Cincinnati Takes Gold, And Gold, And Gold… Let’s Just Say Wins Big At The 2026 US Open Beer Championships!

Written By: The Gnarly Gnome

7/17/26

Cincinnati doesn’t mess around when it comes to beer. I think that goes without saying these days. We’ve got some incredible breweries in the city, and when a new beer competition rolls around, I tend to sit on the edge of my seat to see if the rest of the world around us recognizes that the way that I do.

Turns out they usually do.

The 2026 US Open Beer Championships up in Oxford just wrapped up, and it was another good one. This is the third biggest competition in the country, and ever since 2009, Cincinnati has been bringing home a whole trophy case of awards. To date, our local breweries have won 358 medals, as well as plenty of other awards, bringing plenty of excitement back home to their respective taprooms.

This year’s competition had more than 180 categories and subcategories with breweries from all around the world competing… and while I admit my bias, it’s hard to say that anyone made the splash that Cincinnati did.

Overall, the city took home:

• Grand Champion
• Brewery of the Year
• 16 Gold Medals
• 21 Silver Medals
• 17 Bronze Medals

Let’s get to this!

This Year’s Winners

Third Eye
Not only did the city’s most award-winning brewery (by far) take home an additional 9 medals this year, they also took home Brewery of the Year for their size as well as the massive honor of Grand Champion. They tied Maui Brewing Company for the most medals won in any year (Maui also brought home 9 medals in 1990) – this was a huge year for Third Eye, and they deserve a HUGE shout out.

• Double Astral – Gold Medal
• Kelly’s Private Stash, Ferd’s Addition – Gold Medal
• Kelly’s Private Stash, 2024 – Gold Medal
• Mocha Operandi – Gold Medal
• Unleashed Potential – Gold Medal
• Jelly Brain – Silver Medal
• Kelly’s Private Stash – Silver Medal
• Barrel-Aged Celestial Reserve – Bronze Medal
• Barrel-Aged Dark Aura – Bronze Medal

Rhinegeist
Rhinegeist might not get the press for winning medals that some other smaller places do, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve it. While my tracking might not be perfect (I think it’s pretty darn good), the brewery has taken home more than 75 Medals (that’s not counting some of the other awards that they’ve won). These folks are right there at the top of the list of award-winning breweries in town.

• Cincy Light Lime – Gold Medal
• Mexican Hot Chocolate Mushhushshu – Gold Medal
• Call Yer Rep – Silver Medal
• Grapefruit Bubbles – Silver Medal
• Uncle – Silver Medal
• Slow Jam – Bronze Medal

Narrow Path
Narrow Path, out in Loveland, is one of my favorite quiet medal winners. They win a TON of awards, including some big ones, all while quietly chugging away in their small brewery tucked along the bike path. They aren’t flashy, they aren’t loud, but they make some of the best beer in the city… It’s well deserved.

• A Better Burden – Silver Medal
• Guabanero – Silver Medal
• Tri-Kettle Tripel – Silver Medal
• Ghost Railroad – Bronze Medal
• Missing Linck Honey Saison – Bronze Medal

Sons Of Toil
If you haven’t been out to Sons of Toil, I’ll forgive you. Their location in Mt. Orab keeps them as a bit of a hidden gem on the outskirts of Greater Cincinnati. That doesn’t mean that if you’re a fan of great beer, you shouldn’t plan a visit. Beer fans all over town are getting the memo that if you’re looking for an afternoon out, they might be worth the trip.

• Double IPA – Silver Medal
• Orange Cream Ale – Silver Medal
• Red Ale – Bronze Medal
• Mango Habanero NEIPA – Bronze Medal
• Strawberry Candy Crushable – Bronze Medal

Fabled Brew Works
They have only been open since 2023, but Fabled has certainly made waves in that time. They are letting folks know that they are serious about winning hardware, and serious about making beer that covers the whole spectrum of what that term means these days. Make a visit… you’ll thank me later.

