About the Challenge
BestBrewChallenge Guidelines, the BEST Taste Challenge & FAQ
The BestBrewChallenge is an annual international brewing competition in which brewers from around the world simultaneously brew a designated beer style using a shared set of ingredients.
The Challenge has been organized since 2015 by Palatia Malz, producer of the BESTMALZ malt brand.
2026 BestBrewChallenge Guidelines
Participants: Anyone can participate (hobby and professional brewers alike)!
Registration: Register on this website before 19 April 2026.
2026 Challenge: Brew a Dark Wheat Beer (mashing any time between 20-26 April 2026) using BEST Wheat Malt (and/or BEST Wheat Malt Dark) & BEST Roasted Malts in compliance with the German purity law (Reinheitsgebot)!
More information about the style can be found here (p. 17: “10B – Dunkles Weissbier”).
T-Shirt: All participants will have the opportunity to acquire BestBrewChallenge 2026 Participant T-shirts for a symbolic price (we will contact you after the Challenge regarding this).
Die 2026 Best Taste Challenge
Everyone participating in the BestBrewChallenge can also take part in the BEST Taste Challenge by sending a sample of their beer to us.
An international jury of beer sommeliers selected by Palatia Malz GmbH will judge the taste of all submitted beers.
The winning beer will be brewed and served at the BRAU Beviale fair in Nuremberg (10-12 November 2026). The winner will also be invited to participate (max. 2 persons, incl. travel & accommodation expenses).
2nd place: 100 € coupon for the BESTMALZ Fanshop or for the purchase of Base malts.
3rd place: 50 € coupon for the BESTMALZ Fanshop or for the purchase of Base malts.
The top three beers will also receive a professional beer analysis.
All participants in the BEST Taste Challenge will receive a Certificate of Participation and an evaluation of their beer.
Eligibility requirements for participating in the BEST Taste Challenge:
- Send us (a) the completed Documentation sheet together with (b) at least three liters of your beer to the BESTMALZ Administration in Heidelberg, Germany (Palatia Malz GmbH, BestBrewChallenge, Am Bahnbetriebswerk 5, D-69115 Heidelberg, Germany).
- Deadline for sending us the beer to our German headquarters is 15 June 2026 (date of receipt!).
- You agree that the winners’ name and recipe is published by Palatia Malz GmbH.
- The 1st place winner agrees that the winning beer will be brewed for and distributed at the Award Ceremony.
FAQ
No, we want to ensure similar starting conditions for all participants of the BestBrewChallenge. Check the BESTMALZ Website to find the nearest distributor in your area.
3 liters in bottles of your choice will be sufficient, but we are happy to receive more! Please make sure to meet the deadline (date of receipt!). And don’t forget to include the completed Documentation sheet! Shipment costs must be covered by the sender.
All participants will have the opportunity to acquire BestBrewChallenge 2026 Participant T-shirts for a symbolic price. We will contact you individually after the Challenge regarding this possibility!