Wrapping up the ninth edition of the London Beer Competition, the results are now in. This year’s winners represent the very best in brewing—beers that not only taste exceptional but also offer great value for money and outstanding shelf appeal. Organized by Beverage Trade Network, the competition is now in its ninth year and continues to set the benchmark for consumer-centric judging in the global beer industry.

This year, Gulden Draak Imperial Stout by Brouwerij Van Steenberge of Belgium clinched top honours, taking home the titles of “Beer Of The Year” and “American Porter and Stout Of The Year” along with a score of 97 points and a Double Gold medal.

Beer Of The Year: Gulden Draak Imperial Stout (Produced By: Brouwerij Van Steenberge, Belgium) - 97 Points, Double Gold

Beers were judged on three critical criteria: Quality, Value, and Packaging. Each entry was first blind-tasted to assess its craftsmanship and character. After quality scores were recorded, judges reviewed the beer’s retail price to evaluate its value. Finally, packaging was revealed to determine market appeal and branding effectiveness.

The judging panel included leading brewers, beer sommeliers, bar managers, and procurement specialists from the UK on-trade. Acclaimed individuals like Cheryl Cade, Irem Eren, Harry Meadows, Roberto Ross and Lolly Watkins made up the judging panel at the 2026 London Beer Competitions.

"Winning a medal here means your beer performs across taste, value, and shelf appeal, making it a strong contender in both domestic and international markets," said Sid Patel, CEO of the London Beer Competition.

Standout Winners from 2026 Include:

• Beer Of The Year: Gulden Draak Imperial Stout, Double Gold - 97 Points (Produced By: Brouwerij Van Steenberge, Belgium)

• Best Beer By Quality: Mahou Maestra Doble Lúpulo, Double Gold - 97 Points (Produced By: Mahou, Spain)

• Best Beer By Value: Voll Damm, Double Gold - 97 Points (Produced By: Damm S.A, Spain)

• Best By Packaging: Hiver Honey Cider, Double Gold - 96 Points (Produced By: Hiver Beers, United Kingdom)

• International Lager Of The Year: Curious Brew, Double Gold - 96 Points (Produced By: Curious Brewery, United Kingdom)

• Pale Malty European Lager Of The Year: Alfa Krachtig Dort, Double God - 97 Points (Produced By: Alfa Brewery, Netherlands)

• Amber Bitter European Beer Of The Year: Downlink, Gold - 91 Points (Produced By: Beyond Belief Brewing Co., United Kingdom)

• IPA Of The Year: Baltic IPA, Double Gold - 96 Points (Produced By: Cold Town Beer, United Kingdom)

• Strong Belgian Ale Of The Year: Fourchette, Double Gold - 97 Points (Produced By: Brouwerij Van Steenberge, Belgium)

• Gluten-Free Beer Of The Year: Mahou Cinco Estrellas Sin Gluten, Gold - 91 Points (Produced By: Mahou, Spain)

• Non Alcoholic Beer Of The Year: Kingston Golden Pils, Double Gold - 97 Points (Produced By: BERO, USA)

• Dark European Lager Of The Year: Mahou Maestra Dunkel, Gold - 95 Points (Produced By: Mahou, Spain)

• Brewery Of The Year: Brouwerij Van Steenberge, Belgium (With five out of six products securing Double Gold, and one Gold medal)

• Beer Of The Year Italy: Birra Flea - Anais, Gold - 92 Points (Produced By: Flea Società Agricola a r.l., Italy)

• Beer Of The Year Spain: Mahou Maestra Doble Lúpulo, Double Gold - 97 (Produced By: Mahou, Spain)

• Beer Of The Year Belgium: Fourchette, Double Gold - 97 Points (Produced By: Brouwerij Van Steenberge, Belgium)

• Beer Of The Year United States Of America: Free Wave, Double Gold - 97 Points (Produced By: Athletic Brewing Co, USA)

• Beer Of The Year United Kingdom: Curious Brew, Double Gold - 96 Points (Produced By: Curious Brewery, United Kingdom)

The full list of winners can be viewed here.

