Ohio Lagers Shine at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival

Gold, silver, and bronze Great American Beer Festival medals. Credit: Brewers Association.

Sometimes the biggest story at a beer competition isn’t the most unusual thing in the glass. Sometimes it’s just a really well-made lager.

That’s one takeaway from Ohio’s showing at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival (GABF). According to the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, six Ohio breweries collected nine medals, with six of those awards going to Northeast Ohio breweries competing in lager categories. It’s an impressive moment for a style family that can seem simple on the surface but leaves very little room to hide mistakes.

And while Cleveland might not officially be changing its name to “Lagerland,” the results certainly give Ohio beer fans something to talk about.

Masthead Leads the Lager Charge

Frank Luther of Masthead Brewing accepts two gold medals. Credit: Brewers Association.

Masthead Brewing in Cleveland walked away with two gold medals: Shower Beer won American Lager, and Oni Giri took the top honor in Rice Lager. Those wins bring Masthead’s GABF medal count to eight since its first award in 2017.

It’s worth paying attention to the range here. American lager and rice lager might sound straightforward, but clarity, balance, fermentation control and drinkability are all right out in front. You can’t lean on a wall of hops or a heavy barrel character to cover up the details.

The good news for beer drinkers? You don’t need to know the judging sheets to enjoy an excellent lager. The proof is in whether you want another sip.

Ohio Sweeps the Top Two Spots in Light Lager

One result that really caught my attention was the International Light Lager category. Akronym Brewing in Akron earned gold for Road Pop—its first-ever GABF medal—while Great Lakes Brewing Company of Cleveland won silver for Dort Light.

For Great Lakes, that’s its first GABF medal since 2007. Dort Light also gives an interesting twist to the familiar Dortmunder Gold name.

Think about what that says for a moment. Craft beer has often been associated with bigger, bolder flavors. Here are two Ohio breweries getting national recognition for lighter lagers, a part of the beer conversation that deserves more respect than it sometimes receives.

More Northeast Ohio Lager Wins

Ghost Tree Brewing in Amherst took gold in International-style Amber Lager for Féileadh Mòr, which the association translates as “great kilt” in Scots Gaelic. That was Ghost Tree’s first GABF medal.

Fat Head’s Brewery in Middleburg Heights added silver for 8th Anniversary Lager in the Dortmunder or German-style Festbier category. Fat Head’s now has 36 GABF medals dating back to 2009, following five medals and a Brewery of the Year award at the 2025 competition.

Those wins show the versatility of lager brewing, from light and crisp to amber and malty, and on into the richer, seasonal side of Festbier.

And Don’t Overlook Ohio’s Stouts

Third Eye Brewing wins three medals. Credit: Brewers Association.

Lagers supplied the central storyline, but Third Eye Brewing—operating in Cincinnati and Hamilton—had a strong competition of its own, earning three medals. Kelly’s Private Stash (Ferd’s Addition) won silver in Dessert or Pastry Stout. Higher Purpose took bronze in Sweet Stout or Cream Stout, and Wired Euphoria took bronze in Coffee Stout or Porter.

Higher Purpose and Wired Euphoria had earned GABF honors before. With these awards, Third Eye has collected 12 medals since 2021. The brewery also came into this competition as a 2025 Brewery of the Year winner.

So this wasn’t just a lager story. Ohio brewers showed they can compete across very different beer styles.

Why These Results Matter Beyond the Medals

There were 7,267 beers and ciders entered by more than 1,300 breweries from around the country, according to the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. Winning anything in that field means standing out against a lot of competition.

Ohio’s 2026 tally did not match its record-setting 2025 showing, when 11 breweries won 21 medals. But that comparison shouldn’t take anything away from these individual results.

What interests me most is the bigger conversation about what people want to drink. We’ve spent years celebrating intensely hopped IPAs, high-gravity releases and beers with ingredients that practically read like dessert menus. There’s still room for all of those. But a great lager deserves the same excitement.

I wouldn’t use one awards competition to declare that everyone is moving away from IPAs or that lagers suddenly own the craft beer market. What these medals do demonstrate is that Ohio brewers are producing world-class examples of classic, approachable styles.

The Ohio Craft Brewers Association says 67 Ohio craft breweries have won 239 GABF medals, including 85 golds, since 1987. That’s a history worth celebrating.

What Should Beer Drinkers Take Away?

If you usually reach for an IPA, maybe this is a good reason to revisit a lager from your local brewery. And if you’ve always preferred a clean, refreshing beer, you shouldn’t have to defend that choice to anybody.

Great beer doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes getting the fundamentals exactly right is the impressive part.

Congratulations to Masthead, Akronym, Ghost Tree, Fat Head’s, Great Lakes and Third Eye. The medals are a win for the breweries, but also a nice reminder of the brewing talent across Ohio.

Now I’m curious: when you walk into a craft brewery, are you looking for a crisp lager, a hop-forward IPA, or something completely different? Let me know in the comments. And for more beer news, reviews, and conversations about where the industry is headed, follow Rod J BeerVentures on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@RodJBeerVentures and visit https://rodjbeerventures.com.

2026 OHIO GABF MEDAL WINNERS — QUICK REFERENCE

Gold — Masthead Brewing: Shower Beer (American Lager); Oni Giri (Rice Lager)

Gold — Akronym Brewing: Road Pop (International Light Lager)

Gold — Ghost Tree Brewing: Féileadh Mòr (International-style Amber Lager)

Silver — Great Lakes Brewing Company: Dort Light (International Light Lager)

Silver — Fat Head’s Brewery: 8th Anniversary Lager (Dortmunder or German-style Festbier)

Silver — Third Eye Brewing: Kelly’s Private Stash (Ferd’s Addition) (Dessert or Pastry Stout)

Bronze — Third Eye Brewing: Higher Purpose (Sweet Stout or Cream Stout); Wired Euphoria (Coffee Stout or Porter)