Lone Tree Brewing Wins First World Beer Cup Award For Famed Mexican Lager

LONE TREE, CO— Lone Tree Brewing Company Mexican Lager was awarded a bronze medal in the Mexican-Style Pale Lager category at the 2026 World Beer Cup in Philadelphia last week. 

This is Lone Tree’s first award in the World Beer Cup, one of the most prestigious beer competitions with entrants from across the globe. 2026 marked the 30th year of the World Beer Cup, for which an international panel of 255 judges from 50 countries evaluated 8,166 entries using rigorous, blind-tasting protocols. The 2026 competition had entries from 1,644 breweries representing 50 nations, awarding the best in beer and cider across 118 categories. The Mexican-Style Pale Lager category had 114 entries. 

Lone Tree Mexican Lager is a three-time recipient of medals in the Great American Beer Festival® (GABF) American Light Lager category, as well as a gold medal in the Colorado Brewers Cup International Pale Lager category. Its easy drinkability and accolades have grown its fan fame over the years, and helped to popularize the Mexican Lager style in Colorado and beyond.

"We couldn't be happier to have received our first medal on the World Beer Cup stage,” says Jerry Siote, Lone Tree Brewing Director of Operations. “Our Mexican Lager proves we can consistently produce a quality pale lager that our community can always rely on. It's become our largest flagship, and we're proud to call it a "beer's beer". The brewhouse team works very hard every day and never settles for just good enough, and it shows. We let the results speak for themselves, and It's always our goal to implement proven processes along with quality ingredients in everything we brew. This may be our first World Beer Cup medal, and we’re motivated to say it won't be our last.”

For more information about Lone Tree Brewing’s award-winning Mexican Lager, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING CO. 

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery to open in Lone Tree, Colorado in Denver’s South Metro area in 2011, and has remained a local staple for more than a decade. Now deeply rooted in this community, the brewing company is growing friends at its two tasting rooms– the original location near Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree, and Lone Tree Brewing Parker in the heart of Parker, Colorado. Visit the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com. 

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.