Beer is aging in wood barrels at Maine-based Allagash Brewing, which won a gold medal Wednesday for its Allagash White witbier at the World Beer Cup. (Staff photo by Derek Davis/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
California breweries captured nearly one quarter of all gold medals awarded to U.S. breweries Wednesday for the best beers at the annual World Beer Cup competition.
An analysis of World Beer Cup data by this journalist reveals that California breweries won 23 of 99 gold medals given to U.S. breweries for their beers. Washington breweries finished second with nine gold medals, and Colorado and Oregon breweries tied for third place, with breweries in each state winning six golds.
Various beers are lined up on the bar at California-based Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens, which won a gold medal Wednesday at the World Beer Cup for its Stone Cimmerian Portal beer. (Photo by Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
At Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Convention Center, World Beer Cup judges awarded 353 gold, silver and bronze awards in 118 beer and cider categories. Breweries from 50 countries submitted 1,694 beers and ciders that were blind-tested by 255 judges from 50 countries.
Some examples of California breweries’ gold-medal-winning beers are:
*Windansea Wheat, entered by San Diego-based Karl Strauss Brewing Co. in the South German-Style Weissbier category.
*Happy Days, entered by Claremont-based Claremont Craft Ales in the Strong Red Ale category.
*Friends & Neighbors, entered by San Diego-based North Park Beer Co. in the Vienna-Style Lager category.
*Double Nickels, entered by San Juan Capistrano-based Docent Brewing in the American-Style Pale Ale category.
*Transmission Light, entered by Ventura-based Transmission Brewing in the American Light Lager category.
Breweries in California, Washington, Oregon and Colorado traditionally dominate the winner’s circle, but this year’s medal winners show that the craft beer explosion has led to breweries in lighty regarded states producing world-class beers.
Utah, which has laws that allow only beers of 5% or less ABV (alcohol by volume) to be sold in grocery stores and poured on draft, is now home to five breweries that captured gold medals. The gold-medal winners are:
*St. George-based Silver Reef Brewing Co. for its Ay Dios Mio! in the Chili Beer category.
*Salt Lake City-based Templin Family Brewing for its Templin Family Albion Tripple in the Belgian-Style Tripel category.
*Salt Lake City’s Uinta Brewing Co. for its 801 Pilsner in the German-Style Pilsener category.
*Ogden-based Ogden Beer Co. for its Cultura Cerveza in the Mexican-Style Light Lager category.
*Helper-based Helper Beer Co. for its Helper Beer Archaic Forrest in the Tea Beer category.
Breweries in Virginia also won five gold medals, and breweries in three states—Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina—copped four gold medals.
California also won the cider title among U.S. states with three cideries winning gold medals. Cideries in Oregon and Washington also won one gold.
Japan was the standout foreign country at the World Beer Cup. Japanese breweries won five gold medals for their beers. Canadian breweries copped four gold medals, and Brazilian breweries captured three golds.
DURANGO, CO – April 23, 2026— Ska Brewing is raising a glass to its first-ever and most decorated beer for yet another distinguished award. Yesterday at the 2026 World Beer Cup awards ceremony, True Blonde won the gold medal in the English-Style Pale Ale category.
The 2026 gold is True Blonde’s third win at the World Beer Cup, one of the most prestigious beer competitions on the globe and a place where brewers go to get judged in the most flattering possible way: blind. Organized by the Brewers Association, this year’s World Beer Cup marked the competition’s 30th year. It recognized the best in beer and cider across 118 categories with 8,166 entries from 1,644 breweries representing 50 nations. Those entries were evaluated by an international panel of 255 judges using blind-tasting protocols designed to uphold the competition’s global standard for technical excellence, innovation, and creativity. The English-Style Pale Ale category included 77 entries this year.
For Ska, this win is especially meaningful. True Blonde has been one of the brewery’s flagship beers since day one, with the first two kegs ever brewed poured at the second annual Telluride Brewer’s Festival in September 1995. Thirty-one years later, the beer continues to earn recognition on the world stage— and, make people look smart for ordering it.
“This one means a lot,” says Dave Thibodeau, Co-Founder of Ska Brewing. “True Blonde was where it all started for us. It was the first beer we ever brewed, and to see it win World Beer Cup gold 31 years later is incredibly rewarding. It says something about the quality of the beer, the consistency of our brewing team, and the staying power of a beer that has been part of Ska since the very beginning.”
True Blonde’s latest honor joins five Great American Beer Festival medals, three L.A. International Beer Competition awards, a European Beer Star, an Australian International Beer Awards medal, multiple recognitions from the Good Food Awards, and more in the trophy case.
“Thirty years in, the World Beer Cup remains a powerful reflection of how far global brewing has come— and where it’s headed,” says Chris Williams, World Beer Cup Competition Director. “Even in a year that challenged beverage alcohol producers to evolve, this year’s winners demonstrated that innovation, precision, and passion for craft are stronger than ever.”
Ska Brewing has built its reputation on bold flavor, independence, and a healthy disregard for taking itself too seriously. But behind the irreverence has always been a deep commitment to brewing quality beer. With this latest gold medal, True Blonde continues to prove that a classic never goes out of style.
For more information about Ska Brewing True Blonde’s remarkable 31-year-run, and counting, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT SKA BREWING
Founded in the spirit of punk rock and a little bit of ska, Ska Brewing has been challenging the status quo and brewing beers that refuse to conform since 1995. From the iconic Mexican Logger to the rebellious Modus Hoperandi IPA, Ska Brewing is dedicated to crafting unforgettable beers and beverages that are as unique as the people who drink them. For more information, samples, or just to chat about how great peaches are, contact Ska Brewing at info@skabrewing.com or visit skabrewing.com.
Developed by the Brewers Association in 1996 to celebrate the art and science of brewing, the World Beer Cup is considered the most prestigious beer competition in the world.
The World Beer Cup recognizes brewing excellence in more than 100 categories but does not automatically award the top three entries in a particular category. When judges determine that a category contains three excellent examples of the style, they present gold, silver, and bronze awards for the first, second, and third place beverages, respectively.
“Evaluating beer and cider happens on many levels,” says Williams. “On a professional level, beer and cider evaluation is a form of peer review. The results are public, so consumers can learn what beverages meet a high level of quality and what beverages exemplify certain styles as interpreted by the judges.”
Judges may grant an award in any one or more of the three award places without granting awards in all three places. For example, judges may recognize a beer or cider as a silver or bronze award winner yet not grant a gold award. Learn more.
About the Brewers Association
The World Beer Cup is organized by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts.
The 2026 awards ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America® in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. This is a ticketed event that is not open to the public.
- When: Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
- Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center