Israeli Alexander Brewery Sweeps Gold and Silver at European Beer Star
Israeli Alexander Brewery won gold and silver medals at the European Beer Star 2026 in Germany. The SESSION IPA took gold, and Alexander BLACK earned silver, marking three straight years of global success.
Israeli craft brewing has achieved a historic milestone on the global stage as Alexander Brewery captured two prestigious medals—gold and silver—at the European Beer Star 2026 competition held in Germany, widely considered one of the world's leading brewing contests. The brewery's "Alexander SESSION IPA" secured the gold medal in its category, while the seasonal winter brew "Alexander BLACK" earned the silver medal.
The official award ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 11, in Nuremberg, Germany, where representatives from the Israeli brewery walked up to the podium to receive their medals to the sound of the Israeli song "Michel", played as a special cultural tribute on the international stage. This marks the third consecutive year that Alexander Brewery has placed at the top of the global competition, cementing its status among the world's elite microbreweries.
Excellence Recognized on the Global Stage
The gold-medaling Alexander SESSION IPA is crafted in the popular India Pale Ale style, renowned for its rich fruity aromas, balanced bitterness, and precise flavor complexity. The top honor serves as a definitive global seal of quality, proving that the Hefer Valley-based brewery can compete head-to-head with the finest craft producers worldwide.
Meanwhile, the silver-winning Alexander BLACK is a dark, warming winter seasonal inspired by European and American brewing traditions, featuring deep notes of espresso and dark chocolate. This latest accolade adds to an already crowded trophy room for Alexander BLACK, which previously secured gold medals at the European Beer Star in 2013, 2014, and 2017, as well as a gold medal at the 2004 World Beer Cup.
Pride of the Hefer Valley
"Winning two medals in the same year, including a gold, is an exceptionally emotional moment for us," said Lior Balmas, CEO of Alexander Brewery. "Seeing beers crafted right here in the Hefer Valley successfully competing against the best breweries in the world is a tremendous source of Israeli pride. This achievement reflects our relentless dedication to quality and gives us immense motivation to keep brewing exceptional Israeli beer."
Founded in 2008 by Ori Sagi in the Hefer Valley near the Alexander River, the boutique enterprise specializes in fresh, unfiltered, and unpasteurized craft beers brewed in small batches using traditional methods. The European Beer Star competition, established in 2004 by the Association of Private Breweries, evaluates entries through rigorous blind taste tests conducted by an international panel of experts.
