ISM Brewing & Kitchen not only scored big at this year’s World Beer Cup but made Long Beach history as the first local brewery to score the gold in the competition’s most competitive category, Classic India Pale Ale.
“We are so incredibly proud of our team’s wins at the 2026 World Beer Cup in Philly,” said brewmaster Gene Wagoner. “We took home a silver for Chepedelic in New Zealand IPA—now a back-to-back medalist after pulling a gold at Great American Beer Fest last fall—and a Gold for Immutable Dawn in Classic IPA. Sharing the stage with so many of our local, national, and international peers was nothing short of exhilarating.”
ISM’s “Immutable Dawn” took the top prize in a category stacked with some 205 submissions from breweries across the globe. And “Chepedelic” wasn’t an easy uphill either, with 102 entries in its category.
“Winning both a gold and a silver at the World Beer Cup is a huge honor, especially in two highly competitive hop-forward categories,” owner Ian McCall said. “It’s incredibly meaningful for us because it reflects the work of our amazing brewing staff, who bring an extraordinary level of care to every step of the process. From hop selection to final pour, their attention to detail, consistency, and commitment to sourcing the highest-quality ingredients truly drive the character and quality of our beer.”
So what, exactly, is the World Beer Cup?
Over the years, there has been a seismic shift the choices consumers make when it comes to beer—leading the Brewers Association to develop the bi-annual World Beer Cup Competition in 1996 to celebrate the art and science of brewing. This global competition, per the Association, “continues to create greater consumer awareness about different beer styles and flavor profiles while promoting international brewing excellence.”
The World Beer Cup, often referred to as “The Olympics of Beer Competitions,” is the most prestigious beer competition in the world. And, yet again, the U.S. absolutely dominated this year’s winner list, taking the majority of the 300-plus medals handed out across 100-plus categories with Japan in a distant second. To put it into perspective: the United States won over 260 medals. Japan won 12.
And yes, before you assume that 100-plus categories are ridiculous, you have to remember that this is the world of professional beer making. There are definitely separate categories for wheat beers, such as American Wheat Beer and Belgian-style Witbier, as well as over eight categories within the India Pale Ale style alone.
And there are hyper-specific singular categories like gluten-free beer and South German-style Bernsteinfarbenes Weizen. There are awards for beer pubs, all divvied up by size. It is a thorough, rightful examination of beer globally.
ISM Brewing & Kitchen is located at 210 E. 3rd St.