• Wicked ‘Wich, Grape – Gold Medal
• Barrel Aged Nightmare – Silver Medal
• Misty Mountain IPA – Silver Medal
• Rockin’ The Rainbow Road – Silver Medal

Municipal Brew Works
Municipal helped turn their hometown of Hamilton around when they opened their doors, and have had a hard time keeping up with demand ever since. They are the perfect patio to spend a summer evening, and the beer that they’re serving up is perfect for it. I love these guys, and seeing their name on a list of winners ALWAYS brings a smile to my face.

• Laoch – Gold Medal
• Approachable Blonde – Silver Medal
• Ehren’s Island Breakfast – Bronze Medal
• Ehren’s Stout – Bronze Medal

Streetside
Another one of those small taprooms that SOMEHOW manages to make a huge splash in what they do. Streetside toes the line perfectly between traditional beers and those trendy styles that move the needle on the internet. They might be fun to talk about, but they’re even more fun to drink, which is why when they win, it only makes sense.

• And In The Darkness Bind Them – Gold Medal
• Summertime Sadness – Gold Medal
• Black Cats – Silver Medal
• Return Of The Mac – Bronze Medal

Gravel Road
As a brewery that LOVES historical styles, has traditional cask ale on tap, and only serves out of their taproom in Middletown, Gravel Road isn’t the type of place that you’d expect to take home lots of medals. I mean that in the nicest way… As you can see by these three medals, though – none of that is because of their beer, which is not only fun… but delicious, too. This is a taproom that everyone will enjoy, but beer geeks will fall in love with.

• Abbey Lubber – Gold Medal
• A Gentleman’s Draught – Bronze Medal
• Driving On The Left – Bronze Medal

Nine Giant
Just because you’re operating one of the city’s best brewpubs, that doesn’t mean that you can’t do it by making world-class beer. Just stop in to Nine Giant for a crash course on what it means to do BOTH at the same time. Their space around the corner, called The Fermentorium is the spot where you can find most of the smaller batch, rare releases… but if you go without stopping for a meal at the main spot, you’re doing it wrong.

• Candy Floss, Peach Brandy Barrel-Aged – Silver Medal
• Cassavetes – Silver Medal
• Quiet Light – Silver Medal

Urban Artifact
Not only is Urban Artifact incredible at making fruit beer (fruit tarts, as they call them) – but they’re also spectacular at pushing boundaries with unique products that no one else is doing. When I see them win for THOSE? I mean… that makes for a very, very happy Gnome.

• Gadget – Gold Medal
• Astronaut Food, Strawberry – Silver Medal
• Ohio Sake, Cherry – Bronze Medal

Brink
Is it really a brewery competition if Brink’s Moozie doesn’t win? The most award-winning beer in the city does it again, and Brink adds another two medals to their impressive list of 63 Medals (20 of those are for Moozie) – huge congrats to Brink… now I want a Milk Stout.

• El Lauro Muro – Gold Medal
• Moozie – Bronze Medal

Darkness
Darkness is another small taproom, one of those spots that reminds me of when breweries were breweries. They are hyper focused on their neighborhood, aren’t afraid to make beer that pushes style boundaries, and will win you over immediately with their personality. None of those things win you awards, though – great beer does… luckily for them they have that, too.

• Mayan Sacrifice – Gold Medal
• Shoplifter – Silver Medal

Wandering Monsters
Wandering Monsters might have duck pin bowling and barbecue, but they make sure that you don’t forget that they’re an incredible brewery too by cranking out some of the city’s most fun beers. Through collaboration, creativity, and an amazing little monster mascot – their beer will keep you coming back for more.

• Krispy Koi – Gold Medal
• Hullbreaker – Bronze Medal

CinBev
This beer doesn’t need an introduction. It has been winning medals in the city for literally decades, and is easily one of the longest running medal winners in Cincinnati. OG doesn’t even begin to describe it… and the fact that it’s still out there doing its thing??? Hell yeah.

• Little Kings – Bronze Medal

Grainworks
Grainworks has spent the last few years growing their taproom, dialing in the experience that their customers have, and working to bring in their new food partner – but through all of this, they’ve also been working their butt off to keep innovating on the brewery side of things. It’s a great spot to grab a beer, and if you’re an IPA fan? Clearly they might have some stuff you should try!

• Rebel Yell – Silver Medal