2026 Brewers Cup of California Announces State’s Top Beers

Sacramento, CALIF. – The 2026 Brewers Cup of California, a competition organized by the Sacramento Area Brewers Guild with support from several of the state’s brewers guilds and sponsor Craftmaster Stainless, announced the state’s best beers in an awards ceremony on April 24, 2026, at The Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre, in Sacramento, California.

The competition received 1,323 entries from 203 independent craft breweries across California, the most entries the competition has received to date. A panel of more than 60 qualified judges awarded Bronze, Silver, and Gold to the top three beers in 73 style categories.

“At its core, the Brewers Cup is a celebration by independent craft breweries, for independent craft breweries,” said David Weiss, President of the Sacramento Area Brewers Guild. “Their creativity, craftsmanship, and commitment to quality is what this competition is really about.”

The Brewers Cup is the largest craft beer competition in California and one of the largest in the United States.

Top Awards of the Night

The Guild of the Year award, a title given to the brewers guild whose membership collectively medaled highest in the competition, was awarded to the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild.

Berkeley Yeast awarded Best of Show to Morgan Territory Brewing from Tracy, California, for “Lock’d, Bock’d And Ready To Rock,” a German-Style Heller Bock/Maibock.

Morgan Territory Brewing also received the Brewery of the Year Award, presented by John I. Haas, Inc. The brewery was a previous recipient of this award in 2023 and 2025.

The competition recognized Mark Ruedrich, Co-Founder and President of North Coast Brewing Company, as its 2026 Craft Beer Pioneer. The award recognizes individuals who have helped shape and propel California’s craft beer industry.

Winners of the most-entered style categories include:

• Hazy India Pale Ale
  • Gold: Moksa Brewing Company – “Zeta Function”
  • Silver: Absolution Brewing Company – “Juice Demon”
  • Bronze: Knee Deep Brewing – “Cosmonautilus”
• American/West Coast IPAs
  • Gold: Morgan Territory Brewing – “Tropidank”
  • Silver: Solano Brewing Company – “Scottie Rippen”
  • Bronze: Laughing Monk Brewing – “Sunday Best”

Established in 2019, the Brewers Cup of California is organized by the Sacramento Area Brewers Guild with support from the Bay Area, Central Coast, Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego brewers guilds.

The Brewers Cup of California would like to thank its sponsors Craftmaster Stainless, John I. Haas, Inc., and Berkeley Yeast for their support. This event would not have been possible without the support of Brewers Cup staff, judges, stewards, and countless volunteers.

The full list of winners is available on the Brewers Cup website.

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