Competition

A new category in the 2026 Great American Beer Festival competition aims to raise the profile of craft maltsters and their offerings. Here’s what the malt-minded pros suggest for brewing up an entry—and it starts with collaboration.

The most prestigious beer competition in the United States is open to breweries from across the country, but some states tend to win more than others for reasons that include population size (i.e., more breweries) and proximity. Let’s take a closer look.

When it comes to succeeding at competitions, brewing great beer is only the baseline. From two of the winningest breweries in the United States, here are key strategies to increase the odds.

This lauded brewery in central Oregon proves that smart operational decisions can pay dividends—and land you on the awards podium.

Brewers who’ve enjoyed repeat success at the judging tables have this advice for their friendly competition: From category selection to packaging methods, you need to sweat the details.

Medals and other honors can raise your brewery’s profile, boost your team, and even increase sales. Yet with tighter budgets and more competitions than ever, breweries are carefully considering where and how many they can enter.

Organized by the Oregon Brewers Guild and open to breweries across the country, the inaugural Best of the West Coast IPA National Throwdown recently named its winners from among 200 entries.

Some brewers put a lot of thought and care into their contest entries—and the rest are at a disadvantage. To increase your chances of winning, here are some top tips from the organizers of major international competitions.

This tiny brewpub on California’s Central Coast recently put the beer world on notice when, at the World Beer Cup, it pulled off what should have been impossible—then very nearly did it again at GABF. Here’s how it happened.

At the helm of North Carolina’s Highland Brewing, founded by her father Oscar Wong in 1994, Leah Wong Ashburn discusses how they’re doubling down on people, values, and experience in today’s challenging environment.

From our upcoming Spring issue of the Brewing Industry Guide, here’s a roundup of some recent news, notes, and announcements from around the industry.

The Heidelberg-based maltster is inviting brewers around the world to brew an altbier with Bestmalz ingredients and enter their competition.

Breweries worldwide have until November 10 to register for entry into the 2022 World Beer Cup, with beer samples due in March.

With inflation and supply-side costs in the headlines, many breweries are wondering whether now is the time to raise prices in their taprooms or on shelves. But experts warn not to make that decision too quickly.

Registration opens in June for this year’s GABF competition. Changes to the style guidelines this year include new homes for lower-strength Belgian-style ales and Kentucky Common, while pale ales and IPAs got tweaks to reflect the growing aroma spectrum.

The pandemic has sidelined another festival, but the competition for barrel-aged beers will continue, and would-be festgoers can buy mixed sixers to participate from home.

Is your brewery striking the right balance between protecting its information and keeping the brewery an appealing place to work?

BJCP Certified Judge and award-winning homebrewer Paul Odell covers the inner-workings of beer competitions and offers tips to help you stand out and win with your next entry.