There may be two weeks left to go in 2025, but we already have our sights squarely set on next year and the sixth-annual San Diego Beer News Awards (SDBNA)! The following is everything you’ll need to know to nominate and vote for your favorite local beers and breweries, and enjoy the 2026 SDBNA ceremony.
From Monday, January 5 to Friday, February 6, we will publish one post per weekday on San Diego Beer News’ Instagram account, asking the public to nominate beers, breweries and individuals in specific categories. Each post will include simple instructions and specifications for each category. If you don’t already follow San Diego Beer News on Instagram, just click here to do so, and feel free to check in to our account along the way to make sure you haven’t missed any categories that may not have made it onto your feed. Please note that you will be able to make nominations in any category through noon on Sunday, February 8, at which point the nomination period will close so we can put together the official 2026 SDBNA ballot.
When the ballot goes live online on Monday, February 16, we will email San Diego Beer News subscribers (if you have not yet subscribed to our free weekly newsletter, you can do so by clicking here) with a link so that they can access the ballot. We will also post a link to the ballot across our social-media channels. Voting will be live from Monday, February 16 through Friday, February 27.
The following are all of the award categories for the 2026 SDBNAs…
Brewery & Brewer Awards
Best Regional Brewery: North, South, West, East & Central Regions
Best New Brewery
Larry Smith Customer Service Award
San Diego Vanguard Brewer Award
San Diego Brewers Guild Outstanding Service Award
Nate Soroko Community Impact Award
Best Expansion Project
Best Brewery Branding *
Best Can or Bottle Design
Best Beer Bar or Restaurant *
Best Food & Menu
Brewery Sustainability Award *
* New category for 2026
Beer & Beverage Categories
West Coast IPA
Hazy IPA
Imperial IPA
Niche IPA
Hoppy Beer (non-IPA)
Pilsner
German Beer (non-Pilsner)
Belgian Ale
U.K. or Irish Ale
Coffee Beer
Sour or Wild Beer
Strong Beer
Barrel-Aged Beer
Light Beer or Adjunct Lager
Non-Alcoholic Beer
Alternative Beverage
Collaboration Beer
Winners in all of the categories above will be announced live at the 2026 San Diego Beer News Awards Ceremony, a large-scale, in-person event that is open to all and free to attend. The ceremony will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at Harland Brewing’s headquarters at 10115 Carroll Canyon Road in Scripps Ranch. Save the date to take part in the fun of what has grown into the biggest night of the entire year for members of the San Diego brewing industry and craft-beer community.
But first, be sure to submit your nominations and fill out the ballot. It takes all of you to properly celebrate San Diego County’s beer scene. We appreciate your time and efforts, and look forward to seeing you at the 2026 San Diego Beer News Awards Ceremony!