA from Lock 15 Brewing Co. is a bold West Coast IPA infused with fire-roasted habanero peppers, blending citrusy hop bitterness with a building heat and smoky spice for an adventurous, fiery drinking experience. A gold medalist in the Herb and Spice Beer category at the 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship, it’s perfect for spice enthusiasts.
Address: 21 W North St, Akron, OH 44304
Website: https://www.lock15brewing.com/

7) The Great Pumpkin from Elysian Brewing Co. is an iconic imperial pumpkin ale brewed with real pumpkin and a blend of warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, delivering rich, pie-like flavors with malty depth and a smooth finish. This legendary seasonal has earned multiple Great American Beer Festival medals in spiced categories and remains a fall favorite.
Address: 6010 Airport Way S, Seattle, WA 98108 (production facility)
Website: https://www.elysianbrewing.com/

8) Nutty Ale-Thundai from Omnium Brewing Company is a creative pale ale spiced with a thandai-inspired masala blend including fennel, almonds, pistachios, cardamom, and rose petals, plus lactose for subtle sweetness and nutty complexity. This gold medal winner in the Herb and Spice Beer category at the 2025 U.S. Open Beer Championship offers exotic, aromatic depth.
Address: 460 High St, Somersworth, NH 03878
Website: https://omniumbrewing.com/

9) Sah’tea from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is a modern recreation of ancient Finnish sahti, spiced with juniper berries and black chai tea for earthy, piney notes alongside warming masala spices in a strong, malty ale. This innovative herb-forward beer embodies off-centered brewing tradition with its unique botanical fusion.
Address: 6 Cannery Village Center, Milton, DE 19968
Website: https://www.dogfish.com/

10) Celis White from Celis Brewery is a revived classic Belgian-style witbier spiced with coriander and orange peel, yielding a hazy, refreshing pour with bright citrus, subtle spice, and a smooth wheat character. Founded by the legendary Pierre Celis and reborn in Austin, this authentic witbier carries a rich heritage of botanical elegance.
Address: 10001 Metric Blvd, Austin, TX 78758
Website: https://www.celisbeers.com/

 

History of Herb and Spiced Beers
Ancient Origins
Beer is one of the oldest fermented beverages, dating back over 8,000 years. In ancient Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), Sumerians brewed thick, porridge-like beer from barley, often flavored with dates, honey, and herbs for taste and preservation. The Hymn to Ninkasi (c. 1800 BCE), a poem honoring the goddess of brewing, is the world’s oldest surviving beer recipe.

In ancient Egypt, beer (called henqet) was a daily staple, lighter and smoother than Mesopotamian versions. Brewers used emmer wheat or barley, adding herbs, fruits, spices like mandrake, or dates for flavor. It served as food, medicine, religious offering, and worker ration (e.g., for pyramid builders).
These early beers relied on local botanicals rather than hops, which were unknown in brewing at the time.

Medieval Europe: The Era of Gruit
Before hops dominated, European beers used gruit (or gruyt)—a variable mixture of herbs and spices for bittering, flavoring, and preservation. Common ingredients included:
Bog myrtle (sweet gale)
Yarrow
Wild rosemary (marsh rosemary)
Mugwort
Heather
Juniper berries
Ginger
Caraway
Anise
Nutmeg
Cinnamon

Gruit originated in regions like the Low Countries, Germany, and Flanders around the 10th century. The Catholic Church and local lords often monopolized gruit production, taxing it heavily for revenue. These beers were unhopped ales, sometimes with psychoactive or aphrodisiac effects from the herbs.
Traditional survivors include Finnish sahti, flavored primarily with juniper branches and berries, brewed rustic-style without boiling the wort.

Transition to Hops (11th–16th Centuries)
Hops emerged in brewing around the 9th–11th centuries in Central Europe, prized for superior preservation, consistent bitterness, and lower cost compared to taxed gruit. The shift was gradual:

Hops spread from Bavaria and Bohemia northward
Better stability allowed longer storage and trade

Key factors included the Protestant Reformation undermining Church gruit monopolies and the 1516 Reinheitsgebot (German purity law) mandating only water, barley, and hops (yeast added later). By the late 16th century, hopped beer dominated most of Europe, though gruit lingered in places like Westphalia into the 17th century.

