The TWØBAYS brew crew have done it again - three years in a row on the podium at the World Beer Cup 2026. If you were lucky enough to grab yourself a Rum Smuggler a few weeks ago, it's officially one of the best Gluten Free Beers on the planet.
TWØBAYS Brewing Co were the only Australian brewery to pick up a medal at the 2026 World Beer Cup, taking home Silver in the Gluten-Free Beer category for Rum Smuggler Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. Once again putting Australian brewing on the global map and taking TWØBAYS’ remarkable run to three consecutive years on the World Beer Cup podium, following Gold medals in 2024 and 2025.
A World Beer Cup Medal is Different
The World Beer Cup is widely regarded as the most prestigious professional beer and cider competition in the world. Often referred to as the “Olympics of Beer”, it is organised by the Brewers Association and judged through a rigorous blind-tasting process. In 2026, an international panel of 255 judges from 50 countries assessed 8,166 entries from 1,644 breweries across 50 nations.
It’s a knockout style competition where only the best beers advance to the next round. Gold, silver and bronze are only awarded to the top three beers in each category.
What Makes Rum Smuggler Stand Out?
TWØBAYS won its 2026 Silver medal with Rum Smuggler Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, a bold and inventive beer that pushes expectations of what gluten free brewing can be. Brewed with millet and rice and matured in ex-rum American oak barrels, Rum Smuggler delivers rich rum aromatics, deep decadent character and a warming 10.5% ABV profile. It was also the first gluten free barrel aged beer produced in Australia.
This is not the sort of beer people picture when they hear the words “gluten free”. And that is precisely the point.
Richard Jeffares, Founder of TWØBAYS Brewing Co, summed it up perfectly, “Our brewers continue to push boundaries and prove that no one has to miss out on any beer style”. Rum Smuggler is bold, complex and completely different to what most people expect from gluten free brewing.
The Best Gluten Free Beer Is Not About Compromise
We firmly believe that gluten free doesn’t need to be synonymous with compromising what you love – you can have great quality and variety in beers, all brewed with naturally gluten free malts.
Quality and consistency is what every brewer strives for. TWØBAYS won Gold for Session Ale in 2024, Gold for Pacific Ale in 2025 and now Silver for Rum Smuggler Barrel Aged Imperial Stout in 2026. Three different beer styles. Three consecutive years. One very clear message: TWØBAYS is redefining what people should expect from gluten free beer.
Raising the Bar for Gluten Free Brewing
This is another step forward for gluten free brewing as a category. It shows that gluten free beer can be adventurous, premium and globally recognised for excellence. It is a reminder that innovation, creativity and technical skill are not limited by gluten free ingredients.
This year the gold medal was awarded to our friend at Ghostfish Brewing for their outstanding beer, It Came From the Haze. Bronze went to Orange Bike Brewing Co. for their Guava Sour. Together we continue to push each other to keep bring more variety and quality to gluten free brewing.
Rum Smuggler has sold out, but you can still grab our other World Beer Cup medallist – Session Ale and Pacific Ale. And the rum that made it? Head over to JimmyRum to grab a bottle while it lasts.
