Overview: The Brewbound “Best of” Awards have released their nominees for the 2026 cycle, highlighting a distinct shift in consumer preference toward lagers, light beers, and fruited styles. Winners will be announced on December 10, 2026 at Brewbound Live 2026 across categories including Craft Brewery of the Year and Beyond Beer Company of the Year.
The Full Story
The nominees list reflects a business environment where craft breweries are winning with accessible styles that bring new drinkers in. Simultaneously, non-alcoholic IPAs and hop-forward options provide reasons for existing consumers to remain engaged. Beyond traditional beer, cider, hard soda, and beer-inspired drinks are growing alongside the taproom offerings.
The individuals on this list include founders and brewmasters who have maintained independent companies during a challenging year for the category. The nominees cover categories including Craft Brewery of the Year, Large Brewery of the Year, Beyond Beer Company of the Year, Person of the Year, Rising Stars and Best New Products.
What This Means
The nominees demonstrate how the business is changing as brewers build distribution one market at a time. These are founders and brewmasters who have kept independent companies growing in a hard year for the category, signaling resilience within the sector.
Consumer Takeaway
This release offers access to a curated selection of breweries expanding beyond beer into cider and hard soda. The awards celebrate products that cater to new drinkers seeking lagers or light beers while satisfying those who prefer non-alcoholic IPAs.
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