Craft beer icons compete in Qingdao WCNA

Judges taste and evaluate the beer on site. [Photo/WeChat account: qdxihaianfabu]

The 2026 Qingdao International Beer Festival launched its prestigious Golden Flower Award for Craft Beer on June 27 at the Golden Beach Beer City in Qingdao West Coast New Area (Qingdao WCNA).

This year's competition marks a historic milestone, drawing a record-breaking 430 brands and 2,342 craft beer entries, including an expanded selection of international imports, reflecting the event's growing global stature.

To ensure professional rigor was maintained throughout, a 41-member international jury evaluated the entries. The process used a sophisticated dual-track scoring system, combining online and offline assessments with multi-round blind testing to maintain complete objectivity.

Spanning three days, the event featured two primary categories — commercial and home brewing — further segmented into 12 standardized flavor profiles ranging from German-style lagers and wheat beers to American-style IPAs and stouts.

Entries were to be ranked across four levels based on their final tasting scores, with the official results set to be revealed on July 20.

Since its inception in 2024, the Golden Flower Award for Craft Beer has rapidly evolved into a leading professional platform in China, dedicated to fostering industry innovation and bridging the gap between high-quality craft producers and enthusiasts.

As the competition progresses, it continues to reinforce Qingdao's reputation as a vital hub for global beer culture and professional craftsmanship.