New GABF Category Puts Craft Malt in the Spotlight

The Brewers Association is dedicating a special one-time category at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival to beers brewed with craft malt, giving small, local malthouses and the brewers who work with them a chance to share the awards stage.

The number of craft malt houses has grown significantly since the early 2010s. These small businesses play an important role in diversifying independent brewers' barley malt supply chain. They produce local and unique alternatives to the long-established traditional sources of barley malt. A craft maltster as defined by the Craft Malt Guild produces fewer than 10,000 metric tons per year with over 50% of grains grown within a 500-mile radius of the malthouse.

Category Details

Beers entered in this category are required to contain at least 50% of the malt produced at a craft maltster. Brewers may choose to indicate an underlying/traditional base style for the beer. Color, clarity, aroma, flavor, and body may deviate significantly from a stated style in an effort to highlight character of craft malt(s) used.

We encourage brewers to collaborate closely with the craft maltster in the development and formulation of beer. Brewers will be asked to share information on the craft maltster so they are able to share in the accolades provided a medal-winning beer.

A complete category description is available here.

This addition follows the model pioneered by the Vera Hop Category at the 2025 Great American Beer Festival (GABF). The 2027 GABF will feature the new public hop variety Thora. These special categories highlight the unique creative and collaborative energy of independent brewers and their supply chain partners.

How To Enter

Registration for the 2026 Great American Beer Festival competition opens June 23, 2026. Join the Brewers Association to save $240 per beer entry and compete for a spot on the October awards stage.

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