FAQ – European Beer Star 2026

• All commercial breweries worldwide can participate.
• Locally, regionally, nationally and internationally active breweries.
• Not only from Europe, but from all countries of all continents.
  
• We would like to refer you to our conditions of participation.
  

• Brew pubs may of course participate in the competition.
• The beer is/will be bottled in siphons or larger swing-top bottles.
• Each bottle must be visibly marked with an adhesive label with the following data:
• Name of the beer
• Participation number of the beer
  
• Beer category number (see categories section)

For more on shipping and labeling, see Shipping.

• At European Beer Star 20265, the beers will be tasted in the regular 75 categories.
• The list including detailed description of the categories is available under the heading Categories.
  
• Additionally, breweries can enter beer mix beverages in two categories
• New 2026: You can have your innovative beverages judges at the speical award Innovation Challenge. Learn more about it here.

• Each participant may enter up to three beers in the respective category to the competition. However, the beers must each have a different recipe or, in the case of beers matured in wooden barrels, be aged in barrels of a different type of wood or in barrels with different previous filling such as sherry, rum, red wine, etc. and must each be marketed under a different brand name.
• The same beer from one brewery may only be entered in one category.
• Additionally, up to 3 beer mix beverages can be entered in each category of the Beer Mix Champion
• The list including detailed description of the categories are available on the homepage.
  

The Innovation Challenge is a special category of the European Beer Star for novel beverages.

The product innovation must be produced by a brewery. The use or application of one of the following elements is mandatory:

• Use of brewing grains (not limited to barley) or
• Use of hop products or
• The beverage is fermented (any type of fermentation is permitted)

The product may be alcoholic or non-alcoholic. The product may still be in the experimental stage and does not yet need to be available on the market. Submitting beer to the Innovation Challenge is not permitted.

The innovations will be evaluated by a panel of experts based on sensory analysis of smell and taste. Additionally, innovative strength and market potential will be factored into the evaluation. A special panel will take the time to thoroughly examine the products.

The most promising product will ultimately be honored with an award.

• Register quickly and conveniently online and pay immediately by Paypal or credit card.
• Payment by bank transfer to: Private Brauereien Bayern e.V., Münchner Bank eG, IBAN: DE 36 7019 0000 0004 5057 35
• Foreign bank transfer by EU standard transfer
• The remitter bears all charges and expenses at his bank

• The labels for the bottles must be created by yourself
• Each bottle must be visibly marked with an adhesive label with the following data:
• Participation number of the beer (see registration confirmation)
• Beer category of the beer being labeled (see Categories).
• Each bottle must have the beer label with which it is sold commercially.
• IMPORTANT! You receive for each entry a QR code which needs to be attached to the shipping carton.
  
• Beer shipment/reception is from 17 August - 04 September 2026.
  
• A detailed description of the shipment, contact and delivery address can be found here.
  

• The following quantities are required for the expert tasting:
• Bottle/can content from 0.5 l - 10 bottles
• Bottle / can content smaller than 0.5 l - 15 bottles

The delivered samples will be directly taken to refrigerated store and prepared for the tasting.

• A top-class and independent international committee of well-known and experienced beer experts, brewmasters, trade journalists and beer sommeliers from all over the world forms the expert jury of the European Beer Star.

• From the consumer's point of view, only sensory criteria, no laboratory analysis.

• In the special "Experimental Beer" category the brewer's creativity is additionally acknowledged by a description of the brewer's history, method of production, etc. is also recognized.

• For the special award Innovation Challenge, the market potential is estimated by the judges.

• Our expert jury for 2026 is already completely occupied.
• If you are interested in participating in the following years, please send us your application documents and the recommendation of at least 3 members of our expert jury via the contact form under "Become a Judge".
  

• Immediately after the expert tasting, the winner and all participants will be informed by email.
• Important: Check whether the email address you entered during registration is still valid after the tasting.
  
• NEW 2026: The winners will receive a notification about winning an award. What kind of award will be announced during the award ceremony at BrauBeviale.

• All participants receive an expert evaluation for each submitted beer, as well as a benchmark of the winning beers.
• In addition, each submitted beer will receive its own flavour profile from the European beer Star tasting jury.
  
• Learn more about the the flavour profile.
  
• The winners also receive a high-quality award and a certificate for each winning beer, as well as extensive press material.
• The winners are entitled to use the European Beer Star brand. You can find more details in the conditions of the competition.
• Find out why you should take part in the European Beer Star here.
  

• The awards ceremony and Winners' Night will take place on November 11, 2026 during BrauBeviale.
  
• The winners will receive separate invitations with their winner's notification.
• The award ceremony is open to fair visitors free of charge.
• More information and impressions of the award ceremony can be found here.
  

• An event unique in the industry with probably the most exclusive beer counter in the world.
• Awarded beers (gold, silver, bronze) will be available for tasting.
• It takes place directly after the European Beer Star awards ceremony on November 11, 2026 at BrauBeviale.
• This is an exclusive event.
• The winners of the European Beer Star 2026 will receive 3 free tickets to this event.
• More information and impressions of the award ceremony can be found here.

Short answer: Yes. Please get in contact with the organisers.

info@european-beer-star.com