North Carolina
Top Taps: North Carolina breweries win big at U.S. beer championship
Breweries from all over America submitted their suds with the hopes of being named the best beer in the country, and North Carolina made a strong showing in 2025.
The U.S. Open Beer Championship was held in Oxford, Ohio, this week, and the championship medal winners were announced in over 100 different beer categories.
From IPAs and stouts to fruity beers (and even root beer) — North Carolina has some of the best. Breweries from the Tar Heel State were represented in the winners list of over 40 categories.
RELATED >> These Charlotte-area breweries take home World Beer Cup medals
Take a look at the categories featuring winners from North Carolina. (Breweries based in the Charlotte area are marked with an asterisk.)
3: American Strong Pale Ale
Gold: Green Envy – Fullsteam Brewery – North Carolina
Silver: Lucid AF – Liquid Mechanics Brewing – Colorado
Bronze: Electri-Fly IPA – Wild Ride Brewing – Oregon
14: Session IPA
*Gold: Gentle Giant – Primal Brewery – North Carolina
Silver: Sesh Coast Lager – Evans Brewing Co – California
Bronze: Corporate Estate – Celestial Beerworks – Texas
16: Fruit IPA
Gold: Mastiff – Boss Dog Brewing – Ohio
Silver: Regal Beagle – Boss Dog Brewing – Ohio
*Bronze: The Big O – Sugar Creek Brewing Company – North Carolina
19: New England/Juicy IPA
*Gold: Planet Pulp – Triple C Brewing Company – North Carolina
Silver: Uncurious – Druthers Brewing Co. – New York
Bronze: Meet Me at Doo Wops – Lost Shoe Brewing – Massachusetts
21: Experimental IPA
*Gold: Lil’ SLURP – NoDa Brewing Company – North Carolina
*Silver: EZ Baked – Replay Brewing – South Carolina
Bronze: Byclops – SDB Brewing Company – California
23 (A-B): Single Hop IPA
Gold: Gold Top – Brink Brewing – Ohio
*Silver: Island Hopper IPA – Pilot Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Bury Me In Strata – The Southern Growl Beer Company – South Carolina
28: Oatmeal Stout
Gold: Thunderball – Eudora Brewing Company – Ohio
Silver: Not a Cure for Baldness – Buck Bald Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Overnight Oats – Wild Barley Kitchen and Brewery – Texas
37: English Summer Ale
Gold: Farmhouse – Crystal Lake Brewing- Illinois
Silver: Approachable Blonde – Municipal Brew Works – Ohio
*Bronze: Yarnburner – Neoteric Brewing Company – North Carolina
39: ESB
Gold: Pub Ale – Bright Penny Brewing – North Carolina
Silver: Pale Ale – Boulevard Brewing Company – Missouri
Bronze: My Turn Katie ESB – Lakefront Brewery – Wisconsin
50 (A-B): Strong Scottish Ale
Gold: Hammer Throw – Lost Province Brewing Co – North Carolina
Silver: Wallace Tavern Scotch Ale – Market Garden Brewery – Ohio
Bronze: Mulligan – Grand Junction Brewing Company – Indiana
Bronze: Old Crank – Schoolcraft Brewery – Michigan
54: American Brown Ale
Gold: Throwback Brown – Hodad’s Brewing Company – California
Silver: Not a Planet – Site-1 Brewing Co – Nebraska
Bronze: Buster Brown Ale – Dingo Dog Brewing Company – North Carolina
56: German Altbier
Gold: Alternative Medicine – Lakeville Brewing Company – Minnesota
Silver: Waha Negra – Oklawaha Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Rubber Chicken Red – Franklins Restaurant Brewery and General Store – Maryland
57: German Kolssch
Gold: Lake Hopp’r – Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. – Florida
Silver: Brandstafter – Incendiary Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Kolsch – Union Bear Brewing – plano – Texas
60: French and Belgian Saison
Gold: Le Saison – Vista Brewing – Texas
*Silver: New Slang Belgian Saison – Americana Beer Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Little Batteau – Braided River Brewing – Alabama
63: Belgian Dubbel
Gold: Dubbel Down – Braided River Brewing – Alabama
*Silver: Belgian Dubbel – Sugar Creek Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Coriolis Effect – Loose Ends Brewing – Ohio
