Garage Project wins NZ’s first Gold at World Beer Cup

Wellington brewery Garage Project is celebrating after winning New Zealand’s first Gold medal at the 2026 World Beer Cup.

Organised by the Brewers Association (BA) – the not-for-profit trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers – the 2026 World Beer Cup, now in its 30th year, recognised the very best in beer and cider across 118 categories.

Garage Project won the ‘American-Style Sour or Wood & Barrel Aged Sour Beer’ category, taking home Gold for its Engeltjes Pis. Garage Project said the team was “fizzing” over the win, adding: “These beers from Wild Workshop are an absolute labour of love taking years to brew. To see them shining on the world stage makes all that hard work so worthwhile.”

Peter Bircham of Garage Project at the 2026 World Beer Cup

Garage Project’s Chance, Luck and Magic scored its third Silver in the competition.

An international panel of 255 judges from 50 countries evaluated 8,166 entries using rigorous, blind-tasting protocols. The 2026 competition brought together 1,644 breweries representing 50 nations.

W: See the full results at worldbeercup.org