Recapping the 2026 San Diego Beer News Awards

Photography by Jenny Mann

The culmination of three months, hundreds of nominations and many thousands of votes took place last night at Harland Brewing’s headquarters in Scripps Ranch when the local beer community came together for the 2026 San Diego Beer News Awards. Now in its sixth year, the event was the largest yet, bringing together members and supporters of the brewing industry to announce winners in 34 different categories recognizing standout ales and lagers as well as excellence across all phases of the beer business. 

For the second time in three years, Champion Brewery honors went to Carlsbad-based Burgeon Beer Co., which ranked in the top three in a dozen categories, while taking first-place for Best Imperial IPA, Best Hoppy Beer (non-IPA) and Best Brewery in the West Region. Other regional Best Brewery award-winners included Fall Brewing in the Central Region, Harland in the East, North Park Beer Co. (NPBC) in the South and Pure Project Brewing in the North. Best New Brewery went to Michi Brew Co., which opened last year in the San Marcos industrial-park space that previously housed Double Peak Brewing.

NPBC had the most first-place awards of any brewery with five (Best Brewery – South, Best West Coast IPA, Best Hazy IPA, Best Barrel-Aged Beer, Best Collaboration Beer), while the second-most top-three finishes were amassed by Hopnonymous Brewing, which came in first in Best U.K. or Irish Ale, Best Alternative Beverage, Best Customer Service and Best Expansion Project for its recently opened Normal Heights taproom. Last year’s Champion Brewery, Seek Beer Co., had the third-most top-three finishes and earned a medal in the German Beer (non-Pilsner) category, while taking second place in six categories.

This year marked the fifth in which industry members elected an inductee into the San Diego Vanguard Brewer circle; a group of individuals who have brewed in San Diego for over a decade and made positive contributions to the local industry throughout their careers. To celebrate this half-decade milestone, all four of the previous award recipients – Tomme Arthur (The Lost Abbey Brewing), Jeff Bagby (Bagby Beer Co.), Paul Segura (Karl Strauss Brewing) and Doug Hasker (Puesto Cerveceria) – joined presenter Anthony Tallman of Burgeon on stage to congratulate this year’s honoree, Mcilhenney Brewing co-founder and Head Brewer Shawn Mcilhenney. 

The son of Alpine Beer Co. founder Pat Mcilhenney, Shawn played a key role in building that family business’ stellar reputation and did his best to preserve the brand after it was acquired by Green Flash Brewing. Perhaps his greatest triumphs have come working with his wife Jamie as the sole brewer at Mcilhenney Brewing, which opened in 2020 in the same location where Alpine Beer was born, admirably carrying on his family’s legacy through exceptional IPAs and other beers running the stylistic gamut.

This year’s other individual award winners included David Moore, who was presented with the Outstanding Service Award by the San Diego Brewers Guild for his decades serving as historian for that volunteer trade organization. Later in the night, Connie Vasquez (pictured at right below with North Park Beer Co.’s posse), the Finance Liaison for the local chapter of women’s advocacy non-profit, the Pink Boots Society, received the Nate Soroko Community Impact Award for her tireless work promoting local breweries as well as their beers, special events and other initiatives through her Instagram account, @shes_craftyyyy.

New award categories included Best Beer Bar or Restaurant, an honor that went to a business which just three-peated as USA Today’s Best Beer Bar in America, 32-year-old Kearny Mesa mainstay O’Brien’s Pub. Delving into the inner-workings of production facilities, DALUM Beverage Equipment not only sponsored but came up with the idea for the inaugural Sustainability Award, presenting it to multifaceted beverage producer Juneshine for the company’s next-level efforts in that arena. 

Another first-time category, Best Brewery Branding, was won by Fall, a Miramar-based company headed by longtime professional graphic artist Dave Lively. Aesthetic excellence was also celebrated in the Best Beer Can or Bottle Design category, which went to Mission Valley brewpub San Diego Brewing Co. (SDBC) for 16-ounce cans of its light lager “Beat LA”. In lieu of a trophy, plaque or medal, the sponsor of that category, WestAir Gases & Equipment, presented SDBC with a half-barrel keg upon which an artist had painted the winning design, while also leading a chant of the beer’s name with the crowd, which numbered around 400 people.

The ceremony was hosted by SDBN Executive Editor Brandon Hernández and CBS 8 news anchor Neda Iranpour, who spent just over two hours introducing more than 50 presenters, including California Craft Brewers Association Executive Director Kelsey McQuaid-Craig, ABC 10 News meteorologist Megan Parry and retired San Diego Union-Tribune beer columnist Peter Rowe. Members of Harland’s brewing team also took the stage to announce the winners in the Best Collaboration Beer category (NPBC and Russian River Brewing for Elder-Fu!, an IPA blending characteristics of their flagship hop-bombs). It was appropriate given they had spent a month-and-a-half brewing six collaboration beers with brewers from throughout San Diego County specifically for the event, all of which were on tap as well as available to-go in mixed six-packs.

