Nara Brewing Wins Gold for FUNCTION and LIGHTHOUSE at World Beer Cup 2026
Nara Brewing of Nara City won two gold medals at the World Beer Cup 2026 held in the United States, with "FUNCTION" and "LIGHTHOUSE" each taking gold in their respective categories. A gold medal in the Session Beer category is the first for Japan, and winning gold in multiple categories at the same time is the first time for a Japanese brewery in 16 years.
Hop BroHere it is, Nara Brewing's big achievement. At the World Beer Cup 2026, both FUNCTION and LIGHTHOUSE won gold.
MugiWhat! Winning two beers at once is incredible. Are both of them regular beers from the same brewery?
Hop BroExactly. FUNCTION won in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category, a kind of hybrid saison that pairs Belgian yeast with American hops.
MugiWait, what! Saison sounds stylish, but what does a hybrid saison actually taste like?
Hop BroIt has aromas of citrus and white grapes, and the key point is that it isn't too bitter. With an ABV of 6.0% and an IBU of 24, it's brisk yet still really tasty.
MugiWow! If it's easy to drink even at 6.0% ABV, it sounds like something craft beer beginners could pick up easily!
Hop BroAnd LIGHTHOUSE won gold in the Session Beer category. It's a 3.0% ABV micro porter, and the multiple roasted malts give it toasty aromas and flavors reminiscent of cacao and coffee.
MugiWhoa, 3.0% ABV is really light, but it still has the depth of a porter? That's kind of unfair, isn't it?
Hop BroWhat's more, it's in a nitro can format, so the pour can create a creamy foam depending on how you do it. The fact that it's designed for a smooth mouthfeel in a 350 ml can really feels like Nara Brewing.
MugiWow, it feels like a "core beer recognized by the world" story, and it's really moving! Today I want to toast with FUNCTION, and finish with LIGHTHOUSE too!
Hop BroWhat's more, the gold in the Session Beer category is the first in Japan, and winning gold in multiple categories at the same time is also the first in 16 years. This makes you want to compare these two beers born in Nara.
Nara Brewing, a craft beer brewery in Nara City, achieved major success at the World Beer Cup 2026, one of the world’s largest competitions. When the results were announced in the United States on April 23, 2026, its core beers "FUNCTION" and "LIGHTHOUSE" each won gold in different categories.
"FUNCTION" took gold in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category. This hoppy saison combines Belgian-style yeast with American hops, and is characterized by aromas reminiscent of citrus and white grapes, along with a drinking profile that is not overly bitter. It has an ABV of 6.0% and an IBU of 24. Its well-balanced approach, which makes it approachable even for people new to craft beer, is thought to have contributed to the recognition.
"LIGHTHOUSE," meanwhile, won gold in the Session Beer category. This 3.0% ABV micro porter uses multiple types of roasted malt to deliver toasted notes reminiscent of cacao and coffee, along with a layered flavor profile. It is sold in 350 ml nitro cans, and its design also allows for a creamy head and smooth mouthfeel depending on how it is poured.
According to Nara Brewing, this is the first time a Japanese beer has won gold in the Session Beer category, and it is also the first time that medal has gone to a country other than the United States. In addition, it is the first time since 2010 that a Japanese brewery has won gold in multiple categories at the same time. The World Beer Cup, founded in 1996, is an international competition, and the 2026 event drew 8,166 entries from 50 countries. Winning on such a stage underscores once again the quality of the beers brewed in Nara.
The two award-winning beers are available at liquor stores and restaurants nationwide, as well as through the official online store. This result, in which core beers nurtured in Nara were recognized by judges from around the world, is a story that strongly highlights the company’s approach to brewing.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHere it is, Nara Brewing's big achievement. At the World Beer Cup 2026, both FUNCTION and LIGHTHOUSE won gold.
MugiWhat! Winning two beers at once is incredible. Are both of them regular beers from the same brewery?
Hop BroExactly. FUNCTION won in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category, a kind of hybrid saison that pairs Belgian yeast with American hops.
MugiWait, what! Saison sounds stylish, but what does a hybrid saison actually taste like?
Hop BroIt has aromas of citrus and white grapes, and the key point is that it isn't too bitter. With an ABV of 6.0% and an IBU of 24, it's brisk yet still really tasty.
MugiWow! If it's easy to drink even at 6.0% ABV, it sounds like something craft beer beginners could pick up easily!
Hop BroAnd LIGHTHOUSE won gold in the Session Beer category. It's a 3.0% ABV micro porter, and the multiple roasted malts give it toasty aromas and flavors reminiscent of cacao and coffee.
MugiWhoa, 3.0% ABV is really light, but it still has the depth of a porter? That's kind of unfair, isn't it?
Hop BroWhat's more, it's in a nitro can format, so the pour can create a creamy foam depending on how you do it. The fact that it's designed for a smooth mouthfeel in a 350 ml can really feels like Nara Brewing.
MugiWow, it feels like a "core beer recognized by the world" story, and it's really moving! Today I want to toast with FUNCTION, and finish with LIGHTHOUSE too!
Hop BroWhat's more, the gold in the Session Beer category is the first in Japan, and winning gold in multiple categories at the same time is also the first in 16 years. This makes you want to compare these two beers born in Nara.
