Matsumoto Gakuto Brewing Wins Silver and Bronze Double at JGBA 2026
Nagano's Matsumoto Gakuto Brewing reported in a post published on February 25, 2026 that it had won awards at the Japan Great Beer Awards 2026. Gakuto IPA won silver, and Gakuto GOLDEN ALE won bronze. Following last year's win, this once again demonstrated the strength of its core lineup.
Hop BroNagano's Matsumoto Gakuto Brewing just scored a double win at JGBA 2026! Gakuto IPA took silver, and Gakuto GOLDEN ALE got bronze. That's seriously exciting news.
MugiWhoa! A double win!? And for the second year in a row, too? That's too strong!
Hop BroGakuto IPA won silver in the keg category for "Juicy or Hazy IPA," and Gakuto GOLDEN ALE won bronze in the keg category for "American-style Pale Ale." It's amazing that two beers with different directions were both recognized.
MugiWhat is that! I've heard the name hazy, but how is it actually different? And I'm curious about the keg category too!
Hop BroHazy means an IPA with a cloudy, white appearance, lower bitterness, and tropical aromas that really come forward. The keg category is basically judging draft beer, so it's an evaluation closer to how it tastes in a shop.
MugiOhh! So Gakuto IPA is the aromatic, burst-of-flavor kind, and Gakuto GOLDEN ALE is the easy-drinking kind!?
Hop BroExactly. A trend-forward IPA and an easy-to-drink golden ale for everyday use, with the completeness of the core lineup made visible in the judging. It's a result that really shows the brewery's true strength.
MugiI'm getting emotional...! It's so moving when the quality built up in Nagano gets properly recognized nationwide.
Hop BroAnd the award report was posted at 21:30 on February 25, with guidance that the beers would be served with award badges. In other words, now is the best time, with a clear reason to drink them.
MugiIt's decided! Let's compare Gakuto IPA and Gakuto GOLDEN ALE! Hop, tonight we're toasting Nagano, right!
According to what Matsumoto Gakuto Brewing announced on Instagram, two of its beers were recognized at the Japan Great Beer Awards 2026.
The winners were:
- Gakuto IPA: Silver Award (Juicy or Hazy IPA keg category)
- Gakuto GOLDEN ALE: Bronze Award (American-style Pale Ale keg category)
The post was published at 21:30 on February 25, 2026, and the brewery shared its joy, saying it had been able to win again this year following last year. There was also guidance that the beers would be served with award badges, making this a timely moment for drinkers, with an easy-to-understand reason to drink them now.
What stands out about this result is that beers with two different directions of appeal were both recognized: a trend-forward IPA and a golden ale that is easy to drink in everyday settings. Rather than just flashy limited releases, the quality of the brewery's regularly produced core range, refined over time, was made visible on the judging stage.
For Matsumoto Gakuto Brewing, based in Nagano, consecutive wins at a nationwide competition serve as a clear achievement that demonstrates the brewing quality it has built up locally. Not only beer fans visiting Nagano for travel or business, but also people who have already tried these beers, may find it worth comparing the two award-winning brews again now that they have been recognized.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroNagano's Matsumoto Gakuto Brewing just scored a double win at JGBA 2026! Gakuto IPA took silver, and Gakuto GOLDEN ALE got bronze. That's seriously exciting news.
MugiWhoa! A double win!? And for the second year in a row, too? That's too strong!
Hop BroGakuto IPA won silver in the keg category for "Juicy or Hazy IPA," and Gakuto GOLDEN ALE won bronze in the keg category for "American-style Pale Ale." It's amazing that two beers with different directions were both recognized.
MugiWhat is that! I've heard the name hazy, but how is it actually different? And I'm curious about the keg category too!
Hop BroHazy means an IPA with a cloudy, white appearance, lower bitterness, and tropical aromas that really come forward. The keg category is basically judging draft beer, so it's an evaluation closer to how it tastes in a shop.
MugiOhh! So Gakuto IPA is the aromatic, burst-of-flavor kind, and Gakuto GOLDEN ALE is the easy-drinking kind!?
Hop BroExactly. A trend-forward IPA and an easy-to-drink golden ale for everyday use, with the completeness of the core lineup made visible in the judging. It's a result that really shows the brewery's true strength.
MugiI'm getting emotional...! It's so moving when the quality built up in Nagano gets properly recognized nationwide.
Hop BroAnd the award report was posted at 21:30 on February 25, with guidance that the beers would be served with award badges. In other words, now is the best time, with a clear reason to drink them.
MugiIt's decided! Let's compare Gakuto IPA and Gakuto GOLDEN ALE! Hop, tonight we're toasting Nagano, right!
