Niigata craft beer wins two 'World's Best' titles in Britain

A British-born style, winning a British competition

On 13 August 2026, Swan Lake Beer (Hyoko Yashiki no Mori Brewery), a craft brewery in Agano, Niigata Prefecture, announced that it had won two awards at the World Beer Awards 2026, a beer competition held in the UK. Two of its beers, Swan Lake Beer Porter and Amber Swan Ale, were each named “World’s Best” in their style category. Japanese beers took World’s Best in seven categories at this competition in total, and this brewery accounted for two of them.

What makes this interesting for European readers is which competition and which categories were won. Porter is a dark beer that became popular in 18th-century London and is an essential style of British pub culture. A Japanese brewery has reached the top of a style with British roots, in a British competition. That is the real significance of this news.

Three blind rounds, with a “world’s best” chosen for each style

The World Beer Awards is an international competition organised by Paragraph Publishing, the company behind the British whisky magazine Whisky Magazine. Entered beers are grouped according to widely used international style classifications. Judges assess them in blind tastings with the brand names concealed, and only beers that get through all three rounds become the “World’s Best” in their category.

In other words, what is judged is how well a beer is made as an example of its style. A porter must be properly a porter and an amber ale properly an amber ale, and international standards demand this strictly. Winning two titles under those conditions is all the more impressive.

Ales from Niigata, a sake heartland

Niigata Prefecture lies on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu, Japan’s main island, and is well known for its rice and sake. “Hyoko” in the brewery’s name is a lake where swans arrive in winter, and the name “Swan Lake” also evokes it. The award-winning amber ale is a style characterised by a reddish-brown colour from moderately roasted malt, and by a toasty aroma.

To enjoy this award in Europe, try comparing it with local porters and amber ales. Placing it alongside the same styles from British, Belgian and Dutch breweries will show you what was valued in the international judging. A porter should not be served too cold: at around 10 to 13°C, its roasted aroma and chocolate-like flavours come out. Amber ale pairs well with grilled meat and aged hard cheese. If you come across the name “Swan Lake” in a specialist shop or online store that stocks Japanese craft beer, do try it as an ale from the land of sake.