South Jersey’s Wander Back Beerworks Wins Gold at 2026 World Beer Cup
Craft beer enthusiasts in South Jersey have a new reason to celebrate.
The Perfect Balance: Winning Gold for Munich Helles
Wander Back Beerworks has earned a gold medal for its Munich Helles, the 5th most entered category, with 155 other entries, at the 2026 World Beer Cup, the most prestigious beer competition in the world.
“Too sweet and it’s not guzzlable enough,” co-owner Brian Hink says. “Too dry or thin and it leaves a fleeting sense that makes you want to grab something else to drink. A Helles is all about balance, drinkability, and Wander Back Lager is the epitome of drinkable. It’s a throwback beer in the sense that it’s a classic style, but also in the sense that you can just throw it back and drink it over and over again.”
The competition, held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, featured 114 style categories and five cider categories, making it one of the most competitive events in the industry.
The World Beer Cup uses a group of 255 discerning beer judges, hailing from 37 countries, who carefully evaluated 8,166 entries from 1,644 breweries across 50 countries.
“It’s such an honor to take home a gold medal, but the honor is even more special because it was for our flagship beer, the first we ever brewed as Wander Back,” says Hink. “This beer is the foundation of all our beers. Our brewing, cellaring, and packaging processes were all designed around this beer.”
Expanding in Vineland: New Taproom and Convention Center
Founded in 2024, Wander Back Brewery has beer all around South Jersey, and their taproom in Downtown Vineland is expected to open later this year.
Wander Back Beerworks will be located at the former Amish Market at 631 E. Landis Ave., which is being renovated into a 40,000-square-foot convention center in Downtown Vineland.
Visit wanderbackbeer.com for more information.
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