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Katy has another reason to celebrate its hometown craft beer scene. No Label Brewing Co. has earned a silver medal at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival for its Perpetual Peace beer, marking the second consecutive year the Katy brewery has received the national honor.

The award, announced October 11 in Denver, Colorado, places No Label Brewing Co. among 243 breweries and cideries recognized in one of the nation's largest professional beer competitions. For a brewery with deep roots in Katy, the back-to-back recognition is a meaningful achievement, not just for the people making the beer, but also for the community that has supported the business over the years.

Perpetual Peace received silver in Category 33, Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer, a category that recognizes beers shaped by the aging process and the influence of wood or barrels. Winning the same medal two years in a row is a notable accomplishment for the No Label brewing team, particularly in a competition that draws thousands of entries from across the United States.

No Label Brewing Co. Celebrates Another National Win for Katy

Following the announcement, No Label Brewing Co. shared the news with its hometown supporters on Facebook, opening its message with a simple celebration: "WE DID IT, KATY!"

The brewery credited its brewing team, including Ryan and Matt, along with everyone involved in producing its beers, for the work behind the award.

In its announcement, No Label also acknowledged the people who have helped the brewery grow, writing, "And to Katy, our hometown, thank you for believing in us, supporting us, and giving us something worth representing."

For longtime customers, the recognition adds another chapter to the story of a local brewery that has become a familiar gathering place in Katy. No Label Brewing Co. was founded in 2010 by the Royo family and grew from a family brewing venture into an established name in the Greater Houston craft beer community.

Located at 5351 1st Street in Katy, the brewery operates from a historic rice-drying facility near downtown Katy. Its taproom and outdoor beer garden have become popular with residents looking to enjoy locally brewed beer, spend time with friends and family, and attend community events.

Over the years, No Label has built a following through its selection of craft beers, including familiar offerings such as El Hefe and 1980 Kolsch, along with specialty and seasonal releases. Perpetual Peace is now among the brewery's nationally recognized beers, bringing additional attention to the work happening at its Katy facility.

What Is the Great American Beer Festival, and Why Does This Award Matter?

The Great American Beer Festival, organized by the Brewers Association, is a major annual event that brings together American breweries, beer enthusiasts and industry professionals. Its professionally judged competition is widely regarded as one of the country's most significant opportunities for breweries to earn national recognition.

The 2026 competition included:

• 7,267 entries representing beer, cider and hop water.
• 1,300 breweries and cideries from 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
• 225 expert judges evaluating entries over three days.
• 336 medals awarded to 243 breweries and cideries.
• 125 first-time entrants, with 12 earning their first competition medals.

The competition also expanded its categories in 2026, adding rice lager, hop water, a one-time craft malt category, new specialty beer subcategories and additional gluten-free beer classifications.

Winners were announced during an awards ceremony at Denver's Levitt Pavilion on Sunday, October 11, with the event livestreamed by The Brewing Network.

"The submissions from this year’s competition continue to reflect just how far American brewing and cidermaking have come," said Chris Williams, competition director for the Brewers Association.

Williams also noted the competitive nature of the judging process, adding, "GABF remains one of the most competitive stages in craft beer, and these winners represent the very best our industry has to offer."

With an average of 67 entries per category, the competition offered breweries from across the country an opportunity to have their beers evaluated alongside others producing similar styles. No Label's silver medal is particularly meaningful because it represents a second consecutive year of recognition for Perpetual Peace in the same category.

A Hometown Brewery Making Its Mark Beyond Katy

No Label Brewing Co.'s latest award comes as Texas breweries continue to earn recognition at national competitions. At the 2026 Great American Beer Festival, fellow Texas breweries also collected medals, including Altstadt Brewery in Fredericksburg, Saint Arnold Brewing Co. in Houston and Misfit Brewing in nearby Cypress.

In the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer category, Perpetual Peace finished behind gold medalist Soul Shakedown Party from Sun King Brewing in Fishers, Indiana, and ahead of bronze medalist 1314 from Black Tooth Brewing Co. in Sheridan, Wyoming. The official competition results also confirm that Perpetual Peace earned silver in the same category in 2025.

For Katy residents who have watched No Label grow over the years, the latest medal is another reason to take pride in a locally founded business. What began as a family brewing venture has developed into a brewery whose products can compete with established names from across the country, time and time again.

And while the medal was awarded in Denver, the people behind it are celebrating back home in Katy, where the brewery's team and longtime supporters have helped make that success possible.

The complete national competition results are available through the 2026 Great American Beer Festival winners list.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more stories celebrating Katy businesses, local achievements and the people helping shape the community.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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