California Comes Out on Top at World Beer Cup

May 8, 2026 (Philadelphia, PA) — On April 22, 2026, Brewers Association (BA) convened in Philadelphia, PA to announce and celebrate the winners of the World Beer Cup. In its seventeenth year, the World Beer Cup is the Olympics of Beer and a highly coveted recognition amongst craft brewers.

By the Numbers

The World Beer Cup truly is a highly competitive, international competition:

  • Entries:  8166
  • Breweries:  1644
  • Countries Represented:  50
  • Style categories:  113 beer and 5 cider
  • Beer styles: 186 (includes all subcategories)
  • Average number of beers in each category:  69

Up against those odds, forty-four California breweries and cideries were World Beer Cup winners, bringing home a total of sixty-eight awards.

Of particular note, are California’s wins in the four most competitive categories:

  • West Coast-Style India Pale Ale with 293 entries
    • Bronze – Electric Eagle, Firestone Walker Brewing – Propagator Marina del Rey, CA
  • Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale with 274 entries
    • Bronze – Shifted Visions, everywhere, Orange, CA
  • Classic India Pale Ale with 205 entries
    • Gold – Immutable Dawn, ISM Brewing, Long Beach, CA
    • Silver – Hop-Fu!, North Park Beer Co., San Diego, CA
    • Bronze – Shred IPA, Shred Beer Co., Rocklin, CA
  • German-Style Pilsner with 201 entries
    • Bronze – Pilsner, Hop Dogma Brewing Co., Half Moon Bay, CA

“The California Craft Brewers Association is proud to once again see California’s craft brewers come home with the most wins of any state at the 2026 World Beer Cup! From unique and rare beer styles to the highly coveted IPA categories, California showed why we are still number one in craft beer. The CCBA congratulates all the winners and cannot wait for Californians, and people from all over the world, to try our award-winning craft beer,” said Kelsey McQuaid-Craig, Executive Director of the California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA).