Bronze: Chugboat Island – Buckstin Brewing Company – Texas
65: Belgian Quadrupel
*Gold: Belgian Quad – Sugar Creek Brewing Company – North Carolina
Silver: Two Brewers are Better Than One – Silver Harbor Brewing – Michigan
Bronze: Nakatomi Nights – Flix Brewhouse-SAT – Texas
67 (A-E): Belgian Lambic
Gold: Squared Pants – 2 Silos Brewing Co – Virginia
Silver: Stupid Sexy Flanders – Sun King Brewery – Indiana
Bronze: Faithful Instruction – Monday Night Brewing – Georgia
Bronze: The Forever Echo of Your Laugh – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
70: Leipzig-Style Gose
Gold: The Dare – Druthers Brewing Co. – New York
Silver: Gose – Ponysaurus Brewing – North Carolina
72: Contemporary Gose
Gold: Aloha State of Mind – COVA Brewing Company – Virginia
*Silver: Huckleberry Cheesecake Gose Pilot Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Punk Fuzz – MachineHead Brewing Co. – California
74: Smoothie Sour
Gold: Reapers Eye – Atrium Brewing – Kentucky
Silver: Lovely Patrol: Double (POG Juice) – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
Bronze: Beach Vibes – Savage Craft Ale Works – South Carolina
78: American Amber
Gold: De Nada – Appalachian Mountain Brewery – North Carolina
Silver: Can I Pet Your Dog? – Ope Brewing Co – Wisconsin
Bronze: Elbow Bender – Wagon Wheel Brewing – California
79: California Common Beer
Gold: 1915 – Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. – Florida
*Silver: Last Day at the Office – Neoteric Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: 1702 Steam Engine – Mountain Layers Brewing CO. – North Carolina
81: German-Style Pilsener
Gold: An Honest Man – New Berlin Brewing Company – Ohio
Silver: A Cold One – Reformation Brewery – Georgia
Bronze: Shimmer Pils – Discretion Brewing – California
Bronze: Pils – Wicked Weed Brewing – North Carolina
82 E: Rice Lager
Gold: Migoto Rice Lager – Big Island Brewhaus – Hawaii
Silver: Rice Lager – Ponysaurus Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Rice Lager – Central Machine Works Brewery – Texas
84: Munchner Helles
Gold: Helles Lager – Central Machine Works Brewery – Texas
Silver: High Point Helles – Wild Leap Brew Co – Georgia
Bronze: Haus Helles – Wicked Weed Brewing – North Carolina
85: Munchner Dunkel
Gold: Flannel Weather – The Bier Garden – North Carolina
Silver: Penn Dark – Penn Brewery – Pennsylvania
Bronze: Decrepify – Geisthaus Brewing Company – California
88: German-Style Schwarzbier
*Gold: Shrouded Reflections of Moonlight 760 Craft Works – North Carolina
Silver: Schwarzbier – Union Bear Brewing – Plano – Texas
Bronze: Black Lager – Frost Town Brewing – Texas
95 (A-B): Dark Lager
Gold: 13 Degrees – Confluence Brewing Company – Iowa
Silver: Rain Czech – Clouds Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: El Lauro Muro – Brink Brewing – Ohio
97: American-Style Wheat Beer
Gold: Float Trip – Piney River Brewing Co. – Missouri
*Silver: Uncle John’s – Triple C Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: 5G – Saddle Mountain Brewing Company – Arizona
Bronze: Whoopty Whoop Hefeweizen – Wild Ride Brewing – Oregon
99 a: American-Style Fruit Beer – Raspberry
*Gold: Anniversary Stout – Model A Brewing – South Carolina
Silver: Fresh! Raspberry – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
Bronze: Razz Becky – Pondaseta Brewing Co. – Texas
99 C: American-Style Fruit Beer – Orange
Gold: Bell’s Oberon Light – Bell’s Brewery – Michigan
Silver: Anytime Wing Man – Flix Brewhouse Oklahoma City – Oklahoma
*Bronze: Zest A Peel – Triple C Brewing Company – North Carolina
99 J: American-Style Fruit Beer – Strawberry
*Gold: Strawberry Shandy – Southern Range Brewing – North Carolina
Silver: Belly Flop – Lucky Bucket Brewing Company – Nebraska
Bronze: Bella Brie – Inside the Five Brewing Company – Ohio
100 L: Fruit Wheat Beer – Mixed
Gold: POG Slammer – Wild Barley Kitchen and Brewery – Texas