In addition to the ceremony itself, the SDBN Awards included its annual vendor expo, allowing members of the industry to interact with various suppliers and service-providers, as well as meet the author of the recently released book Rethink Everything You Know About Craft Beer and get a free taste of a spent-grain breadmaking class care of Best Food or Menu category sponsor Grainbakers.

It was another memorable evening spent celebrating not only this year’s winners but, just as importantly, the entire San Diego beer community. Cheers to local beer and next year’s SDBN Awards, planning for which is already underway!

Brewery Awards

Champion Brewery
Presented by Yakima Chief Hops
Honoree: Burgeon Beer Co.

Best Brewery – Central Region
Presented by John I. Haas

First Place: Fall Brewing
Second Place: Hopnonymous Brewing
Third Place: Societe Brewing

Best Brewery – North Region
Presented by Abstrax Hops

First Place: Pure Project Brewing
Second Place: The Lost Abbey Brewing
Third Place: BattleMage Brewing

Best Brewery – South Region
Presented by Waste Management San Diego

First Place: North Park Beer Co.
Second Place: Seek Beer Co.
Third Place: Ballast Point Brewing

Best Brewery – East Region
Presented by Tiny Giant Taproom

First Place: Harland Brewing
Second Place: Mcilhenney Brewing
Third Place: Stone Brewing

Best Brewery – West Region
Presented by Country Malt Group

First Place: Burgeon Beer Co.
Second Place: Pizza Port Brewing
Third Place: Coronado Brewing

Best New Brewery
Presented by TapCraft

First Place: Michi Brew Co.
Second Place: Little Bird Brewing
Third Place: Hill Street Brewing

Best Expansion Project
Presented by Alta Vista Botanical Gardens

First Place: Hopnonymous Brewing Normal Heights Taproom
Second Place: The Lost Abbey Brewing Vista Tasting Room
Third Place: Modern Times Beer “Timestead” Downtown San Diego Pub

Larry Smith Memorial Customer Service Award
Presented by Arryved

First Place: Hopnonymous Brewing
Second Place: Seek Beer Co.
Third Place: Burgeon Beer Co.
Honorable Mention: Pure Project Brewing

Best Brewery Branding
Presented by Hoppy Beer Gear

First Place: Fall Brewing
Second Place: Burgeon Beer Co.
Third Place: Pure Project Brewing
Honorable Mention: BattleMage Brewing

Best Beer Can or Bottle Design
Presented by WestAir Gases & Equipment

First Place: Beat LA, San Diego Brewing Co.
Second Place: Something Hazy This Way Comes, BattleMage Brewing
Third Place: Moonlit, Burgeon Beer Co.
Honorable Mention: Elder-Fu!, North Park Beer Co.

Best Food or Menu
Presented by Grainbakers

First Place: Craft Coast Brewing / Craft Coast Beer & Tacos
Second Place: BLAH Brewing / Blind Lady Ale House
Third Place: Stone Brewing / Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens
Honorable Mention: North Park Beer Co. / Bankers Hill Taproom & Crown Point Pizza Shop

Sustainability Award
Presented by DALUM Beverage Equipment
Honoree: Juneshine

Beer Style Awards

West Coast India Pale Ale
Presented by Hauck Architecture

First Place: Hop-Fu!, North Park Beer Co.
Second Place: Treevana, Burgeon Beer Co.
Third Place: Got Tegridy, Hopnonymous Brewing
Honorable Mention: White Wolf, BattleMage Brewing
Small Brewery Standout: Good Pressure IPA, Good Pressure Brewing

Best Hazy India Pale Ale
Presented by LHK Noodle Bar

First Place: Art is Hard, North Park Beer Co.
Second Place: Juice Press, Burgeon Beer Co.
Third Place: Diamond Dust, Pure Project Brewing
Honorable Mention: Domino Theory, Seek Beer Co.
Small Brewery Standout: Fogged In, Sunny Grove Brewing

Katie Earle Memorial Imperial India Pale Ale Award
Presented by SoCal Brewing Supply

First Place: Mixed Greens, Burgeon Beer Co.
TIE ‒ Second Place: Mongo, Pizza Port Brewing
TIE ‒ Second Place: DDH The Other Brian, Green Cheek Beer Co.
Honorable Mention: Doobie, Weir Beer Co.
Small Brewery Standout: Double Trouble, Sunny Grove Brewing

Best Niche India Pale Ale
Presented by White Labs

First Place: I Don’t Get Angry When My Mom Smokes Pot, Weir Beer Co.
Second Place: New Day Rising, Seek Beer Co. / BLAH Brewing
Third Place: The Coachman, Societe Brewing
Honorable Mention: Ponto, Pizza Port Brewing
Small Brewery Standout: Black IPA, Culture Brewing

Best Hoppy Beer (non-IPA)
Presented by RadCraft

First Place: Carlsbad Crush, Burgeon Beer Co.
Second Place: Magical & Delicious, Fall Brewing
Third Place: Coping Skills, Seek Beer Co.
Honorable Mention: Daddios, Hopnonymous Brewing
Small Brewery Standout: San Diego Pale Ale, San Diego Brewing Co.

