The World's Best IPAs According to the 2026 World Beer Awards
India Pale Ale has become the symbol of the American craft beer revolution, but the most interesting IPAs of 2026 are coming from elsewhere. When the 2026 World Beer Awards announced the winners, no American beer reached the podium in the IPA categories. Seven beers from five countries — Brazil, Japan, Germany, Canada, and China — shared the world titles. Definitive proof that IPA has become a global style.
Why the World Beer Awards Matter
The World Beer Awards do not receive the same attention as the Great American Beer Festival, but that is precisely their strength. The competition, active since 2007, evaluates commercially available beers from around the world through blind tastings, rewarding pure quality and flavor. The 2026 IPA results are a treasure map for anyone who loves exploring the style beyond American borders.
The 7 Best IPAs in the World in 2026
1. Landel Atrás do Bloco — World's Best Milkshake IPA / New England IPA
Brazil claims the overall title of World's Best IPA 2026. Landel's Atrás do Bloco is a 7.5% ABV hazy IPA, double dry-hopped with Mosaic, Cascade, and Citra: tropical, citrusy, and juicy. Already a multiple medal winner in Brazil, including gold at the 2026 Concurso Brasileiro de Cerveja.
2. Derailleur Brew Works WC IPA — World's Best American Style IPA
Ironically, the world's best American Style IPA comes from Osaka, Japan. Derailleur Brew Works' WC IPA is 7% ABV, brewed with three hop varieties, and offers tropical and citrus aromas with a bitter, crisp finish characteristic of a classic West Coast IPA.
3. Camba Black Shark — World's Best Black IPA
Germany responds with Camba Bavaria's Black Shark: 8.5% ABV, 100 IBU, an Imperial Black IPA that combines IPA's hoppy punch with the roasted coffee and dark chocolate notes typical of a stout. It had already won Gold and Silver at the World Beer Awards in previous years.
4. Therezópolis Jade — World's Best English Style IPA
Brazil takes a second gold with Therezópolis' Jade: 6.5% ABV, 50 IBU, rooted in the classic English IPA but with a personality of its own. Copper in color, with floral and citrus aromas and a distinctive bitterness. Already Gold at the 2025 World Beer Awards, this year it reaches the top step of the podium.
5. Archibald Double IPA — World's Best Imperial/Double/DIPA
Quebec takes home the Double IPA crown. Archibald's DIPA is 8.5% ABV, hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe, and El Dorado: citrus, nectarine, and pineapple over a firm bitter base. A textbook example of the bigger-is-better approach that made Double IPAs so popular among hopheads around the world.
6. RichKat Craft Brewing Rebound — World's Best Session IPA
One of the most surprising winners comes from Hong Kong's rapidly growing craft beer scene. RichKat's Rebound was created as a lighter version of an earlier Double IPA: less alcohol, the same hop intensity. A Session IPA that beat beers from much more established markets.
7. Cervejaria Unika Orange Kush — World's Best Specialty IPA
Brazil finishes in style with Cervejaria Unika's Orange Kush, winner in the Specialty IPA category — the playground for the most creative IPAs: fruity, sour, Belgian-style, and rye-based. Three of the seven world titles went to Brazilian beers in 2026. And Unika is not stopping there: two more of its products won medals at the 2026 World Beer Cup.
IPA Has Become a Borderless Style
If you are a craft beer enthusiast, the 2026 World Beer Awards remind you of something fundamental: the IPA revolution started by America has now become a global heritage. Brazil, Japan, Germany, Canada, China — each brings its own vision of the style, and the results speak for themselves.
You will not easily find these bottles on the shelf of your favorite store. But you can begin your journey into quality IPAs right here: explore our selection of craft IPAs and discover what makes this style so irresistible in every corner of the world.
