The 2026 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship Medal Winners and Grand National Champion
The 2026 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship crowned its champions on July 22nd, cementing its status as America’s premier celebration of hard seltzer and THC-infused seltzer innovation.
Held in Oxford, Ohio, the competition shattered previous records with an unprecedented number of entries from producers across the country. Judges evaluated a dazzling array of creative flavors and styles, awarding medals across 37 diverse categories that showcased the explosive growth and ingenuity defining today’s hard seltzer and hard soda scene.
Standout Winners Included:
- Marker 48 Brewing’s “Root Beer” captured a Gold Medal and the prestigious Director’s Award, hand-selected by Hard Seltzer Director Julia Kamp as the most memorable seltzer of the competition.
- In the fast-growing THC seltzer division (with seven different categories), NewGrav (Greensboro, NC) earned Best THC Seltzer Producer. High Horse Beverage’s Blood Orange Yuzu from North Carolina took home the Founder’s Award, chosen as the Founder’s favorite by U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Founder Dow Scoggins.
2026 U.S. Open Hard Seltzers Grand National Champion
Crow and Wolf Brewing (Clovis, California) rose to the top as the 2026 Grand National Champion, earning the coveted Grand National Champion’s Cup. The brewery delivered a dominant performance with 10 medals (6 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze), narrowly edging out last year’s champion, Barn Town Brewing. Quirk Hard Seltzer by Boulevard Brewing rounded out the top three.
Top 10 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Producers – 2026
- Crow and Wolf Brewing – Clovis, California
- Barn Town Brewing – Des Moines, Iowa
- Quirk Hard Seltzer by Boulevard Brewing Co.
- Bravazzi Hard Italian Soda – Nashville, TN
- NewGrav – Greensboro, NC (THC Category Winner)
- Primal Brewery – Belmont, NC
- Venn Brewing Co. – Minneapolis, MN
- Fly Llama Brewing – Biloxi, Mississippi
- Alaskan Brewing – Juneau, AK
- Lift Bridge Brewing Co. – Stillwater, MN
2026 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship Medal Winners
Category 1 – Fruit 1
GOLD: Papaw – Fly Llama Brewing – MS
Gold: Par Three – Vermont Hard Seltzer Company – VT
SILVER: Honeydew – Fly Llama Brewing – MS
BRONZE: Muscadine – Fly Llama Brewing – MS
Category 2 – Fruit 2
GOLD: Rainbow Smiggles – Pontoon Brewing – GA
SILVER: Yuzu Lychee – Evans Brewing Co – CA
BRONZE: Cherry Blosom & Lime – Quirk Hard Seltzer – MO
Category 3 – Mixed Fruit 3+
GOLD: Tropic Punch – Lift Bridge Brewing Co – MN
SILVER: Hawiiowan Punch – Barn Town Brewing – IA
BRONZE: Pink Peach Passion – Alvarado Street Brewing – CA
Category 4 – Cherry
GOLD: Cherry Lit – Barn Town Brewing – IA
SILVER: Cherry Glow – Crow and Wolf Brewing – CA
BRONZE: Cherry Lime – Evans Brewing Co – CA
Category 5 – Orange
GOLD: Mandarin – Alaskan Brewing – AK
SILVER: Cistrus Craft Hard Seltzer – Sunriver Brewing – OR
BRONZE: Blood Orange – Bravazzi Hard Italian – TN
Category 6 – Herb & Spice
GOLD: Cosmonaut – Crow and Wolf Brewing – CA
SILVER: Islander Ginder Beer – Sugar Creek Brewing Co. – NC
BRONZE: Peach Ring Tea – Barn Town Brewing – IA
Category 7 – Lemon-Lime
GOLD: Lemon Lime – Alaskan Brewing – AK
SILVER: That’s So Fethc Lime – Inside The Five – OH
Category 8 – Lemon/Lemonade
GOLD: Lemon Bar Sour – Barn Town Brewing – IA
SILVER: Gengo’s – Crow and Wolf Brewing – CA
BRONZE: Quirk Lemon – Boulevard Brewing – MO
Category 9 – Limeade
GOLD: Green Light – Lift Bridge Brewing Co – MN
SILVER: Mojito – Sugar Creek Brewing – NC
BRONZE: Gauva Limeade Organiz Hard Seltzer – Big Country Organic Brewing – TX
Category 10 – Flavored Lemonade
GOLD: Lavendar Lemonade – COVA Brewing Company – VA
SILVER: Pink Lemon Seltz-Up – Penrose Brewing Company – IL
BRONZE: Lady Marmalade – Crow and Wolf Brewing – CA
Category 11 – POG
GOLD: Maui Sunset – Crow and Wolf Brewing – CA
SILVER: POG – Maui Brewing Company – HI
BRONZE: (none listed)
Category 12 – Mango
GOLD: Mango – Bravazzi Hard Italian Soda – TN
SILVER: Mango Mimosa – Sugar Creek Brewing Co. – NC
BRONZE: That’s So Fetch – Mango – Inside The Five Brewing Co. – OH
Category 13 – Cucumber
GOLD: Paradiso – Crow and Wolf Brewing – CA
