Registration is now open for the 15th Annual Best of the Northwest Beer Awards, marking 15 years of Sip Magazine producing the Northwest’s largest and longest-running regional commercial beer competition.
The Best of the Northwest Beer Awards have celebrated the breweries and beers that define one of the world’s premier brewing regions while helping consumers discover the producers and pours worthy of seeking out. As a media publication first, Sip Magazine approaches the competition with one goal: creating the Northwest’s most trusted annual guide to the best beers in the region. Year after year, our readers look to these results as their roadmap for what to drink next, whether revisiting longtime favorites or discovering breweries they haven’t yet experienced.
To commemorate this milestone year, Sip Magazine has worked alongside respected industry partners to further refine the competition. Categories have once again been thoughtfully reviewed and updated to reflect today’s brewing landscape, while an invitation-only judging panel has been assembled to ensure every beer is evaluated by some of the region’s most qualified palates.
The competition is open to commercial breweries in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia.
Every entry is evaluated through a blind tasting by cicerones, beverage directors, buyers, retailers, writers, distributors and brewing professionals. The top beers are recognized with Platinum, Double Gold, Gold and Silver medals in their respective categories.
For breweries, the competition provides valuable written feedback from experienced judges and the opportunity to earn respected regional recognition. For consumers, the annual list of winners has become Sip Magazine’s trusted guide to discovering the Pacific Northwest’s finest beers.
Important Dates
Registration Opens: Tuesday July 21, 2026
Entry & Sample Deadline: Friday, September 25, 2026 *
Fresh Hop Beer Receiving Deadline: Friday, October 9
Competition Judging: October 14-16, 2026
Medalists Announced: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Submission Details
Beer Submission Form CLICK HERE
Before submitting your entries, please review the 2026 Brewery Entry Guide for competition categories, style descriptions, eligibility and category placement guidance.
2026 Brewery Entry Guide: CLICK HERE
Complete the online submission form for each beer entered. Entries will not be judged until the submission form and payment has been received.
Entries must be commercially produced in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana or British Columbia.
Beer Submission Form: CLICK HERE
Register & Pay
Entry Fee: $60 per beer through August 31 ($70 per beer beginning September 1)
Register & Pay: CLICK HERE
Credit card payments are accepted online. If paying by check please mail payment to:
Sip Magazine
Best of Beer
1335 N. Northlake Way, Suite 101
Seattle, WA 98103
Please do not ship beer samples to this address
Submit your Samples
Submit four (4) samples for each beer packaged in 500 mL or smaller bottles or cans.
Submit two (2) samples for each beer packaged in 19 oz., 22 oz., or 750 mL bottles.
Submit two (2) 32 oz. crowlers or one (1) 64 oz. growler.
Labeling
No special competition labels are required. If submitting shiner bottles, blank cans, or unlabeled crowlers, clearly write the beer name and competition category on each container.
Shipping
Carefully package all glass-format beers, especially growlers, as shipping companies are not always gentle.
Please do not use packing peanuts or popcorn.
Ship all entries to the following address:
Seattle Wine Storage
Attn: Sip Magazine Best of Beer
9401 Aurora Ave N., Seattle WA 98103
In person deliveries can be made to Seattle Wine Storage daily from 12-6pm (excluding holidays).
