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

Photo © Brewers Association

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.

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

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

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 our website at www.skabrewing.com.