Spiced Beers in the Hop Era
Even with hops standard, spices persisted in certain styles:

Belgian witbier → Uses coriander and orange peel
Christmas/winter warmers → Often feature cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, or spruce, evoking holiday pies and mulled drinks

In colonial America, scarce barley led to beers fermented with pumpkin or other local produce, sometimes spiced. Modern pumpkin ales (popularized in the 1980s by breweries like Buffalo Bill’s) add pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove) for fall seasonal appeal, though actual pumpkin is often minimal.

Modern Revival
The 1990s craft beer boom revived herb and spiced beers. Brewers experiment with gruit-inspired unhopped ales, botanical additions, or hybrids (herbs + hops). Styles like “Herb and Spice Beer” encompass everything from juniper-lavender gruits to chili-chocolate stouts.

International Gruit Day (February 1) celebrates this heritage, and breweries worldwide release limited editions using ancient-inspired blends. Today, these beers offer diverse, complex flavors beyond hop bitterness—earthy, floral, spicy, or medicinal—connecting modern drinkers to millennia-old traditions.1.7s68 sources.

 

Top 10 Beer Festivals in America plus a few more: Click Here!

 

Peanut butter beers continue to be a craft sensation in 2025, turning childhood nostalgia into velvety, nutty masterpieces that pair roasted malts with that unmistakable creamy PB punch. Drawing from recent wins at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival buzz, and fresh reviews from BeerAdvocate, Untappd, and craft communities, here’s our updated top 10—ranked by acclaim, innovation, and sheer craveability. These are all-American brews, with wide availability in cans, drafts, or select markets.

The top 10 Peanut Butter Beers are any beers using peanut, peanut butter or peanut butter extract as an adjunct in either the mash, kettle, primary or secondary fermentation, providing obvious, yet harmonious, qualities.

1. Sweet Baby Jesus! Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter – DuClaw Brewing Company Maryland 
This timeless 5.2% ABV porter pours a deep mahogany and unleashes waves of silky peanut butter swirled with dark chocolate and subtle roasted malt, like a grown-up Reese’s that’s balanced enough for multiple pints without tipping into dessert overload—its lighter body lets the nutty magic shine through every sip.

2. TraXXX Night Fury – Witch’s Hat Brewing – South Lyon, Michigan
Bourbon barrel aged Night Fury Imperial stout aged on Vanilla beans, Mindo cocoa nibs, coconut and peanut butter. ABV: 13.5%

3. Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter – Waconia Brewing – Waconia, Minnesota
Pours an almost opaque dark brown with a thin head. Smells nutty, slightly malty, sweet and chocolatey. Taste is peanuts up front, chocolate and slight hop bitterness with a strong malt presence. Mouthfeel is medium light and low carbonation with a smooth finish.

4. Peanut Butter Porter – Back Forty Beer Company – Gadsden, Alabama
It’s creamy, it’s big, it’s just what it sounds like. Brewed with crushed peanuts and a malt bill thick enough to slather on some bread, Peanut Butter Porter belongs on your grocery list right next to the jelly, bananas & bacon. Comfort food in a can!

5. Peanut Butter Jelly Time – Catawba Brewing – Asheville, North Carolina
This beer begins life as a light brown ale that provides the bready qualities of the base beer. After fermentation, it is rested on whole roasted peanuts and all-natural raspberry puree, which truly transforms this into a PB&J sandwich in a glass.

6. Peanut Butter Porter – Liquid Mechanics – Lafayette, Colorado
Peanut Butter Porter from Liquid Mechanics combines the sweetness of the peanut butter with the slight smokiness of the porter. Opaque dark appearance, strong smell of peanut butter and chocolate, rich in sweet flavors of peanut butter and chocolate, tastes very similar to Reese’s Puffs Cereal lol, creamy and thick mouth feel with a smooth finish.

7. Nut Crusher Peanut Butter Porter – Wild Ride Brewing – Redmond, Oregon
The brewers at Wild Ride Brewing love beer. and love peanut butter. Nut Crusher Peanut Butter Porter is here to bring the best of these two worlds together! With notes of chocolate and caramel, this porter is complemented by the addition of creamy peanut butter flavor. It’s a true liquid peanut butter cup, and it’s here for you to enjoy.

8. Mexican Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout – Belching Beaver Brewery – San Diego, California
Belching Beaver’s classic Peanut Butter Milk Stout with Mexican Chocolate (Abuelita) added in. Rolled oats and lactose add to the creamy body of this beer while heavenly aromas of roasted buttery peanuts and chocolate greet you with every sip.

