Emily Hutto 4/23/26 Emily Hutto 4/23/26

Ska Brewing True Blonde Wins Gold at the 2026 World Beer Cup

Ska Brewing’s flagship beer True Blonde Ale earns top honors in English-Style Pale Ale category at the 2026 World Beer Cup

DURANGO, CO - April 23, 2026— Ska Brewing is raising a glass to its first-ever and most decorated beer for yet another distinguished award. Yesterday at the 2026 World Beer Cup awards ceremony, True Blonde won the gold medal in the English-Style Pale Ale category.

The 2026 gold is True Blonde’s third win at the World Beer Cup, one of the most prestigious beer competitions on the globe and a place where brewers go to get judged in the most flattering possible way: blind. Organized by the Brewers Association, this year’s World Beer Cup marked the competition’s 30th year. It recognized the best in beer and cider across 118 categories with 8,166 entries from 1,644 breweries representing 50 nations. Those entries were evaluated by an international panel of 255 judges using blind-tasting protocols designed to uphold the competition’s global standard for technical excellence, innovation, and creativity. The English-Style Pale Ale category included 77 entries this year.

For Ska, this win is especially meaningful. True Blonde has been one of the brewery’s flagship beers since day one, with the first two kegs ever brewed poured at the second annual Telluride Brewer’s Festival in September 1995. Thirty-one years later, the beer continues to earn recognition on the world stage— and, make people look smart for ordering it.

“This one means a lot,” says Dave Thibodeau, Co-Founder of Ska Brewing. “True Blonde was where it all started for us. It was the first beer we ever brewed, and to see it win World Beer Cup gold 31 years later is incredibly rewarding. It says something about the quality of the beer, the consistency of our brewing team, and the staying power of a beer that has been part of Ska since the very beginning.”

True Blonde’s latest honor joins five Great American Beer Festival medals, three L.A. International Beer Competition awards, a European Beer Star, an Australian International Beer Awards medal, multiple recognitions from the Good Food Awards, and more in the trophy case.

“Thirty years in, the World Beer Cup remains a powerful reflection of how far global brewing has come— and where it’s headed,” says Chris Williams, World Beer Cup Competition Director. “Even in a year that challenged beverage alcohol producers to evolve, this year’s winners demonstrated that innovation, precision, and passion for craft are stronger than ever.”

Ska Brewing has built its reputation on bold flavor, independence, and a healthy disregard for taking itself too seriously. But behind the irreverence has always been a deep commitment to brewing quality beer. With this latest gold medal, True Blonde continues to prove that a classic never goes out of style.

For more information about Ska Brewing True Blonde’s remarkable 31-year-run, and counting, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Founded in the spirit of punk rock and a little bit of ska, Ska Brewing has been challenging the status quo and brewing beers that refuse to conform since 1995. From the iconic Mexican Logger to the rebellious Modus Hoperandi IPA, Ska Brewing is dedicated to crafting unforgettable beers and beverages that are as unique as the people who drink them. For more information, samples, or just to chat about how great peaches are, contact Ska Brewing at info@skabrewing.com or visit skabrewing.com.

Emily Hutto 7/22/25 Emily Hutto 7/22/25

True Blonde, the first Ska Brewing beer ever, still winning awards 30 years later

After recognition among the 15 Years of Good Food Awards Finalists, Ska Brewing True Blonde Ale was named a Good Food Awards winner by the Good Food Foundation late last month.

DURANGO, CO— Talk about tried and true— Ska Brewing’s longest standing and most decorated beer, True Blonde Ale, has done it again. After recognition among the 15 Years of Good Food Awards Finalists, this time-honored and beloved honey ale was named a Good Food Awards winner by the Good Food Foundation late last month.

True Blonde Ale joins a select group of 55 winners across 18 categories who have demonstrated enduring excellence in taste, craftsmanship, and ethical production. For fifteen years now, the Good Food Awards have been celebrating food (and beer!) that is both delicious and responsibly produced. This year, the Good Food Foundation collected ballots to determine more than 8,000 finalists from the public in support of their favorite producers who had previously won Good Food Awards.

