Danico Brewing Takes Top Honors with “Best Beer of Summer” Award at the Vail Craft Beer Classic

75+ beers were showcased at the high-altitude beer festival in Vail; attendees and brewers voted for their favorite brews

VAIL, Colo. (June 16, 2026)—The 10th Annual Vail Craft Beer Classic welcomed more than 1,300 attendees to the mountain craft beer festival this past weekend where they got to vote for the top three selections for the 2026 “Best Beer of Summer” Awards that honored the standout beers from the festival.

The awards were announced on Saturday, June 13 in Vail Village with winners taking home “Best Beer of Summer” tap handles to display year-round in their taprooms.

Vail Craft Beer Classic “Best Beer of Summer” Award Winners:

• Danico Brewing Company – Lost Hills Pistachio Cream Ale: A delicate, unfiltered lager with pistachio. Nutty and surprisingly crisp with just a kiss of sweetness to balance. 5% ABV
• Too Steppin – Hard Ginger Beer “The Ranger”: The Ranger is a complex and yet totally balanced character. Subtle cucumber hints and forward prickly pear freshness make this an amazingly refreshing roundup. 5% ABV
• Wibby Brewing – Brunch So Hard Blood Orange Lager: Blood Orange lager brewed with a portion of wheat for a soft body. Bursting with real Blood Orange, this beer mimics the flavors of a mimosa so you can brunch all day long. 5% ABV

This is the third year in a row that Danico’s Lost Hills Pistachio Cream Ale has placed in the top three of the competition. This beer took top honors in 2024 and second place in 2025. Danico also won the stein hoisting contest. 

“The Vail Craft Beer Classic continues to be one of the greatest beer events of the year and we were so excited to be a part of the 10th annual VCBC this year. It is always an event we look forward to, and getting to spend a summer weekend in Vail is truly rewarding enough for us,” says Danico Brewing Owner David Lotierzo. “To have our Lost Hills Pistachio Cream Ale win first place as the Best Beer of Summer through the people’s choice is such an honor. We were shocked and delighted to win first place with a brand new, experimental beer back then. To be called to the stage three years in a row now is so humbling, and we are so thankful for the following we’ve received from the amazing crowd that comes out to this event. We’ve made Lost Hills a year-round offering in large part due to the amazing reception it has received at festivals like the VCBC. The organizers at Team Player Productions put together such a wonderful weekend of beer, music, and good vibes; we can’t wait to come back for 2027!”

This is the 10th year for the Vail Craft Beer Classic and the third time that the event producer added a public voting component. 

The Vail Craft Beer Classic is proud to partner with the Gore Range Gravity Alliance. A portion of the proceeds from the ticket sales went to the nonprofit’s mission to empower and connect women in the outdoors by offering women-led educational and social events.

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About Vail Craft Beer Classic
Over 30 beverage producers are coming together in Vail, Colo. for the 10th Annual Vail Craft Beer Classic to pour out their top craft beers, seltzers, and ciders. All-inclusive tickets allow guests to imbibe while taking in the scenic views of Vail, enjoying live music, and meeting the brewers. Attendees vote on “Best Beers of Summer,” then winning breweries receive bragging rights and a commemorative tap handle for their taproom. The Classic prides itself on presenting Colorado’s best breweries, worthy of a true Vail adventure. For more information, visit VailCraftBeerClassic.com, or follow @VailCraftBeerClassic on Facebook and Instagram.

About Discover Vail
Discover Vail in the spring, summer and fall. There’s no place like Vail for year-round recreation, outdoor pursuits and cultural experiences in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. Nestled at the foot of Vail mountain just two hours west of Denver, Vail’s fresh air, rugged beauty and charming pedestrian villages await visitors. Discover quaint Bavarian villages where outdoor activities abound and the performing arts flourish. Matching the incredible winter mountain experience, Vail from May through October is characterized by a rich culinary scene, family activities, world-class events and everything in between.

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