The Great American Beer Festival Award Winners were announced on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The premier U.S. beer competition crowned the finest beverages in over 100 beer and cider styles. Congratulations to the eleven Virginia based breweries who took home awards including small brewery/brewer of the year…
American Fruit Beer – 79 Entries
Bronze: Tow The Lime, Starr Hill Beer Hall – Richmond, Richmond, VA
Coffee Beer – 40 Entries
Silver: Coffee Blonde, The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery, Hampton, VA over
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – 46 Entries
Silver: Sulking in The Brush, Mieza Blendery, Alexandria, VA
Bronze: Minotaurs & Matadors, Mieza Blendery, Alexandria, VA
Kellerbier or Zwickelbier – 48 Entries
Bronze: Safety Dance, Smartmouth Brewing Pilot House, Virginia Beach, VA
Mexican-Style Pale Lager – 146 Entries
Bronze: Yucatan Sunrise, Full Distance Brewing, Stafford, VA
Contemporary American Lager – 46 Entries
Gold: Gold Leaf Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co., Roseland, VA
Vienna-Style Lager – 82 Entries
Gold: Oktoberfest, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
German-Style Maerzen – 184 Entries
Silver: Oktoberfest, Bingo Beer Co., Richmond, VA
Scottish-Style Ale – 34 Entries
Gold: Satan’s Pony, South Street Brewery, Charlottesville, VA
Bronze: Monticello Mountain Ale, Blue Mountain Brewery, Afton, VA
Irish-Style Red Ale – 50 Entries
Silver: Red Molly, Pale Fire Brewing Co., Harrisonburg, VA
0-250 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Mieza Blendery | Alexandria, VA
Alex Lynch
For a complete list of winners go to www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/winners/
