Belgian Pils Named World’s Best Lager at Beer Awards
A small West Flemish village is celebrating after its local brewery claimed the ultimate prize in the world of beer. Bavik Super Pils, brewed by Brouwerij De Brabandere in Bavikhove near Harelbeke, has been named World’s Best Lager at the World Beer Awards 2026, announced on Wednesday 12 August at Sprowston Manor in Norwich, UK.
The award marks a historic milestone for the independent family brewery, founded in 1894. Bavik Super Pils was specifically recognized as World’s Best International Lager, beating competitors from around the globe in the most widely consumed beer style worldwide.
A Dream Come True
“This is truly unreal, an absolute dream come true!” said Albert De Brabandere, CEO of Brouwerij De Brabandere, in the brewery’s official announcement. “Bavik Super Pils was already named the best of Belgium in 2021 and 2022, but that we now simply take the world title? That is the greatest crown on the hard work of our entire team.”
“That we impress the extremely critical international professional jury so much with our pils proves that our vision is right,” he added. “Time to tap the barrels worldwide and celebrate this gigantic success!”
A Legacy of Excellence
The achievement is the latest chapter in a long history of recognition for Bavik Super Pils. The beer was previously named Best Pils of Belgium at the World Beer Awards in 2021, 2022, and again in 2026, as confirmed by the brewery’s announcement. Earlier accolades include top honors at the Brussels Beer Challenge in 2015 and a first-place finish in a blind tasting of 19 Belgian pils beers organized by Het Nieuwsblad in 2012.
According to Wikipedia, the beer has been brewed since 1894 and contains exclusively aroma hops, giving it its characteristic bitter taste. It is one of the few Belgian pils beers that is not pasteurized, a process the brewery says preserves its unique flavor profile.
The Secret Behind the Success
Brewmaster Yves Benoit attributes the world title to an uncompromising brewing process. “We simply never compromise on taste or quality,” he told Het Laatste Nieuws. “We brew exclusively with 100 percent barley malt and exclusive aroma hops for a full and refreshingly bitter taste profile. Because we don’t dilute the pils during brewing, we guarantee a full-bodied taste.”
The brewing process involves eight days of fermentation followed by an extra-long cold lagering period of thirty days. “The beer gets the necessary rest,” Benoit explained. “After eight days of fermentation, an extra long cold lagering of thirty days follows for perfect clarity and stability. The result? An honest, pure pils to enjoy in good company.”
More Than a Brewery Victory
For De Brabandere, the world title represents more than just a win for the company. The brewery sees it as a triumph for Belgian beer culture as a whole, which is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. “Belgium is the beer country par excellence,” the brewery stated. “Our rich beer culture is baked into our DNA, it flows through our veins and brings our countless hospitality venues to life.”
The 2026 awards featured more than 2,500 beers from over 55 countries. Pete Brown, global chair of judges, noted the exceptional standard of entries: “The judges this year all felt that the standard of beers was exceptionally high. It’s a nice, and not that usual, problem to have, but picking our overall winners was more difficult than ever before.”
Additional Honors
The brewery also took home silver medals at the 2026 World Beer Awards for Petrus Tripel (Belgian Style Strong) and Kwaremont Tripel (Belgian Style Tripel). Additionally, the brewery recently launched Bavik 0.0%, an alcohol-free variant of the award-winning pils, which has been well received by consumers.
What’s Next
With the world title secured, the brewery is preparing to celebrate with beer lovers worldwide. As the CEO put it, it’s time to tap the barrels and toast to a historic achievement that puts a small West Flemish village firmly on the global beer map.
For beer enthusiasts, the recognition serves as a reminder that sometimes the best things come from the most unexpected places — and that a family brewery’s commitment to quality can rival even the largest international brands.