Nara Brewing wins two golds at World Beer Cup 2026
Nara Brewing, a craft brewery in Nara, has won gold medals in two categories at World Beer Cup 2026, one of the world's largest beer competitions, held in the United States.
Japan shines at the “Olympics of beer”
The World Beer Cup is an international competition that has been run since 1996 by the Brewers Association, the US brewers’ trade body. The 2026 edition drew 8,166 entries from 50 countries, and 255 judges from 38 countries assessed them in blind tastings across more than 100 style categories. Some categories award no medals at all if entries fail to reach the quality standard, so a win is regarded as proof of technical skill. Japan took a total of 12 medals this time. Among them, Nara Brewing won gold in two categories. Nara Brewing is a young brewery that began brewing in 2018 in the ancient capital of Nara, close to Osaka and Kyoto. It is the first time in 16 years, since 2010, that a Japanese brewery has won golds in several categories at once.
FUNCTION, a blend of Belgian and American styles
FUNCTION, which won gold in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category, is one of the brewery’s core beers. It is a hoppy saison that combines Belgian-style yeast with American hops, with an ABV of 6.0%. It has aromas reminiscent of citrus and white grapes, and a restrained bitterness.
LIGHTHOUSE, a 3% ABV beer and a first
LIGHTHOUSE, which won gold in the Session Beer category, is a “micro porter” at 3.0% ABV. Several roasted malts give it a toasty character reminiscent of cocoa and coffee. As it warms, a nutty, almond-like aroma also emerges. The can is a nitro version filled with nitrogen, and is notable for its fine, creamy head. This is the first gold in the category for a Japanese brewery, and the first for any brewery outside the United States. It also won silver in the Dark Beer category at the International Brewing Awards 2026 in the United Kingdom. Representative Yasunori Namioka says that brewing the best beer in the world has been the company’s goal since its founding.
How to enjoy them in Europe
For European readers familiar with Belgian saisons and British porters, FUNCTION and LIGHTHOUSE offer a taste of how European styles are interpreted in Japan. If you spot them in a specialist shop that stocks Japanese craft beer, they are worth picking up. For LIGHTHOUSE, the brewery recommends shaking the can and then pouring it briskly into a glass. The ABV is low, and the beer has a light, easy-drinking character. Nara Brewing also collaborates with sake breweries, so it is a brewery worth watching for sake lovers too.
Sources
This article was written by The Sake Wire editorial team, summarising the public sources listed above. Images are our own.
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