True Blonde Ale is a crisp, medium-bodied blonde ale that is crafted with honey from Durango’s specialty honey producer, Honeyville. It’s a true staple in the American craft brewing community that’s been around since 1995. It’s available across Ska’s national distribution footprint, and of course at the brewery’s World Headquarters in Durango.

True Blonde Ale is a five-time Great American Beer Festival® winner and a two-time World Beer Cup® awards winner. It has also been recognized at the Colorado State Fair, and the L.A. International Beer Competition. 2025 marks True Blonde Ale’s second win in the Good Food Awards. The first was in 2019.

"I still remember that first True Blonde. It was the very first beer we ever brewed back when we first opened 30 years ago, and the first two kegs were served at the Telluride Brewer’s Festival— now known as Blues & Brews," regales Dave Thibodeau, President and Co-Founder at Ska Brewing. "It's a huge source of pride for us that our first beer is still our most recognized."

Media interested in learning more about Ska Brewing’s achievements for True Blonde Ale can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Emily Hutto 6/26/25 Emily Hutto 6/26/25

Ska Brewing Is Among 15 Years of Good Food Awards Finalists in 2025

Ska Brewing flagships True Blonde Ale and Pink Vapor Stew are recognized as finalists among the 15 Years of Good Food Awards Finalists.

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing flagships True Blonde Ale and Pink Vapor Stew are recognized as finalists among the 15 Years of Good Food Awards Finalists, a special tribute to past Good Food Awards winners who have earned the most votes from the awards’ prestigious judges.

For the first time ever, the Good Food Awards collected ballots to determine finalists— more than 8,000 of ‘em— from the public in support of their favorite producers who had previously won Good Food Awards. Ska’s True Blonde Ale was a winner in 2019; Pink Vapor Stew won in 2021, and again in 2023.

“Ska Brewing has always been a big fan of the Good Food Foundation and their mission,” says Marketing Director Kristen Muraro. “It is an honor to be recognized as a finalist this year, and to be included among such great brewing companies."

Among a competitive pool of past winners, Ska has two-top scoring beers in this Community Choice vote for the 2025 Beer finalists category alongside three other beers from Fullsteam, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, and Maine Beer Co.. In total, 91 products from 86 companies are finalists in categories that also include wine, cider, grains, pickles, cheese, chocolate, and more. The 2025 Good Food Awards winners will be announced on June 28 at the Good Food Mercantile in New York City

Media interested in learning more about Ska Brewing’s achievements in the Good Food Awards can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Emily Hutto 3/4/22 Emily Hutto 3/4/22

Ska Brewing Releases A New Beer… That’s Not an IPA

Ska Brewing Raspberry Blonde Ale Hits Shelves in March 2022.

DURANGO, CO– Just in time for the turn of the season, Ska Brewing presents a fruited rendition of its oldest and most decorated recipe, True Blonde Ale. Raspberry Blonde will tap for the first time at Ska on Friday and cans hit shelves across Ska markets next week.

“Our last several big can releases might suggest otherwise, but we experiment with more than just hops,” jokes Ska CEO Dave Thibodeau. “In this case we’ve been excited for this fruit addition in our beloved True Blonde Ale, which goes as far back as the brewery does.”

True Blonde Ale was Ska’s first brewed, tapped, and canned recipe. Over the years it has earned two World Beer Cup® awards and a Good Food Award from the Good Food Foundation. It has also been recognized at the Colorado State Fair, the LA County Fair, the European Beer Star awards, the Australian International Beer Awards, and the L.A. International Beer Competition. Most recently True Blonde was awarded a 2021 Great American Beer Festival® medal in the English Ale category, bringing this beer’s GABF® award count up to five.

Raspberry Blonde is crafted with subtle Cascade hop additions that balance the zest of the fruit in the recipe. At 5 percent ABV, it belongs in Ska’s wheelhouse of light-bodied, easy drinking ales and lagers like the classic Colorado Mexican-style lager, Mexican Logger, and its Grapefruit sister Rue B. Soho, Thibodeau adds. “It’s a colorful beer with vibrant, bright flavor notes.

Raspberry Blonde will tap on Friday, March 4 at Ska’s World Headquarters in Durango, Colorado. Canned 6 packs of the new beer join Ska’s year-round portfolio in all of its markets next week.

Media assets for Raspberry Blonde Ale are available for download here. Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with any questions.