9. Rapp Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout – Rapp Brewing – Seminole, Florida
Beautiful dark brown beer with two finger head served at the brewery on draft in a snifter. Mostly peanut butter aroma with some chocolate, coffee, and roast in thebackground. The taste is chocolate and peanut butter with a toasty backbone to balance the sweetness.

10. Willoughby Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter – Willoughby Brewing – Willoughby, Ohio
Winner of the Gold Award for Specialty Beer at the 2014 World Beer Cup, this truly unique taste experience is brought to you only by Willoughby Brewing Company. The brewers at Willoughby start by brewing a robust porter and infusing it with locally roasted coffee and then infusing peanut butter and chocolate. The result is a beer like no other you’ve had before. Some people say they taste more coffee than peanuts and some say the reverse.

NATIONAL PEANUT DAY
On September 13, National Peanut Day pays homage to mighty and tasty peanut.

Likely originating in South America around 3,500 years ago, this legume is not a nut. They grow underground like potatoes. Since they are an edible seed that forms in a pod, they belong to the family Leguminosae with peas and beans. When it comes to plants packing protein power, peanuts provide a whopping 8 grams per ounce, more than any other nut according to The Peanut Institute. And remember, it’s not a nut! Nuts grow on trees.

The peanut is also high in antioxidants. Not only are peanuts high in necessary nutrients such as vitamin E, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, B6, iron, selenium, zinc and many others, but when paired with other nutrient-rich foods, studies have shown this amazing legume helps us absorb nutrients better.

Top 10 Beer Festivals in America plus a few more: Click Here!

North Carolina’s craft beer scene shines every fall at the NC Brewers Cup, the state’s largest and most prestigious professional beer competition. Organized by the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild since 2001, the Cup brings together hundreds of entries from breweries big and small to be blind-judged by BJCP-certified and professional judges using the latest Brewers Association style guidelines. Medals are awarded in dozens of categories (everything from classic lagers and IPAs to wild ales and barrel-aged stouts), plus a special “NC Home-Grown” category that celebrates beers made with at least 50 % North Carolina ingredients. Winners are announced each November at the NC Craft Brewers Conference in Winston-Salem, with the Brewery of the Year trophy going to the shop that racks up the most points across all categories. Over the years the competition has grown into a beloved celebration of Tar Heel brewing excellence, spotlighting both legendary names (Highland, NoDa, Fullsteam) and rising stars while giving beer lovers across the state a trusted guide to the very best local pints.

North Carolina’s craft beer scene shines every fall at the NC Brewers Cup, the state’s largest and most prestigious professional beer competition. Organized by the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild since 2001, the Cup brings together hundreds of entries from breweries big and small to be blind-judged by BJCP-certified and professional judges using the latest Brewers Association style guidelines. Medals are awarded in dozens of categories (everything from classic lagers and IPAs to wild ales and barrel-aged stouts), plus a special “NC Home-Grown” category that celebrates beers made with at least 50 % North Carolina ingredients. Winners are announced each November at the NC Craft Brewers Conference in Winston-Salem, with the Brewery of the Year trophy going to the shop that racks up the most points across all categories. Over the years the competition has grown into a beloved celebration of Tar Heel brewing excellence, spotlighting both legendary names (Highland, NoDa, Fullsteam) and rising stars while giving beer lovers across the state a trusted guide to the very best local pints.

2025 NC Craft Beer Cup Medal Winners

British Pale & Bitter Ale
Gold: Cricket Hill — Fullsteam Brewery
Silver: Iron Horse — Trolley Barn Fermentory
Bronze: “Made For Walkin’” — Salt Face Mule Brewing Company

Scottish & Irish Beer
Gold: Scott’s View — Compass Rose Brewery
Silver: Scott’s View — Compass Rose Brewery
Bronze: “Dawn of the Red” — Neoteric Brewing Company

British Porter & Brown Ales
Gold: Black Cat Porter — Lost Province Brewing Co
Silver: Grizzly Brown Ale — Cavendish Brewing Company
Bronze: “Boar Brown” — Pig Pounder Brewery
Honorable Mention: Gems & Rhinestones — Edit Beer Co.

