Colorado Brewers Collect 27 awards at World Beer Cup®

22 Colorado breweries, 19 of which are independent craft breweries, earned medals at the global beer competition this year

DENVER (April 22, 2026) — The Colorado Brewers Guild (CBG) is pleased to congratulate the 19 Colorado craft breweries that collected a total of 23 awards at the World Beer Cup award ceremony on April 22, 2026 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA where awards were given in 113 beer-style categories.

The Brewers Association started the global competition in 1996 to celebrate the art and science of brewing. World Beer Cup winners were selected by an international panel of 255 beer judges from 38 countries. Widely recognized as the “Olympics of Beer,” the World Beer Cup saw an impressive field of 8,166 beers from 1,644 breweries in 50 countries.

“Colorado continues to showcase why we are the state of craft beer. Taking both Silver and Gold in West Coast-Style IPA, the most competitive category in the competition, is a testament to our brewers’ skill and creativity,” says CBG Executive Director Shawnee Adelson. “And with nine beers earning World Beer Cup medals for at least the second time, it’s clear that Colorado doesn’t just make world-class beer—we make it consistently.” 

Notable World Beer Cup Trends:

• Colorado took both Silver and Gold in the most competitive category — West Coast-Style India Pale Ale, which drew 293 entries. Crystal Springs’ Mosaic Madness earned Silver, while Cannonball Creek’s Project Alpha 81 claimed Gold.
• River North Brewery led all Colorado brewers with three awards—a feat they’ve now achieved in back-to-back years. The brewery has also earned awards in four consecutive World Beer Cup competitions.
• Verboten extended their World Beer Cup streak to five consecutive years, powered by Grow Old With You, which took its fourth straight award in the Barley Wine-Style Ale category. That makes Grow Old With You, tied with Glenwood Canyon Brewing’s Sopris, the most decorated beer from a Colorado craft brewery. Four consecutive awards for a single beer is also a World Beer Cup record for Colorado.
• The Post extended its award streak to three years straight in the Other Strong Beer Category with their beer, East County Fine Malt Liquor.
• Colorado continuity in excellence showed up with nine craft beers winning an award for at least the second time at the WBC.
  • 12Degree Brewing: Cactus Juice (Berliner-Style Weisse)
  • Bull & Bush Brewery: Kauai Pie (Dessert or Pastry Beer)
  • Ratio Beerworks: Dear You (American-Belgo-Style Ale)
  • River North: Pumpkin Spice J. Marie (Pumpkin/Squash or Pumpkin Spice Beer)
  • River North Brewery: Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun (Coffee Beer)
  • Ska Brewing: True Blonde (English-Style Pale Ale)
  • Telluride Brewing: Face Down Brown (American-Style Brown Ale)
  • The Post Brewing Co: East County Fine Malt Liquor (Other Strong Beer)
  • Verboten Brewing: Grow Old With You (Barley Wine-Style Ale)
• Six breweries took home awards for the first time: Crystal Springs, Hideaway, Liquid Mechanics, Lone Tree Brewing, Los Dos Potrillos and Peculier)
• True Blonde, the first beer that Ska Brewing ever brewed in 1995, took home gold in the English-Style Pale Ale category.

2026 Colorado Craft Beer Award-Winning Winners:

Gold Medal Winners:

• River North Brewery: Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun (Coffee Beer)
• Bull & Bush Brewery: Ghoul Fuel-Rum Diaries Edition (Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer)
• Ska Brewing: True Blonde (English-Style Pale Ale)
• Cannonball Creek Brewing Co: Project Alpha 81 (West Coast-Style India Pale Ale )

Silver Medal Winners:

• River North Brewery: Pumpkin Spice J. Marie (Pumpkin/Squash or Pumpkin Spice Beer)
• River North Brewery: Espresso Hello Darkness (Coffee Stout or Porter)
• Bull & Bush Brewery: Kauai Pie (Dessert or Pastry Beer)
• Odell Brewing Company: Friek (Fruited American-Style Sour Ale)
• Peculiar: Barenbrau Bock (German-Style Bock or Maibock)
• Hideaway Park Brewery: Little Mac (Australian-Style Pale Ale)
• Verboten Brewing: Grow Old With You (Barley Wine-Style Ale)
• Westbound & Down – Westbound Mill: Trade Deficit (Export Stout)
• Telluride Brewing: Face Down Brown (American-Style Brown Ale)
• Cannonball Creek Brewing Co: Mindbender (American-Style Strong Pale Ale)
• Crystal Springs Brewing Co: Mosaic Madness (West Coast-Style India Pale Ale)

Bronze Medal Winners:

• Los Dos Portrillos Cerveceria: Agua Fresca (Fruit Beer)
• Liquid Mechanics Brewing Company: El Poblano Borracho (Chili Beer)
• The Empourium Brewing Company: Animals Strikes Curious Poses (Honey Beer)
• The Post Brewing Co: East County Fine Malt Liquor (Other Strong Beer)
• Ratio Beerworks: Dear You (American-Belgo-Style Ale)
• Stodgy Brewing Company: Gin Barrel Sour Red (American-Style Sour or Wood & Barrel Aged Sour Beer)
• Lone Tree Brewing Company: Mexican Lager (Mexican-Style Pale Lager)
• 12Degree Brewing: Cactus Juice (Berliner-Style Weisse)

“A huge congratulations to all of Colorado’s breweries!” says Adelson “Winning a medal at World Beer Cup is no easy feat and we encourage beer lovers to celebrate Colorado’s wins by going to their favorite brewery.”

For the full list of 2026 World Beer Cup award winners, visit WorldBeerCup.org.

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About the Colorado Brewers Guild: The Colorado Brewers Guild (CBG) is a nonprofit trade association with the mission to promote, protect, and propel independent craft breweries in the State of Craft Beer through advocacy, community, education, and public awareness. The majority of the state’s 400+ licensed breweries and brewpubs are members. See a list of events that support membership, learn how to become a member, and more at coloradobeer.org.