ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The World Beer Cup, a prestigious beer competition between brewers from all over the globe, held its 2026 ceremony on Wednesday, April 22. Out of the dozens of entries per category, three Asheville competitors claimed a medal for their brew, including Wicked Weed Brewing, Diatribe Brewing Company and Hi-Wire Brewing Company.

What were the winning beers from Asheville at the 2026 World Beer Cup?

The gold medal winner of the trio was the “Irish Extra Stout” from Diatribe, which triumphed over 31 other beers in the Export Stout category.

Meanwhile, in the Fruit Beer category, Wicked Weed claimed a silver medal for its “Lime Drop” fruit lager, triumphing in over 85 other entrants.

Then, Hi-Wire scored a bronze medal for its “10W-40 Coconut Candy Bar” in Dessert or Pastry Beer, beating out 42 other beers.

More North Carolina winners

Asheville was not the only N.C. city to win big at the 2026 World Beer Cup. Bryson City, Charlotte, Greensboro, Hickory, Kill Devil Hills and Tarboro also walked away with medals at the competition.

  • Mountain Layers Brewing Company from Bryson City, N.C. won bronze for “ALTeration” in German-Style Altbier
  • Armored Cow Brewing Company from Charlotte, N.C. won gold for “Raspberry Rush” in Fruit Wheat Beer
  • Brewers at 4001 Yancey from Charlotte, N.C. won gold for “Victory Brewing Company Sunny Monkey”
  • Little Brother Brewing from Greensboro, N.C. won bronze for “Pleasing Tony Italian Pilsner” in Kellerbier or Zwickelbier
  • Olde Hickory Brewery from Hickory, N.C. took home two medals, including gold in Old Ale, Strong Ale or Aged Beer for “Forest Hills” and bronze in American-Style Imperial Stout for “Imperial Stout”
  • Swells’a Brewing from Kill Devil Hills, N.C. won silver in American-Style Pilsner for “Pea Island Park Pilsner”

Click here for a full list of winners.

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