Silver: Blender Bender – Berry – Ledgeview Brewing Company – Indiana
Bronze: Mebane Skyline – Bright Penny Brewing – North Carolina
100 M: Fruit Wheat Beer – General/Other
Gold: Banana Wheat – Whistle Hop Brewing Company – North Carolina
Silver: Blueberry Cobbler Payday – Side Hustle Brewing Company – South Carolina
Bronze: Pineapple Mana Wheat – Maui Brewing Co – Hawaii
108: Coffee Beer Light
Gold: Cowboy Coffee – Lost Province Brewing Co – North Carolina
Silver: Blue Boathouse – Fox River Brewing – Wisconsin
Bronze: Spill The Beans – Blue Heron Brewery – Ohio
115: Barrel-Aged Strong Stout/Porter
Gold: GSO Barrel Select Stout 2024 – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
Silver: 3 year Barrel Aged Family Reserve Sleepy Bear – Werk Force Brewing – Illinois
Bronze: Eclipse – Frey Ranch – FiftyFifty Brewing Co. – California
117: Barrel-Aged Strong Stout/Porter Specialty
Gold: Maple Grenade – Silver Harbor Brewing – Michigan
Silver: BA Pumpkinhead – Pontoon Brewing – Georgia
Bronze: Ammo Can: Lima One – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
120: Barrel-Aged Fruited Sour Beer
Gold: Daydreamer – Vista Brewing – Texas
Silver: The Virtue of Patience – Bold Monk Brewing Co – Georgia
Bronze: Angels in the Architecture – Bold Monk Brewing Co – Georgia
Bronze: Black Angel – Wicked Weed Brewing – North Carolina
135: Kellerbier or Zwickelbier
Gold: Kellermeister – Brink Brewing – Ohio
Silver: Bobby Beer – Oklawaha Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Pleasing Gene – Little Brother Brewing – North Carolina
136 (128+137): Brett Beer
Gold: Free Range Farmhouse – Sun King Brewery – Indiana
Silver: All of the Positions – Forbidden Root Columbus – Ohio
Bronze: Coming To Fruition: Cherry – Oregon City Brewing – Oregon
Bronze: Beauty In The Cracks – Twin Leaf Brewery – North Carolina
141: Peanut/Peanut Butter Beer
Gold: Dark Aura – Third Eye Brewing Company (Hamilton) – Ohio
Silver: Not Sorry – Southern Ohio Brewing – Ohio
Bronze: D’s Nuts – Oklawaha Brewing Company – North Carolina
142: Nut Beer
Gold: Scattered Castles – Project Halo Brewing – Texas
Silver: D’s Hazelnuts – Oklawaha Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Pistachio Cream Ale – Platt Park Brewing – Colorado
144: Historical Beer – C: Grodziskie
Gold: Smocze Pragnienie – Allusion Brewing Company – Pennsylvania
Silver: Grodziskie – Goldfinger Brewing Company – Illinois
Bronze: Smoke Over Lublin – Mountain Layers Brewing CO. – North Carolina
147: Root Beer: A – Kids
Gold: Marsh Water Low Tide Brewing – South Carolina
Silver: Bright Penny Root Beer Bright Penny Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: No Label Root Beer No Label Brewing Co – Texas
151: Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage: E – Wheat Ales
Gold: Yuzu Ginger Shandy – Best Day Brewing – Colorado
Silver: Gruvi Weekday Wit – Gruvi – Colorado
*Bronze: Wheat Without Worry – Primal Brewery – North Carolina
(VIDEO: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery opens second location)
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
Follow
-
Culture6 minutes agoPoetry Challenge: Memorize “The More Loving One” by W.H. Auden
-
Lifestyle12 minutes agoPhotos: How overfishing in Southeast Asia is an ecological and human crisis
-
Technology24 minutes agoBlue Origin successfully reused its New Glenn rocket
-
World30 minutes agoDistress call captures tanker under fire, Iran shuts Hormuz trapping thousands of sailors
-
Politics36 minutes agoTrump ally diGenova tapped to lead DOJ probe into Brennan over Russia probe origins
-
Health42 minutes agoExperts reveal why ‘nonnamaxxing’ trend may improve mental, physical health
-
Sports48 minutes ago‘Demon’ Finn Balor settles score with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42
-
Technology54 minutes agoiPhone and Samsung flashlight tricks you should know