The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild proudly announced the results of the 2026 NC Brewers Cup competition. Among the statewide winners were Pender County’s own Surf City Brewing Company and Salty Turtle Beer Company.

Salty Turtle Beer Company won a gold medal for their Oktoberfest beer in the German-Style Oktoberfest/Festbier category.

Surf City Brewing Company won the following categories:

• American-Style Amber/Red Ale – bronze medal for their 1908 Amber Ale
• Field & Spiced Beers – bronze medal for their Vantablack #3
• Specialty Beer – honorable mention for their Shuckin’ Off

Flytrap Brewing, which helped Pender County celebrate America's 250th with a colonial beer recipe, won a bronze medal for their Cerveza in the Light International Lager category.

Waterline Brewing Co., a company that participates in Pender County special events such as the Annual Topsail Christmas Market, brought home a bronze for their beer She’ll Be Right NZ XPA in the Session IPA & International Style Pale Ale or IPA category.

In its 15^th year, this premier event, supported by Pro Refrigeration, Tryon Distributing, and G&A Partners, saw 898 entries submitted from 119 of North Carolina’s independent craft breweries. It is the Southeast’s largest commercial beer competition.

Judging occurred over Aug. 22-23 by certified judges from across the Southeast, basing their assessments on the 2026 GABF Beer Style Guidelines. There were 40 style-based beer categories.

October is Celebrate NC Beer Month.