From the editor: The World Beer Cup heads to San Antonio next April, and early bird pricing runs through December 16. The new styles list is the interesting part. A new award category for Czech-style dark lager and room for New Zealand-style pilsener tells you exactly where brewers’ heads are at right now.
Early bird registration open through Dec. 16
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(BOULDER, CO) – The Brewers Association (BA), the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers, today announced that registration for the 2027 World Beer Cup® is open.
Registration for the 2027 competition will be open from November 5, 2026, through January 2027 (subject to availability), at worldbeercup.org. The competition will be held in conjunction with the 2027 Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, where winners will be announced during a live awards ceremony.
“The World Beer Cup is one of the most meaningful honors a brewery can earn,” said Chris Williams, competition director for the World Beer Cup. “An award reflects the evaluation and recognition of some of the best judges from around the world. Additionally, we’re excited to continue to recognize cidermakers as part of our new World Cider Cup in 2027. We look forward to celebrating the craftsmanship, consistency, and innovation that move our industry forward.”
Often referred to as the “Olympics of Beer” and organized by the Brewers Association, the World Beer Cup was established in 1996 to promote the international exchange of brewing excellence. The competition features more than 100 beer style categories, evaluated by an elite panel of international judges. The 2026 competition brought together 1,644 breweries representing 50 nations, underscoring the event’s role as a truly global benchmark for quality.
New Beer Styles:
- Alsatian-Style Pilsener (as a subcategory of International-Style Pilsener)
- Czech-Style Dark Lager (new award category)
- Italian-Style Grape Ale (3 subcategories – Red, White & Sour)
- New Zealand-Style Pilsener
- Distinct Gluten-Free Categories (Classic Ale or Lager, Hoppy, Specialty)
- Multi-Adjunct Beer or Hybrid/Crossover Beer (as subcategories of Specialty Beer)
New Champion Award
- Champion Brewery
Key Dates
- Early Bird Pricing: Nov. 5 – Dec. 16
- Regular Pricing: Dec. 17, 2026 – Jan. 2027 (subject to availability)
- Awards Ceremony: Held during the 2027 Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America® on April 7, 2027
- Registration & Details: worldbeercup.org
The World Beer Cup is made possible thanks to the generous support of its sponsors: Fermentis, First Key, HAAS, Jerney Ltd. Beverage Solutions, Rahr Malting Co., and Sahm. Additional information about the event, registration, deadlines, and previous year’s winners can be found on WorldBeerCup.org.
About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 9,000-plus U.S. breweries and its independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events, including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference™ & BrewExpo America®, and American Craft Beer Week®.
