Craft-Driven Malt Category – 2026 Great American Beer Festival

The Brewers Association is dedicating a special one-time category at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival to beers brewed with craft malt. Read announcement.

Category Description

Brewery & Judge Guidance: Brewers may choose to indicate an underlying/traditional base style for the beer. However, color, clarity, aroma, flavor, and body may deviate significantly from a stated style in an effort to highlight character of craft malt(s) used. Characteristics will vary based on underlying base style of the beer, if any. For this category, judges are encouraged to focus on presentation of the malt character in the beer rather than how well the beer hews to a specific style guideline. An award-winning beer should be a technically well-executed beer showcasing the color, aroma, and flavor of malt(s) used.

Color: Varies with underlying style, if any.

Clarity: Varies with underlying style, if any.

Perceived Malt Aroma & Flavor: Varies with underlying style, if any, but should be apparent and showcase profile of malt(s) used.

Perceived Hop Aroma & Flavor: Varies with underlying style, if any. Hop flavor and aroma should provide balance but not dominate the unique expression of the varying types of malt used in the beer.

Perceived bitterness: Varies with underlying style, if any. Hop bitterness should provide balance but not dominate the unique expression of the varying types of malt used in the beer.

Fermentation Characteristics: Varies with underlying style, if any.

Body: Varies with underlying style, if any.

Additional Notes

Beers in this category contain at least 50% of the malt produced at a craft maltster. For the purpose of this competition, craft malt is described as the product of a craft malt house that produces less than 10,000 metric tons per year with over 50% of the grains malted are grown within a 500-mile radius of the malthouse.

Beers may exhibit the characteristics of a classic or experimental style. Brewers are asked to provide supplemental information about entries in this category to allow for accurate evaluation of diverse entries. Such information might include an underlying beer style(s) upon which the entry is based (if such style(s) is apparent), or other information unique to the entry such as types and percentage of craft malt used which influence perceived sensory outcomes. Brewers who do not provide this information may be at a disadvantage.

In addition to technical acumen and adherence to style, if any, judges are asked to consider the unique expression of the addition of locally produced craft malt.