Best Pilsner
Presented by Beer Gram 

First Place: Rain, Pure Project Brewing
Second Place: Fortune, Seek Beer Co.
Third Place: Pistil, Burgeon Beer Co.
Honorable Mention: Plenty For All, Fall Brewing
Small Brewery Standout: Liberation, Barley & Sword Brewing

Best German Beer (non-Pilsner)
Presented by The Regal Seagull

First Place: Fest Beer, Seek Beer Co.
Second Place: Festbier, Burgeon Beer Co.
Third Place: Stein O’ Mite, Hopnonymous Brewing
Honorable Mention: Bier Von Bayern, Barley & Sword Brewing

Best U.K. or Irish Ale
Presented by Churchill’s Pub

First Place: Leaving Without Saying Goodbye, Hopnonymous Brewing
Second Place: Red Trolley Ale, Karl Strauss Brewing
Third Place: Verses of Victory, BattleMage Brewing
Honorable Mention: McNair’s, North Park Beer Co.
Small Brewery Standout: Beoir Dearg, Barley & Sword Brewing

Bill Snider Memorial Belgian Ale Award
Presented by San Diego Mesa College Fermentation Program

First Place: Devotion, The Lost Abbey Brewing
Second Place: The Harlot, Societe Brewing
Third Place: Turnstable, Hopnonymous Brewing
Honorable Mention: Sola Terra, Pure Project Brewing
Small Brewery Standout: Get Thee to a Nunnery, Burning Beard Brewing

Best Coffee Beer
Presented by Bottlecraft

First Place: Speedway Stout, AleSmith Brewing
Second Place: Bacon & Eggs, Pizza Port Brewing
Third Place: The Fuzz, Seek Beer Co.
Honorable Mention: Java the Hut, Weir Beer Co.
Small Brewery Standout: Witching Hour, Bay City Brewing

Best Sour or Wild Beer
Presented by CSU San Marcos Brewchive

First Place: Duck Duck Gooze, The Lost Abbey Brewing
Second Place: Jam Settings, Seek Beer Co.
Third Place: Mangoing Crazy, Hopnonymous Brewing
Honorable Mention: Imperial Notorious P.O.G., Stone Brewing
Small Brewery Standout: Handgeplukte Kriek, Lyons Peak Brewery

Best Light Beer or Adjunct Lager
Presented by Katalyst Public Relations

First Place: Japanese Lager, Harland Brewing
Second Place: On a Monday, Seek Beer Co.
Third Place: Invita, Burgeon Beer Co.
Honorable Mention: Agua Baja, Craft Coast Brewing
Small Brewery Standout: Good Pressure Blonde, Good Pressure Brewing

Best Strong Beer
Presented by MiraCosta College BrewTech Program

First Place: Judgment Day, The Lost Abbey Brewing
Second Place: The Dorsty Lion, Hopnonymous Brewing
Third Place: Hooded Assassin, BatteMage Brewing
Honorable Mention: The Butcher, Societe Brewing
Small Brewery Standout: Night Scenes #2, San Diego Brewing Co.

Best Barrel-Aged Beer
Presented by Beer30 by The 5th Ingredient

First Place: Barrel-Aged Macaroons Before Dying, North Park Beer Co.
Second Place: Enchiridion, Pure Project Brewing
Third Place: Serpent’s Kiss, The Lost Abbey Brewing
Honorable Mention: New Moon Rising, Hopnonymous Brewing
Small Brewery Standout: Magnetic Ribbon: Final Cut Edition, The Original 40 Brewing

Best Collaboration Beer
Presented by Ale Tales Taproom

First Place: Elder-Fu!, North Park Beer Co. / Russian River Brewing
Second Place: The Surfin’ Dead, Fall Brewing / Pizza Port Brewing
Third Place: Core Trends, Burgeon Beer Co. / Mcilhenney Brewing
Honorable Mention: More Than Its Parts, Seek Beer Co. / Living Haus Brewery
Small Brewery Standout: Siesta Fiesta, Booze Brothers Brewing / Craft Coast Brewing