American Porter, Amber, & Brown Ales
Gold: Green Man Porter — Green Man Brewery
Silver: Unibrown — Happy Valley Filling Station
Bronze: “Trains of Fayetteville” — North South Brewing
Honorable Mention: Might Be Better — Eno River Brewing

Stouts
Gold: The Throne — Cabarrus Brewing Company
Silver: Blue Tape Special 2024: Point of Origin — Eno River Brewing
Bronze: “Imperial Stout” — Town Brewing Company

Strong Ale
Gold: Forest Hills — Olde Hickory Brewery
Silver: Warrior Knight — Toasty Kettlyst Beer Company
Bronze: “King in the Castle” — Little Brother Brewing

Session IPA
Gold: Beach Beer — HopFly Brewing Company
Silver: Gentle Giant Session IPA — Primal Brewery
Bronze: “Season 34” — Edit Beer Co.
Honorable Mention: Trail Candy Tropical IPA — Lazy Hiker Brewing Co.

American Pale Ale
Gold: Dead West — Oklawaha Brewing Company
Silver: Turtle Speed — Wilmington Brewing Company
Bronze: “Beach Time” — Wilmington Brewing Company
Honorable Mention: Born for Dying — Incendiary Brewing Company

American-Style IPA
Gold: Tidal Break — Compass Rose Brewery
Silver: Lil’ Fish — Outer Dunes Brewing Company
Bronze: “Mindweaver” — Petty Thieves Brewing Co.
Honorable Mention:

Juicy/Hazy Pale Ale
Gold: Illusion Of Truth — Edit Beer Co.
Silver: Juice Whirled — Gypsy Road Brewing Company
Bronze: “Juice Train” — Seaboard Brewing

Juicy or Hazy IPA
Gold: 73 & Hazy — Royal Bliss Brewing Co
Silver: Foggy Nights VII — Leland Brewing Co
Bronze: “Trail Hazer” — Trailside Brewing Co.
Honorable Mention: Astrotrain v.6 — Seaboard Brewing

American-Style Sour Ale
Gold: Merican — Hatchet Brewing Company
Silver: Vera Sour — Diatribe Brewing Company
Bronze: “Rules of Acquisition” — Vaulted Oak Brewing
Honorable Mention: The Way Life Gose — Pitt Street Brewing Co.

European Hybrid Styles
Gold: Guidon Kölsch — Guidon Brewing Co.
Silver: Daycation Gold — Highland Brewing Company
Bronze: “Car Show Cosmo’s Kolsch” — Lake Norman Brewery

European Sour Ale
Gold: Gose — Ponysaurus Brewing Co.
Silver: Largesse — Divine Barrel Brewing
Bronze: “Beauty in the Cracks” — Twin Leaf Brewery

European Wheat
Gold: Broyhans Bock — Gilde Brewery
Silver: Banana Breeze — Pig Pounder Brewery
Bronze: “Hazy Skies Hefeweizen” — Pilot Brewing Company
Honorable Mention: 40 East — The Glass Jug Beer Lab

Belgian Ales
Gold: Cosmic Bloom — Eno River Brewing
Silver: Blonded by the Light — Fishtowne Brew House
Bronze: “Brushy Mountain Blonde Ale” — TwoBoros Brewery
Honorable Mention: Cast Net — Fishtowne Brew House

Saison
Gold: Saison — Flytrap Brewing
Silver: All is not lost — Petty Thieves Brewing Co.
Bronze: “New Slang Raspberry Saison” — Americana Beer Company
Honorable Mention: Songs To Fill The Air — Divine Barrel Brewing

Belgian Strong Ale / Monastic Ale
Gold: Hell Yes Ma’am — Raleigh Brewing Company
Silver: Luminosity — Twin Leaf Brewery
Bronze: “Reserve Ale” — Ponysaurus Brewing Co.
Honorable Mention: Death Machine — Hatchet Brewing Company

Pale European & International Lager
Gold: Phuket Sunset Thai Lager — Local Time Brewing
Silver: Pactolus Light Lager — Pitt Street Brewing Co.
Bronze: “Sexy Canoe” — Tarboro Brewing Company
Honorable Mention: Fire in the Mole — Mad Mole Brewing

Amber & Other Pale European Lager
Gold: Festbier — Resident Culture Brewing
Silver: Fontana Export — Mountain Layers Brewing Company
Bronze: “Tower Buzz” — Gaston Brewing Company
Honorable Mention: Yodeling Down Lake Starnberg — 760 Craft Works

Dark European Lager
Gold: Schwarzbier — Triple C Brewing Company
Silver: Midnight Waddle — Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company
Bronze: “Rain Czech” — Clouds Brewing
Honorable Mention: Duckin’ Funkel — Ghostface Brewing

German-Style Bock
Gold: Zuganator — Seaboard Brewing
Silver: Doppel Trouble — Ghostface Brewing
Bronze: “Bock Bock Goose” — Surf City Brewing Company
Honorable Mention:

Smoke Beer
Gold: Rauchbier — Diatribe Brewing Company
Silver: Embers and Periscopes — 760 Craft Works
Bronze: “East Meets West Rice Lager” — bmc brewing
Honorable Mention:

International Style Pale Ale & IPA
Gold: Yonder — Leland Brewing Co
Silver: New Zealand Pils — Diatribe Brewing Company
Bronze: “Drum>Space Galaxy” — Riverside Rhapsody Beer Company
Honorable Mention: Pyrle IPA — Little Brother Brewing

North American-Style Lager
Gold: Uno Mas — Lenny Boy Brewing Co.
Silver: Small Fires — Little Brother Brewing
Bronze: “Carolina Heritage” — Brunswick Beer and Cider

Pilsner-Style & Hoppy Lager
Gold: Heavy Hands — Little Brother Brewing
Silver: Foam Party — Trophy Brewing Company – Maywood
Bronze: “Wandering Waves” — Oaklyn Springs Brewery

North American-Style Amber & Dark Lager
Gold: Seaboard Oktoberfest — Seaboard Brewing
Silver: She Sells Seashells by the Sea Schwarz — Brunswick Beer and Cider
Bronze: “Last Day at the Office” — Neoteric Brewing Company

Other American Pale Lagers & Ales
Gold: Cotton Blonde — Cabarrus Brewing Company
Silver: User Friendly — Little Brother Brewing
Bronze: “Little Wing” — King Canary Brewing Company

Fruit Beer
Gold: Limelight — Ghost Harbor Brewing Company
Silver: Orange Hefe-Wit — Cavendish Brewing Company
Bronze: “Big SLURP” — NoDa Brewing Co.
Honorable Mention:Ultimo Hombre — Lower Left Brewing Company

Sour Fruit or Field Beer
Gold: Second Pick — Eno River Brewing
Silver: Manguava — Hatchet Brewing Company
Bronze: “Subject to Change (Blueberry Cheesecake Sour)” — Tobacco Wood Brewing

Field & Spiced Beers
Gold: Heat Seeking Pickle — Lower Left Brewing Company
Silver: Southern Basil — Fullsteam Brewery
Bronze: “Vanilla Cream Java Dream” — Hoptown Brewing Company

Brett, Mixed Culture, & Wild Ales
Gold: Raspberry Kaleidoscope — Lenny Boy Brewing Co.
Silver: Sisu 2025 — Cellarest Beer Project
Bronze: “Henotic 2025” — Cellarest Beer Project

Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer
Gold: Time Is Only Part Of The Equation — Divine Barrel Brewing
Silver: BBA Twice as Lonely with Macadamia & Vanilla — Resident Culture Brewing
Bronze: “Society #8” — DSSOLVR

Specialty Beer
Gold: Baklava Blond — Clouds Brewing
Silver: Belgian Moonlight — North South Brewing
Bronze: “Hops Mirage NA IPA” — Primal Brewery
Honorable Mention:Flashbacks — Trolley Barn Fermentory

Historic Beer
Gold: Smoke Over Lublin — Mountain Layers Brewing Company
Silver: You make me wanna Schopes — Gaston Brewing Company
Bronze: “Pleasing Gene” — Little Brother Brewing

NC Home-Grown
Gold: Sakura — Black Mountain Brewing
Silver: Time’s Arrow — Atomic Clock Brewing Company
Bronze: “Grandfather Paradox” — Atomic Clock Brewing Company
Honorable Mention: Spratt’s Lager — Town Brewing Company

About the The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild
The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild is the official voice and backbone of the Tar Heel State’s independent craft brewing community. Founded in 2000 by a handful of pioneering breweries (including Asheville’s Highland Brewing and Charlotte’s Olde Mecklenburg), the Guild was created to advocate for small, independent brewers at the state legislature, promote responsible growth, and foster collaboration in a rapidly expanding industry. Today it represents more than 300 brewery and brewpub members—from mountain towns to the Outer Banks—making North Carolina one of the top beer states in the country with over 400 independent craft breweries. The Guild hosts the annual NC Craft Brewers Conference, runs the hugely popular NC Brewers Cup competition, powers the NC Craft Beer Passport program, and fights for fair laws so local brewers can keep pouring world-class pints without red tape. More than just a trade group, it’s the heartbeat of North Carolina’s vibrant, independent beer culture.