SILVER: Spa Water – Primal Brewery – NC
Category 14 – Watermelon
GOLD: Hello Sunshine – Crow and Wolf Brewing – CA
SILVER: Watermelon Salt & Lime – Quirk Hard Seltzer – MO
BRONZE: Watermelon – Alaskan Brewing Company – AK
Category 15 – Grapefruit
GOLD: Grapefruit – Bravazzi Hard Italian Soda – TN
SILVER: That’s So Fetch – Grapefruit – Inside The Five Brewing Co – OH
BRONZE: Par 3 – Vermont Hard Seltzer Co. – VT
Category 16 – Peach
GOLD: Peach – Bravazzi Hard Italian Soda – TN
SILVER: H2Ope! Peach Passionfruit – Ope Brewing Co – WI
Category 17 – Pineapple
GOLD: Pina Colada Escape – The Explorium Brewpub – WI
SILVER: Pineapple Orange Whip – Quirk Hard Seltzer – MO
BRONZE: Pineapple – Maui Brewing Company – HI
Category 18 – Fruit and Berry
GOLD: Blueberry Pomegranate Massacre – Barn Town Brewing – IA
SILVER: H2Ope! Pomegranate Blueberry – Ope Brewing Co – WI
BRONZE: Tiger’s Blood – Quirk Hard Seltzer – MO
Category 19 – Berry
GOLD: Dark Wolf – Crow and Wolf Brewing – CA
SILVER: Marionberry Seltzer – Wild Ride Brewing – OR
BRONZE: Guava – Maui Brewing Company – HI
Category 20 – Blueberry
GOLD: Blueberry Cheesecake – Barn Town Brewing – IA
SILVER: (none listed)
BRONZE: Blueberry Lemonade Organic Seltzer – Big Country Organic Brewing – TX
Category 21 – Raspberry
GOLD: Magical Raspberry Whip – Barn Town Brewing – IA
SILVER: Raspberry Rocket Pop – Quirk Hard Seltzer – MO
BRONZE: Razzle Dazzle – Vermont Hard Seltzer Co. – VT
Category 22 – Blue Raspberry
GOLD: Blue Razz Gengo’s – Crow and Wolf Brewing – CA
SILVER: Alaskan Style Glacier Sour – Hangar 24 Craft Brewing – CA
BRONZE: Markerade Electric Blue – Marker 48 Brewing – FL
Category 23 – Blackberry
GOLD: Blackberry Mojito Hydromel – Whistle Hop Brewing Company – NH
SILVER: Fly Lllam Blackberry Seltzer – Fly Llama Brewing – MS
BRONZE: Space Horse: Blackberry – Missing Falls Brewery – OH
Category 24 – Strawberry
GOLD: Strawberry Lemon & Basil – Quirk Hard Seltzer – MO
SILVER: Strawberry Sumac Hydromel – Whistle Hop Brewing Company – NH
BRONZE: Magical Strawberry Whip – Barn Town Brewing – IA
Category 25 – Mixed Drink – Mule
GOLD: Blackberry Mule – Atrium Brewing – KY
SILVER: HighCut Mule – HighGrain Brewing Co. – OH
BRONZE: Agra: Transfusion – More Brewing – IL
Category 25 – Mixed Drink – Anything Goes
GOLD: Dayona Colada – Alvarado Street Brewery – CA
SILVER: HighCut Cosmopolitan – HighGrain Brewing Co. – OH
BRONZE: Orange Crush – COVA Brewing Co. – VA
Category 26 – Margarita and Agave
GOLD: Margarita Seltzer – Southern Range Brewing Co – NC
SILVER: Buckle Bunny – Crow and Wolf Brewing – CA
BRONZE: HighCut Margarita – HighGrain Brewing Co. – OH
Category 28 – Cake, Pie, and Pastry
GOLD: Apple Pie Drips – Barn Town Brewing – IA
SILVER: H2Ope! Cherry Pie – Ope Brewing Co. – WI
BRONZE: Banana Nut Love Muffin – Barn Town Brewing – IA
Category 29 – THC SODA
GOLD: Primal Drift Grape Soda – Primal Brewery – NC
SILVER: Orbital Orange – Moon Rox – IL
BRONZE: Anti-Matter – Moon Rox – IL
BRONZE: Cherry Cola – Pontoon – GA
Category 29 – THC Lemonade/Limeade
GOLD: Distortion: Strawberry – The Glass Jug Beer Lab – NC
SILVER: Limeade – High Horse Beverages – NC
BRONZE: MezzCann Strawberry Lemonade – Hempiddy – VA
Category 29 – THC Cherry Lime
GOLD: Zenn Cherry Lime – Venn Brewing Co – MN
SILVER: NewGrav Cherry Limeade – NewGrav – NC
BRONZE: Cherry Lime – Insight Brewing Co – MN
Category 29 – THC Herb & Spice
GOLD: NewGrav Ginger Mule – NewGrav – NC
SILVER: Pineapple Hibiscus – High Horse Beverage – NC
BRONZE: Emerge – Wellness Tonic – Lift Bridge Brewing Co. – MN
Category 29 – THC Berry
GOLD: NewGrav Blueberry Lemonade – NewGrav – NC
GOLD: Primal Drift Wild Berry – Primal Brewery – NC
SILVER: Berry Jane – Quirk Hard Seltzer – MO
BRONZE: Blackberry Lemon – Insight Brewing Co. – MN
Category 29 – THC Citrus
GOLD: Blood Orange Yuzu – High Horse Beverage – NC
SILVER: NewGrav Orange Crush – NewGrav – NC
BRONZE: Zenn Paloma – Venn Brewing Co – MN
Category 29 – THC Tropical
GOLD: Zenn Clusterfruit – Venn Brewing Co – MN
SILVER: Zann Pacific Punch – Venn Brewing Co – MN
BRONZE: NewGrav Mango Peach – NewGrav – NC
Category 30 – Anything Goes Seltzer/Soda
GOLD: Root Beer – Marker 48 Brewing – FL
SILVER: Primalade Fruit Punch – Primal Brewery – NC
BRONZE: Purple Stuff – Southern Range Brewing Co – NC