COEDO Brewery Wins Top Award, "Champion Medium International Brewery," at 2026 AIBA
COEDO Brewery in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama Prefecture, won the top trophy, "Champion Medium International Brewery," at the 2026 Australian International Beer Award. Six brands, including Marihana, Shiro, and Iroha, also placed.
Hop BroHere it comes, this time it’s about COEDO Brewery’s big win. The brewery in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama, took the top award, "Champion Medium International Brewery," at the 2026 AIBA.
MugiWhat! So that means it’s the very top at a world beer competition? Just the name top trophy sounds powerful!
Hop BroExactly. And there were 2,221 entries, with 84 judges doing a real four-day evaluation. Coming out on top overall there means they’re seriously strong.
MugiWow, that’s a much more intense battle than I imagined... But COEDO does have an image of being strong with its core lineup, too.
Hop BroThat’s right. This time, Marihana, Shiro, Iroha, Ruri, Kyara, and even the collaboration Jasmin Saison all won awards.
MugiWhat? Session IPA, Hefe Weizen... Those names are way too cool, aren’t they?
Hop BroFirst, Marihana is a Session IPA: light, but with a hop aroma that really stands out. Shiro is a Hefe Weizen, where the yeast aroma is everything.
MugiOhh! So Iroha’s West Coast IPA and Ruri’s Pils each have their own distinct character too? The breadth of styles is amazing.
Hop BroExactly. There’s even Kyara’s IPL, which combines the best of lager and IPA, and the collaboration Jasmin Saison won too, so you can really see the breadth of their brewing design.
MugiAnd they even got recognized for a collaboration with Tokyo Beer Hall & Beer Terrace 14 - that’s so exciting! It’s cool how they’re strong through local partnerships.
Hop BroAIBA is a competition that rigorously judges the balance of technique and flavor, so winning there is truly meaningful. Being the top by objective evaluation gives drinkers real confidence, too.
MugiJust hearing about it makes me want to drink one tonight! Let’s toast with Marihana and taste COEDO’s underlying strength!
Hop BroNice, then let’s line up Shiro too and compare them. I want to properly check in a glass just how globally recognized flavor tastes.
COEDO Brewery, based in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama Prefecture, won the top trophy, "Champion Medium International Brewery," at the 2026 Australian International Beer Award (AIBA), one of the world’s largest beer competitions.
According to the company’s announcement, the competition was held on May 14, 2026, and featured 2,221 entries from Japan and abroad. Judging was carried out over four days by 84 judges, and COEDO Brewery finished at the top overall after being recognized with a total of six beers: one gold, two silver, and three bronze.
The award-winning beers are as follows.
- GOLD: COEDO Marihana / Session IPA
- SILVER: COEDO Shiro / Hefe Weizen
- SILVER: COEDO Iroha / West Coast IPA
- Bronze: COEDO Ruri / Pils
- Bronze: COEDO Kyara / IPL
- Bronze: Tokyo Beer Hall & Beer Terrace 14 x COEDO "Jasmin Saison" / Jasmine Saison (keg only)
AIBA is known as an international competition where technical mastery and flavor balance are judged strictly. COEDO Brewery says that by regularly entering international competitions, it objectively checks its own quality and uses the feedback in its next brewing efforts.
This award is especially notable because, in addition to its flagship beers Marihana, Shiro, Ruri, and Kyara, even Iroha and a collaboration beer were recognized. Achieving results across multiple styles demonstrates the brewery’s design capabilities and the breadth of its brewing range. It is a story worth noting as a local brewery made its presence felt in a major overseas competition.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHere it comes, this time it’s about COEDO Brewery’s big win. The brewery in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama, took the top award, "Champion Medium International Brewery," at the 2026 AIBA.
MugiWhat! So that means it’s the very top at a world beer competition? Just the name top trophy sounds powerful!
Hop BroExactly. And there were 2,221 entries, with 84 judges doing a real four-day evaluation. Coming out on top overall there means they’re seriously strong.
MugiWow, that’s a much more intense battle than I imagined... But COEDO does have an image of being strong with its core lineup, too.
Hop BroThat’s right. This time, Marihana, Shiro, Iroha, Ruri, Kyara, and even the collaboration Jasmin Saison all won awards.
MugiWhat? Session IPA, Hefe Weizen... Those names are way too cool, aren’t they?
Hop BroFirst, Marihana is a Session IPA: light, but with a hop aroma that really stands out. Shiro is a Hefe Weizen, where the yeast aroma is everything.
MugiOhh! So Iroha’s West Coast IPA and Ruri’s Pils each have their own distinct character too? The breadth of styles is amazing.
Hop BroExactly. There’s even Kyara’s IPL, which combines the best of lager and IPA, and the collaboration Jasmin Saison won too, so you can really see the breadth of their brewing design.
MugiAnd they even got recognized for a collaboration with Tokyo Beer Hall & Beer Terrace 14 - that’s so exciting! It’s cool how they’re strong through local partnerships.
Hop BroAIBA is a competition that rigorously judges the balance of technique and flavor, so winning there is truly meaningful. Being the top by objective evaluation gives drinkers real confidence, too.
MugiJust hearing about it makes me want to drink one tonight! Let’s toast with Marihana and taste COEDO’s underlying strength!
Hop BroNice, then let’s line up Shiro too and compare them. I want to properly check in a glass just how globally recognized flavor tastes.
