A cold, crisp lager on a warm afternoon is one of life’s simple pleasures. And if you enjoy a good one, here is something worth knowing: three American craft breweries just beat the world at making them.
The 2026 World Beer Cup wrapped up in Philadelphia, and the results are in. The competition, run by the Brewers Association, drew 8,166 entries from 50 countries. A panel of 255 judges evaluated beers across 113 styles and five cider categories. Of 354 possible awards, 353 were given out.
Lagers Were Among the Fiercest Competitions
Most people think of craft beer as an IPA game. And it’s true, the West Coast-Style India Pale Ale category drew the most entries, with 293 submissions. But lagers were no pushover.
German-Style Pilsener, Munich-Style Helles, and Czech-Style Pale Lager each drew triple-digit entries. These are classic, demanding styles. There is nowhere to hide in a well-made lager.
The Three American Gold Medal Winners
Uinta Brewing Co. in Salt Lake City, Utah, took gold in German-Style Pilsener with their 801 Pilsner. They beat more than 200 entries to get there. That is a lot of very good beer to top.
Wander Back Beerworks in Vineland, New Jersey, won gold in Munich-Style Helles (the fifth-most-entered category) with their Wander Back Lager. It comes in at 4.9% ABV and is made with locally grown, floor-malted pilsner grain.
New York Beer Project in Lockport, New York, took top honors in Czech-Style Pale Lager with their Lockport Lager. The brewery describes it as “a love letter to the United States’ deep and rich history of diversity, strength, hope, and courage.”
More Gold-Winning American Lagers Worth Knowing
Plenty of other American breweries brought home gold in lager categories too. Here is a look at the full list of winners:
| Category | Beer | Brewery | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian-Style Pilsener | It’s A Me Mario! | Breakside Brewery | Milwaukie, OR |
| Kellerbier or Zwickelbier | Kellerbier | pFriem Family Brewers | Hood River, OR |
| Vienna-Style Lager | Friends & Neighbors | North Park Beer Co. | San Diego, CA |
| Munich-Style Dunkel | Bru Ski Patrol | Dru Bru | Cle Elum, WA |
| German-Style Schwarzbier | Fables Overturned | Wild Yarrow Brewing | Cle Elum, WA |
| German-Style Bock | Lock’d, Bock’d, & Ready to Rock | Morgan Territory Brewing | Tracy, CA |
| Doppelbock/Eisbock | Eisbock | Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub | Minneapolis, MN |
| Rice Lager | Exquisite Taste | Cloudburst Brewing | Seattle, WA |
| Hoppy Lager | High & Fine | Fieldwork Brewing Co. | Berkeley, CA |
| American-Style Pilsener | Bullpen Pilsner | Atlas Brew Works | Washington, D.C. |
| Mexican-Style Pale Lager | Saca La Bolsita | Villains Brewing Co. | Anaheim, CA |
| International Dark Lager | Common Nightjar | Attic Brewing Co. | Philadelphia, PA |
| Dortmunder/Oktoberfest | Used 8 Track | Discourse Brewing | Overland Park, KS |
| International Amber Lager | Harvest Moon | Tellico Brewing Co. | Tellico Plains, TN |
| Contemporary American Lager | Adams Pilsner | Single Hill Brewing Co. | Yakima, WA |
| American-Style Lager | Floyds Deluxe | Three Floyds Brewing | Munster, IN |
| American Light Lager | Transmission Light | Transmission Brewing | Ventura, CA |
| International-Style Pilsener | Birkebeinerpils | Victor 23 Brewing | Vancouver, WA |
| West Coast-Style Pilsener | Long Time Sunshine | Cloudburst Brewing | Seattle, WA |
| Mexican-Style Light Lager | Cultura Cerveza | Ogden Beer Co. | Ogden, UT |
| American-Style Amber Lager | Just Like Himmel | New Ridge Brewing Co. | Philadelphia, PA |
If any of these breweries are near you (or if you spot one of these beers on a menu), it might be worth raising a glass. They earned it.