Great Dane Brewing Wins Four Medals, Including Gold, Silver, and Bronze, at JGBA 2026
Great Dane Brewing, based in Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi, announced that four of its beers received awards at the Japan Great Beer Awards 2026. The gold award went to Belgian Tripel, which can also be enjoyed at the factory-adjacent restaurant in Akiu.
Hop BroHere it is, Great Dane Brewing won four awards at JGBA 2026, right? Taking gold, silver, and bronze like that is seriously impressive.
MugiWhat?! Four awards all at once!? And they even got a gold medal? That's incredible!
Hop BroThe gold medal went to BELGIAN TRIPEL. It's a Belgian monastery-style beer with a bright aroma and a crisp finish.
MugiTripel, what even is that! Just seeing 9.5% ABV makes it sound so strong I'm already a little scared!
Hop BroBut it's not just about strength. The floral and clove aroma really stands out, and it finishes dry, so it feels more elegant than heavy.
MugiOhh! Then I'm curious about the silver-medal BALTIC PORTER too! I imagine a porter as dark and sweet, but what's it like?
Hop BroThat's the interesting part. BALTIC PORTER has roasted aroma, plus a solid body. If you don't chill it too much, the cocoa-like notes and malt character really come through.
MugiI see! So MUNICH DUNKEL and BARLEY WINE, which go in totally different flavor directions, were both recognized?
Hop BroExactly, that's the range of their brewing skill. To earn awards for both the careful precision of a dark lager and a rich style like barley wine shows a really broad reach.
MugiAnd you can drink them at the factory-adjacent restaurant in Akiu too? If I can try the award winners right there, I definitely have to stop by while sightseeing!
Hop BroAnd since they're available while supplies last, we should hurry. This is definitely the kind of place that makes you want to start with the gold medal beer and work your way through them in Akiu.
MugiWhoa, now I'm already waiting for beer! If I can drink the award-winning beers on site, I seriously want to go out drinking today!
Great Dane Brewing, based in Akiu, Taihaku Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, announced that four of its beers received awards at the Japan Great Beer Awards 2026. This time, BELGIAN TRIPEL took the gold award. In addition, BALTIC PORTER won silver, while MUNICH DUNKEL and BARLEY WINE took bronze, highlighting the brewery's brewing skill across a wide range of styles.
The gold-medal-winning Belgian Tripel is a golden beer rooted in the monastic brewing tradition of Belgium. Although it is designed at a relatively high 9.5% ABV, it is described as having a bright floral and clove aroma, along with a dry, refreshing finish. Rather than simply being strong, it was likely praised in the competition for combining style-appropriate aroma with drinkability.
The company was founded in 1994 in Wisconsin, USA, and opened a new brewery in the Akiu area in January 2024. Building on the solid technical foundation of a U.S.-born brand, it has been producing beers brewed in Sendai. This award can be seen as evidence that those accumulated strengths are steadily being recognized in the Japanese market as well.
The award-winning beers are available while supplies last at the factory-adjacent restaurant in Akiu. For visitors stopping by on a trip, being able to drink the award-winning beers on site is sure to be a welcome bonus. Readers who follow Great Dane Brewing will want to pay attention not only to its regular lineup, but also to the lagers and dark beers that earned recognition this time.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHere it is, Great Dane Brewing won four awards at JGBA 2026, right? Taking gold, silver, and bronze like that is seriously impressive.
MugiWhat?! Four awards all at once!? And they even got a gold medal? That's incredible!
Hop BroThe gold medal went to BELGIAN TRIPEL. It's a Belgian monastery-style beer with a bright aroma and a crisp finish.
MugiTripel, what even is that! Just seeing 9.5% ABV makes it sound so strong I'm already a little scared!
Hop BroBut it's not just about strength. The floral and clove aroma really stands out, and it finishes dry, so it feels more elegant than heavy.
MugiOhh! Then I'm curious about the silver-medal BALTIC PORTER too! I imagine a porter as dark and sweet, but what's it like?
Hop BroThat's the interesting part. BALTIC PORTER has roasted aroma, plus a solid body. If you don't chill it too much, the cocoa-like notes and malt character really come through.
MugiI see! So MUNICH DUNKEL and BARLEY WINE, which go in totally different flavor directions, were both recognized?
Hop BroExactly, that's the range of their brewing skill. To earn awards for both the careful precision of a dark lager and a rich style like barley wine shows a really broad reach.
MugiAnd you can drink them at the factory-adjacent restaurant in Akiu too? If I can try the award winners right there, I definitely have to stop by while sightseeing!
Hop BroAnd since they're available while supplies last, we should hurry. This is definitely the kind of place that makes you want to start with the gold medal beer and work your way through them in Akiu.
MugiWhoa, now I'm already waiting for beer! If I can drink the award-winning beers on site, I seriously want to go out drinking today!