Complete List of California Winners

MedalBeer NameBreweryCategory
GoldHandgepluckte KriekAleSmith Brewing CompanyBelgian-Style Fruit Beer
GoldHowzit PunchAlvarado Street BreweryFruited American-Style Sour Ale
BronzePower PlantsBarebottle Brewing Co.Imperial India Pale Ale
BronzeSunset SessionsBarebottle Brewing Co.International Pale Ale
SilverKanpai KrushBrewyard Beer Co.Rice Lager
GoldRedwood RemedyBurgeon Beer Co.American-Style Amber/Red Ale
BronzeTank Top & SchwartzBurgeon Beer Co.German-Style Schwarzbier
GoldMt. CookCellarmaker Brewing Co.Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale
GoldHappy DaysClaremont Craft AlesStrong Red Ale
BronzeSmall Batch GuavaCoronado Brewing Co.Fruited Cider
GoldIn Tasty We TrustDanville Brewing Co.American-Style Strong Pale Ale
GoldDouble NickelsDocent BrewingAmerican-Style Pale Ale
SilverStay CalmEast Village Brewing Co.Coffee Beer
GoldOaty McOatfaceEast Village Brewing Co.Robust Porter
BronzeShifted VisionseverywhereJuicy or Hazy India Pale Ale
GoldHigh & FineFieldwork Brewing Co.Hoppy Lager
BronzeEclipse 2025 Garrison BrothersFiftyFifty Brewing Co.Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout
Gold15th AnniversaryFigueroa Mountain Brewing Co.British-Style Imperial Stout
BronzeDanish Red LagerFigueroa Mountain Brewing Co.Vienna-Style Lager
GoldPear SaisonFirestone Walker Brewing – BarrelworksBrett Beer
BronzeBeauty EverywhereFirestone Walker Brewing – BarrelworksWood- and Barrel-Aged Dessert or Pastry Beer
BronzeElectric EagleFirestone Walker Brewing – PropagatorWest Coast-Style India Pale Ale
BronzeRomulus RedGladi8or Brews and BilliardsIrish-Style Red Ale
GoldSpiced AppleGowan’s Heirloom CiderBotanical or Spiced Cider
GoldGravensteinGowan’s Heirloom CiderNo/Low-Tannin Cider
GoldClassic DryGowan’s Heirloom CiderTannic Cider
Silver1876Gowan’s Heirloom CiderTannic Cider
BronzeJosh’s Lil’ ShoesGreen Cheek Beer Co.Session India Pale Ale
SilverSaison For PapaGreen Cheek Beer Co. – Costa MesaClassic Saison
SilverPyros ProstHop Dogma Brewing Co.Chili Beer
BronzePilsnerHop Dogma Brewing Co.German-Style Pilsener
BronzeCalifornia CommonInstitution Ale Co.American-Style Amber Lager
SilverMosaicInstitution Ale Co.English-Style Pale Ale
GoldImmutable DawnISM BrewingClassic India Pale Ale
SilverChepedelicISM BrewingNew Zealand-Style India Pale Ale
BronzeGolden StoutKarl Strauss Brewing Co.Coffee Beer
GoldWindansea WheatKarl Strauss Brewing Co.South German-Style Weissbier
BronzeNenetteKern River Brewing Co.Belgian-Style Blonde Ale
SilverKamakuraKetch BrewingInternational-Style Pilsener
SilverSnap ShotMorgan Territory BrewingAmerican-Style Cream Ale
GoldLock’d, Bock’d, & Ready to RockMorgan Territory BrewingGerman-Style Bock or Maibock
SilverSeven GablesMountain Rambler BreweryScottish-Style Ale
SilverHop-Fu!North Park Beer Co.Classic India Pale Ale
GoldLupulin ColliderNorth Park Beer Co.Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale
GoldFriends & NeighborsNorth Park Beer Co.Vienna-Style Lager
SilverHidden GemOB BrewerySouth German-Style Dunkel Weizen
SilverGuillaumePizza Port Ocean BeachSession Beer
BronzeOatsPizza Port Solana BeachOatmeal Stout
SilverSo Into YouRadiant Beer Co.Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale
BronzeBlackside SnapRiip Beer Co.American-Style Black Ale or American-Style Stout
BronzePacifist PelicanRiip Beer Co.American-Style Brown Ale
SilverNueve GradosRiip Beer Co.Mexican-Style Light Lager
BronzeWannabe WallabyRiip Beer Co.New Zealand-Style India Pale Ale
BronzeVelvet GlowRussian River Brewing Co.International-Style Pilsener
BronzeShred IPAShred Beer Co.Classic India Pale Ale
BronzePurr PressureSlice Beer Co.Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale
SilverKolschStandard Deviant BrewingGerman-Style Koelsch
GoldStone Cimmerian PortalStone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty StationAmerican-Style Black Ale or American-Style Stout
BronzeWassah Matta USynth Beer Co.Italian-Style Pilsener
GoldInfernoThe Lost AbbeyOther Strong Beer
BronzeBelle SaisonThird Window Brewing Co.Brett Beer
BronzePetite SaisonThird Window Brewing Co.Session Beer
GoldTransmission LightTransmission BrewingAmerican Light Lager
SilverRed BladeUrban Roots BrewingAmerican-Style Amber/Red Ale
GoldKaffe AmericanoUrban Roots BrewingCoffee Stout or Porter
GoldDemons Run 2025 ReserveUrban Roots BrewingWood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout
GoldSaca La BolsitaVillains Brewing Co.Mexican-Style Pale Lager
BronzeRoad RashWagon Wheel Brewing Co.Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale

About the California Craft Brewers Association
The California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade organization representing California’s craft brewing industry. Founded in 1989, it is the largest and oldest state trade association for craft breweries in the U.S. The CCBA advocates for California craft brewers in legislative and regulatory matters and provides vital resources, including business support, industry insights, and educational events. Dedicated to protecting and promoting the growth and diversity of California’s craft brewing community, the CCBA serves as the voice of the state’s brewers.

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