Wander Back Lager Receives Gold Medal at World Beer Cup 2026

Philadelphia, PA • 4/23/2026— Wander Back Beerworks of Vineland, NJ, is thrilled to
announce their recent gold medal at the 2026 World Beer Cup, the most prestigious beer
competition in the world. Taking place on April 22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in
nearby Philadelphia, awards were bestowed in 114 style categories and five cider categories.
With a gold in an incredibly competitive category – the Munich-Style Helles –, Wander Back
outpaced 155 other entries with their flagship Wander Back Lager: a classic Helles Lager brewed
with 100% locally grown and malted Rabbit Hill Farms Pilsner malt with a single decoction,
Mittelfrüh and Saaz hops, and appropriately lagered with a yeast strain originating from the
famed Weihenstephan Institute in Germany.

“It’s such an honor to take home a gold medal, but the honor is even more special because it
was for our flagship beer, the first we ever brewed as Wander Back,” says co-owner Brian Hink.
“This beer is the foundation of all our beers. Our brewing, cellaring, and packaging processes
were all designed around this beer.”

Hink points out that a strong Helles lager has no margin for error.
“Too sweet and it’s not guzzlable enough,” he says. “Too dry or thin and it leaves a fleeting
sense that makes you want to grab something else to drink. A Helles is all about balance,
drinkability, and Wander Back Lager is the epitome of drinkable. It’s a throwback beer in the
sense that it’s a classic style, but also in the sense that you can just throw it back and drink it
over and over again.”

Co-owner Justin Vitti is proud of Wander Back’s showing at such a prestigious event.
“The World Beer Cup is the ‘Olympics of Beer Competitions,’” he says. “Brewers enter from all
over the world to be judged here, and the Helles category had the fifth-highest number of
entries. To be recognized alongside so many respectable breweries – and to come out on top –
is a testament to the work our team is doing every day: staying focused on the details and doing
what’s right for the beer.”

For co-owner Chris Henke, this is truly a win for the South Jersey beer community. He places
much of the credit for this win squarely on the shoulders of Wander Back’s local maltster,
Rabbit Hill Farms, located less than 20 miles from Wander Back’s new home in Vineland.

“Since opening, we’ve been all-in on Rabbit Hill’s malt,” he says. “Not only are they local, but
more importantly, their malt is world-class. This award reinforces that and proves South Jersey-
grown and -malted barley belongs in the same conversation as the best European imports.”
Recognizing the best in brewing from all over the world, this year the World Beer Cup
welcomed a group of 255 discerning beer judges, hailing from 37 countries, who carefully
evaluated 8,166 entries from 1,644 breweries across 50 countries. Established by the Brewers
Association in 1996, the World Beer Cup Competition continues its legacy annually,
representing the international brewing elite and celebrating producer craftsmanship. For
additional information, visit the World Beer Cup website.

Founded in 2024, Wander Back Brewery in Vineland, NJ, has made a name for itself by getting
back to basics. Brewing solid, classic, true-to-style beers using only the freshest, locally sourced
ingredients, Wander Back is committed to ensuring quality beer from the first sip to the final
pour. Their taproom in Downtown Vineland is expected to open later this year, but until then,
you can find their offerings at finer establishments throughout South Jersey.

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