27 Apr 2026
The 2026 World Beer Cup wrapped in Philadelphia last week, and across three non-alcoholic categories, every gold medal went overseas: Mash Gang's 'Chug' Hazy IPA took Hoppy NA for the UK, Tripel Karmeliet Alcohol Free claimed Specialty NA for Belgium, and Fresh Beer 30 Kilometres won Classic NA for China. Illinois's Go Brewing was the American bright spot, landing both silver and bronze in Specialty NA, while Boulevard Brewing and Big Grove Brewery each medaled in the Hoppy category.
World Beer Cup competition director Chris Williams on the milestone 30th edition:
Thirty years in, the World Beer Cup remains a powerful reflection of how far global brewing has come, and where it's headed.
When a NA-specialist brewery out of Exeter, England beats every American entry in the hop-forward category, the category has officially outgrown its roots.