The Skunkworks Competition is Open to ALL at CBC 2026!

The Skunkworks Competition is back and bigger than ever. Learn what’s NEW and start prepping your recipe ASAP. It’s all happening at the 2026 Craft Brewers Conference in Philadelphia!

Skunkworks is a competition where risk-takers remind us that sometimes brewing rules can be bent or broken altogether. At the 2026 Skunkworks Competition, we’re inviting brewers to bend, break, and completely reinvent the rules when it comes to flavor. Considering the exceptional beers we’ve had the pleasure of tasting in years past, that’s a tall order. 

Between submissions from newcomers and well-respected names in craft beer, our 2024 and 2025 Skunkworks competitions showcased everything from regional influences and twists on tradition to novel flavor combos that damn near blew our palates apart in the most delicious way. Now? We want more.

So, at the 2026 Craft Brewers Conference in Philadelphia, we’re opening the Skunkworks by Abstrax competition to EVERYONE.

Ready to flex your brewing creativity? Want to join a one-of-a-kind community? Is your competitive spirit itching to dethrone our three-time reigning Best in Show Champion?

Learn what’s NEW in the 2026 Skunkworks by Abstrax competition and start brewing ASAP so you can be named Best in Show Champion, win $5000, and take home serious bragging rights!

What is Skunkworks by Abstrax?

Skunkworks by Abstrax is a unique space where brewers from all over the country compete by blending artistry with scientific innovation. The result? Singular, mind-bending beers that surpass all preconceived notions of how beer should taste! 

Competitors use Abstrax cutting-edge flavor and aroma technology to formulate boundary-pushing recipes, experiment with new styles, and pioneer novel beverage experiences. It’s so much more than that, though. 

This is a one-of-a-kind community where we come together to celebrate originality and risk-taking. It’s an opportunity to collaborate and explore flavor while solving brewing challenges with likeminded brewers from all over the country. Plus, the final day of voting happens over some truly exceptional beers that you’ve never tasted before, and you may never taste again.

So, what’s the winner get? The brewer who takes home the coveted Best in Show Award gets $5000, and serious bragging rights!

What’s NEW at Skunkworks 2026?

Our standards were high after 2024’s impressive showing, and our 2025 competitors raised the bar even higher. From regional ingredients and twists on classics to novel flavor experiences, the showcased beers featured the unique brewing perspectives of our contestants. 

It reminded us WHY it’s so important to elevate different artistic expressions, and it’s why we’re bringing something NEW to the 2026 Skunkworks Lounge.

The biggest change? While previous years were invite-only, the 2026 Skunkworks Brewing Competition is now OPEN TO EVERYONE. In addition to the breweries who competed last year, we’re inviting ANY brewery from all over the US. From macrobreweries and microbreweries to taprooms and brewpubs, we want to taste brewing innovations from all corners of the globe.

Next, there will be ONLY two rounds of the competition with anonymous judging. Doing so will make things simple and efficient so it’s easier to fairly assess what will be a much larger pool of submissions. 

Lastly, we’ve created a Showcase for Non-Alcoholic Beers! Demand for NA Beers is through the roof, and it’s thanks to dedicated brewers who continue to tinker with formulations until they’re more than good, they’re perfect. 

So, if you make it to the Final Round and have been needing motivation to step into the non alcoholic beer space, this is your opportunity! We won’t be judging NA Beers in this competition, but who knows what’ll happen with the next one…

How to Compete at the Skunkworks by Abstrax Brewing Competition

Entries MUST use AT LEAST 1 Abstrax product. These can include ANY products from our Quantum Series, Omni Hop Profiles, Skyfarm Series, or our BrewGas Series. 

The last day to complete the application form is December 12th, but beers can be submitted for First Round judging between October 13th, 2025 and January 16th, 2026.

The FINAL DEADLINE for beers to be judged is January 16th, so don’t delay! If your beer hasn’t ARRIVED at our Irvine, CA facility by January 16th, it won’t be included in the first round. 

All beers that have been correctly submitted will be assessed on Round 1 Judging Day later in January. This single day of judging will determine the top five beers that move forward into Round 2.

The top 5 competitors will have between February 1st and March 31st to finalize, brew, and submit their beer to CBC. Brewers can make adjustments to their beer during this time, but overall it needs to be the same beer. Final round brewers must submit 2 half barrels of their final beer by March 31st.

Finally, Round 2 will take place at CBC in Philadelphia, PA between April 20th and 22nd. Beers from all 5 competitors (plus returning champions, Mountains Walking) will be poured live. Attendees will vote with anonymous identifiers (Beer A, Beer B, etc.) to keep judging fair.

Abstrax | See You at the 2026 Skunkworks Competition in Philly!

We can’t wait to see what you brew up for the 2026 Skunkworks Lounge! Looking for inspiration to get started? Look no further…

The 2026 competition is taking place in America’s birthplace where the Declaration of Independence was signed AND it’s happening during the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence. 

That’s why this year’s theme is Revolutionary Beers!

Does that mean reviving VERY traditional beer recipes? Brewing with yeast strains that are oldies but definitely goodies? Rethinking classic ingredients with modern technology? Interpret the theme however you like, just get creative and submit something we’ve never tasted before!

Sign up for Skunkworks by Abstrax TODAY, submit a one-of-a-kind beer, and become the 2026 Best in Show Champion