Six Western North Carolina breweries earned medals at the 2026 World Beer Cup awards ceremony, held April 22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia during the Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America. Eleven medals went to breweries located in the state of North Carolina. 

The World Beer Cup, hosted by the Brewers Association and now in its 30th year, received 8,166 entries from 1,644 breweries representing 50 nations. These entries were evaluated by an international panel of 255 judges. North Carolina matched its eleven-medal performance from 2025, with award-winning breweries spanning the state. Notably, Diatribe Brewing Company, Hi-Wire Brewing Co., Little Brother Brewing, Armored Cow Brewing Co., and Olde Hickory Brewery each received medals in both 2025 and 2026, reflecting the sustained excellence of North Carolina's independent craft brewing community.

North Carolina's 2026 World Beer Cup medalists:

Gold – Irish Extra Stout, Diatribe Brewing Company – Asheville (Export Stout)

Gold – Forest Hills, Olde Hickory Brewery – Hickory (Old Ale, Strong Ale, or Aged Beer)

Silver – Lime Drop, Wicked Weed Brewing – Asheville (Fruit Beer)

Bronze – 10W-40 Coconut Candy Bar, Hi-Wire Brewing Co. – Asheville (Dessert or Pastry Beer)

Bronze – ALTeration, Mountain Layers Brewing Co. – Bryson City (German-Style Altbier)

Bronze – Imperial Stout, Olde Hickory Brewery – Hickory (American-Style Imperial Stout)

Source: NC Craft Brewers Guild.