Lisbon, Aug. 14, 2026 (Lusa) - Praxis, the Portuguese brewery based in Coimbra, has won a world title at the 2026 World Beer Awards in a category that incorporates grape must or grapes into the brewing process, bringing home a total of nine medals from the UK.
According to a statement from Praxis, the «Encruzado beer by Carlos Lucas & Praxis (Grape Ale 2025)», developed in collaboration between the brewery and winemaker Carlos Lucas, was awarded the world title for Grape Ale, following a blind tasting by judges at the 2026 World Beer Awards, which took place in London and brought together hundreds of beers from dozens of countries.
This is a hybrid category «which incorporates must or grapes into the brewing process, bringing beer closer to the world of wine», explains Praxis.
The award had previously been given to Praxis Imperial Stout and once again places the Coimbra-based brand at the top of the international podium.
Beer production in Coimbra dates back to medieval monasteries and convents, and reached industrial scale in the 1920s with the creation of the Companhia de Cervejas de Coimbra.
Arnaldo Baptista, founder of Praxis, emphasised the importance of this award for the brand, but also for the city.
«Praxis is a project to restore a part of Coimbra's heritage that was being lost, which is why this award holds special significance. It is not just us who are celebrating: we are celebrating as residents of Coimbra, because the community of this city deserves to have this source of pride; it deserves to know that its brewery was the most decorated Portuguese brewery at the World Beer Awards and that it has the world's best beer in its category,» said Baptista.
In total, Praxis won nine medals at the 2026 edition of the competition, five of which were as national winners in their respective categories – Grape Ale, Onyx, Belgian Triple, Glutbeer and Topázio.
The brand also won two silver medals, for the Alcohol-Free IPA and the NEIPA, and two bronze medals, for the Imperial Stout and the IPA.
«It is a source of pride to know that what we do is recognised in competition with the whole world, particularly across so many different categories, not least because the breadth of our honours is, in itself, a testament to our technical expertise,» said the brewery's chief executive, Pedro Batista.
The World Beer Awards are one of the most internationally recognised beer competitions, evaluating beers from around the world annually by style category. The awards are judged by a panel of expert judges in a blind tasting.
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