Best Non-Alcoholic Beer
Presented by The Craft Beer Attorney

First Place: Run Wild IPA, Athletic Brewing
Second Place: Athletic Lite, Athletic Brewing
Third Place: Non-Alcoholic Speedway, AleSmith Brewing

Best Alternative Beverage
Presented by Real Nice Merchandise / Shirts On Tap

First Place: Juice Box Hero, Hopnonymous Brewing
Second Place: Lavy Lemonade, Green Cheek Beer Co.
Third Place: Haterade, Weir Beer Co.
Honorable Mention: Hard Cherry Cola, Karl Strauss Brewing
Small Brewery Standout: Savory Cider, Bivouac Ciderworks

Other Awards

Best Beer Bar or Restaurant
Presented by pH7X

First Place: O’Brien’s Pub
Second Place: The Regal Seagull
Third Place: Bock
Honorable Mention: Tiny Giant Taproom

San Diego Vanguard Brewer Award
Presented by RahrBSG
Honoree: Shawn Mcilhenney, Mcilhenney Brewing

Nate Soroko Community Impact Award
Presented by Country Malt Group
Honoree: Connie Vasquez, Pink Boots Society

Outstanding Service Award
Presented by San Diego Brewers Guild
Honoree: David Moore, Guild Historian

Thank you to the following individuals for taking time out of their busy schedules to take part in this year’s event…

Dan Anderson, Karl Strauss Brewing; Tomme Arthur, The Lost Abbey Brewing; Jeff Bagby; Dylan Brown, Burning Beard Brewing; Bill Carter, Backyard Brewery; Nicole Castleton, Burning Beard Brewing; Scott & Tessa Christian, Sunny Grove Brewing; Esthela Davila, Stone Brewing / San Diego Brewers Guild; Tom Finney, Pizza Port Imperial Beach; Kyle Fjalstad, The Original 40 Brewing; Erik & Shannon Fowler, Good Pressure Brewing; Derek Gallanosa, Chula Vista Brewery; Lia Garcia, Weir Beer Co. / Pink Boots Society; Elle Gaston, Embolden Beer Co. / The Night Shift; Joey Hanna, Hoppy Beer Gear; Jeff Hansson, Harland Brewing; Doug Hasker, Puesto Cerveceria; Madison Heacock, Pink Boots Society; Diane Hilz, The Roadies Brewing / San Diego Brewers Guild; Moe Katomski, Viewpoint Brewing; Tommy Kreamer, Gravity Heights; Anthony Levas, Harland Brewing; Jenny Mann, Jenny Mann Photography; Hunter Mannix, Hopnonymous Brewing; Christian Maxwell, Embolden Beer Co.; Judd McGhee, Citizen Brewers; Kelsey McQuaid-Craig, California Craft Brewers Association; Jim Millea, OB Brewery; Koo Miyaki, Koobrew; Cody Morris, Harland Brewing; Marlow Myrmo, Hodad’s Brewing; Matt Palmer, Pizza Port Ocean Beach; Megan Parry, ABC 10 News; Kaitlin Peters, Athletic Brewing / Pink Boots Society; Peter Rowe; Ramiro Salas, Cerveza California / Ketch Brewing / Station West; Rebecca Saldivar, The Hop Stop; Antonio “Wort Wrangler” Sanchez, Ballast Point Brewing; Winslow Sawyer, Pure Project Brewing; Paul Segura, Karl Strauss Brewing; Shawn Steele, Karl Strauss Brewing; Chad Stevens, Lyons Peak Brewery; Anthony Tallman, Burgeon Beer Co., Amanda “AJ” Tussing, Bock; Connie Vasquez, Pink Boots Society & Rémy Zurita, Hopnonymous Brewing

And thank you to this year’s sponsors for your support and for allowing this to remain a free event for all who wish to attend. We literally couldn’t do this without you…

91X FM, Abstrax Hops, Ale Tales Taproom, Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, Arryved, Beer Gram, Beer30 by The 5th Ingredient, Bottlecraft, Churchill’s Pub, Country Malt Group, The Craft Beer Attorney, CSU San Marcos Brewchive, DALUM Beverage Equipment, Grainbakers, Hauck Architecture, Hoppy Beer Gear, Jenny Mann Photography, John I. Haas, Katalyst Public Relations, LHK Noodle Bar, MiraCosta College BrewTech Program, pH7X, RadCraft, RahrBSG, Real Nice Merchandise / Shirts On Tap, The Regal Seagull, San Diego Brewers Guild, San Diego Mesa College Fermentation Program, SoCal Brewing Supply, TapCraft, Tiny Giant Taproom, Waste Management San Diego, WestAir Gases & Equipment, White Labs & Yakima Chief Hops