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award- winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Emily Hutto 9/14/21 Emily Hutto 9/14/21

Tried and True, Ska Brewing’s True Blonde Ale Earns More Accolades at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival

Ska’s True Blonde is the oldest and most decorated beer recipes, already holding four GABF medals, and two World Beer Cup® awards.

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing’s True Blonde Ale earned a silver medal in the English Ale category at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival®.

The most prestigious professional beer competition in the country, GABF® scores brews on a tabulation scale, with winners landing gold, silver, and bronze placements if they stack up. In a competition featuring 9,680 beers in 97 categories, True Blonde’s silver medal distinguishes it as a beer that maintains close adherence to the style and displays excellent taste, aroma and appearance.

Ska’s True Blonde is the oldest and most decorated beer recipes, already holding four GABF medals, and two World Beer Cup® awards. It has also been recognized at numerous other events, including the Colorado State Fair, the L.A. International Beer Competition, and the Good Food Awards.

True Blonde a crisp, medium-bodied blonde ale that is crafted with honey from Durango’s specialty honey producer, Honeyville. A little sweet and a lot delicious, True Blonde has established itself as a true staple in the world of American craft brewing.

“What a fantastic wrap up to an incredible week!” Dave Thibodeau, Ska’s Co-Founder and CEO, exclaimed during the GABF Awards Ceremony and a week after Ska celebrated its (25th and) 26th anniversary. “True Blonde was the very first beer we ever brewed and we poured our first two kegs exactly 26 years ago at Telluride Blues and Brews.”

For more information about Ska Brewing’s True Blonde Ale or any of Ska’s other award-winning beers, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award-winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans including Modus Hoperandi, Mexican Logger, Euphoria and Pinstripe. For information (a lot of it), music, and a good time, visit skabrewing.com.

Emily Hutto 12/3/18 Emily Hutto 12/3/18

Ska Brewing True Blonde Named 2019 Good Food Awards Finalist

Ska’s True Blonde is one of its oldest and most decorated beer recipes.

DURANGO, CO— In November, Ska Brewing’s True Blonde, the brewery’s most decorated beer, was named a finalist for the 2019 Good Food Awards.

2019 marks the ninth year for the Good Food Awards. This platform recognizes to tasty, authentic and responsible food producers in 16 categories: beer, spirits, cider, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee, confections, fish, honey, oils, pantry, pickles, preserves, snacks and elixirs. This year’s competition saw 2035 entries. Ska True Blonde Ale is one of 21 of finalists in the Good Food Awards beer category, and the only brewery in the finalist list from Colorado.

Ska’s True Blonde is one of its oldest and most decorated beer recipes. It’s a crisp, medium-bodied blonde ale that is crafted with honey from Durango’s specialty honey producer, Honeyville. True Blonde has been the recipient of four Great American Beer Festival® medals and two World Beer Cup® awards. It has also been recognized at the Colorado State Fair, the LA County Fair, the European Beer Star awards, the Australian International Beer Awards, and the L.A. International Beer Competition.

The 2019 Good Food Awards winners will be announced on Friday, January 11, 2019, at a 1,000 person gala in the historic San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, followed by two days of celebration including the public Good Food Awards Marketplace

For more information about Ska Brewing’s True Blonde Ale, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. For more information about the Good Food Awards, contact Katherine Harris at katherine@goodfoodfdn.org.

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award-winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans including Modus Hoperandi, Mexican Logger, Euphoria and Pinstripe. For information (a lot of it), music, and a good time, visit skabrewing.com.

ABOUT GOOD FOOD AWARDS

The Good Food Awards (GFA) celebrate exceptional American craft food and drink producers who create distinctive, handcrafted, and sustainable products. The GFA brings together thought leaders from every sector of the food industry to choose the most delicious products from all regions of the country in a blind tasting. Products are evaluated by region, allowing the GFA to showcase the rich variety of terroirs of the nation’s food culture, elevating craft producers with the ultimate aim of stimulating local food economies. After the tasting, high-scoring producers are closely vetted for compliance with GFA requirements for sustainable production practices. Winners and runners-up are evaluated by the Good Food Foundation and announced each January at the Awards Ceremony. Learn more at goodfoodfdn.org.