About the London Beer Competition

Now in its ninth year, the London Beer Competition continues to set the benchmark for beer judging, by focusing on what truly matters in today’s market—quality, value, and consumer appeal. Built to reflect real-world buying decisions, the competition recognizes beers that are not only technically excellent but also commercially viable in competitive retail and on-trade environments.

Judged by Top Industry Experts

Entries are evaluated by a highly respected panel of international judges, including master brewers, senior retail buyers, sommeliers, distributors, and beverage directors from leading hospitality groups. These judges are actively involved in sourcing and selling beer, ensuring that every entry is assessed not just on technical merit, but also on its real-world potential to perform in the market. This practical, trade-driven judging panel is what makes the results highly relevant to both producers and buyers.

2026 London Beer Competition Judges

A Unique and Commercially Focused Evaluation Process

The London Beer Competition stands apart through its triple-criteria judging system, which evaluates each beer across three key dimensions:

• Quality – Craftsmanship, balance, flavor profile, and overall drinking experience
• Value – Price-to-quality ratio and competitiveness within its category
• Packaging & Design – Visual appeal, branding, and ability to stand out on shelf

This holistic evaluation ensures that winning beers are not just great to taste, but also positioned for success with consumers and trade buyers alike.

Medal Structure & Scoring System

At the London Beer Competition, medals are awarded based on a weighted composite score derived from the competition’s three core judging criteria—Quality, Value, and Packaging.

To reflect the importance of how the beer tastes and performs in the glass, Quality is given double weight in the final score calculation.

The scoring formula is as follows: Final Score = (2 × Quality + Value + Packaging) ÷ 4

This approach ensures that while all three criteria are important, the drinking experience remains the most critical factor, while still accounting for price positioning and shelf appeal. 

Each beer is independently evaluated by multiple judges, and scores are aggregated to ensure consistency, fairness, and accuracy. Medals are awarded only to beers that meet strict scoring thresholds.

• Double Gold Medal (96–100 Points)
The highest honor awarded by the competition, Double Gold is reserved for exceptional beers that demonstrate outstanding quality across all judging parameters. These are products that stand out unanimously among judges and are considered best-in-class examples with strong market potential.

• Gold Medal (90–95 Points)
Gold medals are awarded to beers that show excellent craftsmanship, balance, and strong value positioning. These beers perform at a high level across all criteria and are highly recommended for both trade buyers and consumers.

• Silver Medal (85–89 Points)
Silver medals recognize very good beers that demonstrate solid quality and commercial appeal. These beers are well-made, competitive within their category, and suitable for a wide range of market placements.

• Bronze Medal (80–84 Points)
Bronze medals are awarded to beers that meet good quality standards and show clear potential in the market, offering a reliable and enjoyable drinking experience with appropriate value.

This structured scoring system ensures that all medal winners from the London Beer Competition are not only technically sound but also commercially relevant, helping buyers and distributors identify products that are ready to succeed in today’s global beer market.

2026 London Competition Judging

A Truly International Platform

With entries submitted from breweries around the world and judging hosted in London—one of the most influential global hubs for beer, hospitality, and trade—the competition offers brands a powerful gateway to international recognition and new market opportunities. Winning at the London Beer Competition signals to buyers that a product meets the standards required for both quality and commercial success, making it a valuable endorsement for expanding distribution globally.

Organized by Beverage Trade Network

The competition is organized by Beverage Trade Network, a global platform connecting the beverage industry through events, competitions, and media. With a strong footprint across the USA, UK, and international markets, Beverage Trade Network brings deep industry expertise and a buyer-focused approach to all its competitions. Its mission is to help brands grow their distribution by giving them direct exposure to key trade buyers, importers, distributors, and hospitality professionals.