NC Brewers Cup Competition
Registration for the 2026 NC Brewers Cup Competition is open!
Registration closes Wednesday, August 12th.
The Details
Entry Drop-Off Dates:
Tuesday, August 18, 12pm - 4pm
Wednesday, August 19, 9am - 3pm
Entry Drop-Off Location:
Pro Chiller Systems Inc., 319 Farmington Rd., Mocksville, NC 27028
Shipping:
If you are based further than 2 hours outside of Mocksville, and do not have access to a neighboring brewery for transport, contact Lisa Parker for shipping information.
All shipped entries must arrive by Sunday August 16. We are not responsible for entries arriving after this date.
Judging in Asheville + Raleigh takes places August 22-23.
Check your email for details on consolidated shipments per region!
General Rules
Entries will be judged according to the 2026 GABF Beer Style Guidelines.
Entries will be accepted for the 40 NCBC categories listed below. The NCCBG reserves the right to combine categories for medal distribution, based on the number of entries received.
Regardless of NCBC medal category, each entry will be judged blind according to the 2026 GABF Competition Style Guidelines for the associated NCBC subcategory entered into.
Entries will additionally be accepted for a 40th category: "NC Home-Grown": To qualify for this category, 55% of the beer's dry-weight ingredients must be sourced from North Carolina produced products.
5. Entry limit: A brewery can submit a maximum of 10 entries into the competition. (Breweries must enter a minimum of 6 entries to be considered for NC Brewery of the Year or NC New Brewery of the Year.)
6. Breweries may submit the same beer brand into multiple categories. (For example, if a beer is entered into a one NCBC category, but also meets the definition of the "NC Home-Grown" category.) Entrants must still submit two (2) containers for each entry registration.
7. If entering an NA beer into any category, notify Shannon Taylor Wilder in advance to confirm that the beer has been pasteurized. Non-pasteurized NA beers will not be accepted into the competition.
8. Breweries who are not a member of the NC Craft Brewers Guild will not be eligible for recognition as NC Brewery of the Year or NC New Brewery of the Year.
9. Please avoid any reference to brewery name, brand, beer name, or locale in “Entry Notes”.
Judging
All entries will be judged by a pair of judges, including at least one certified BJCP or Cicerone beer judge according to the 2026 GABF Competition Style Guidelines.
Entries will be accepted into 40 NCBC categories. The NCCBG reserves the right to combine categories for medal distribution, based on the number of entries received.
Regardless of NCBC medal category, all entries will be judged blind according to the Brewers Association category style guideline for the associated subcategory entered into.
If judges believe that no beer in the category meets the quality and style-accuracy criteria, they may elect not to award a placement medal. For example, judges may award a beer with a silver or bronze medal and yet not award a gold medal.
Entries will be accepted for a 40th category: "NC Home-Grown": To qualify for this category, 55% of the beer's dry-weight ingredients must be sourced from North Carolina produced products.
Winners
Medals (gold, silver, bronze) will be awarded to the top 3 winners of each designated style category. If warranted, a honorable mention in the category will additionally be recognized, but does not receive a medal. If judges believe that no beer in the category meets the quality and style criteria, they may elect not to award a medal.
The NC Brewery of the Year is the competition's top prize and will be awarded the NC Brewers Cup trophy. Breweries are awarded points based on medals won. (See criteria for awarding points below.)
We will also recognize:
NC New Brewery of the Year (Especially for breweries who have opened over the past two years, this special group of entrants will be awarded points based on medals won. Points are tabulated to determine a winner.)
All winners will be recognized at the NC Industry Awards Banquet in Winston Salem in November.
Only members of the NC Craft Brewers Guild will be eligible to qualify for NC Brewery of the Year and NC New Brewery of the Year.
Brewery of the Year + New Brewery of the Year: Entry Criteria and Point Tabulation
Breweries must submit at least 6 entries to be considered for the NC Brewery of the Year and NC New Brewery of the Year awards.
Breweries will be considered for "NC New Brewery of the Year" if their open (and in production) date is within two years of the competition judging date.
Breweries will be awarded points for each category medal won: Gold - 6 points; Silver - 5 points; Bronze - 4 points
In the event of a tie based on total points, the following criteria will be taken into consideration to designate a winner:
Total number of entries
Total number of Gold medals won
Honorable Mentions awarded
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