According to a statement from Praxis, the “Encruzado beer by Carlos Lucas & Praxis (Grape Ale 2025)”, developed through a collaboration between the brewery and winemaker Carlos Lucas, was awarded the world title for Grape Ale. This honour followed a blind tasting by judges at the World Beer Awards 2026 in London, an event that brought together hundreds of beers from dozens of countries.

Praxis notes that this is a hybrid category “incorporating grape must or grapes into the brewing process, bringing the beer closer to the world of wine.”

This distinction was previously awarded to Praxis Imperial Stout, placing the Coimbra-based brand at the top of the international podium once again.

Beer production in Coimbra dates back to medieval monasteries and convents, eventually reaching an industrial scale in the 1920s with the founding of the Companhia de Cervejas de Coimbra (Coimbra Beer Company).

Arnaldo Baptista, the founder of Praxis, emphasised the importance of this award not only for the brand but also for the city.

“Praxis is a project dedicated to restoring a piece of Coimbra’s heritage that was at risk of being lost, which is why this award holds special significance. We aren’t celebrating this alone; we celebrate as residents of Coimbra, because the city’s community deserves this source of pride. They deserve to know that their local brewery was the most decorated Portuguese entrant at the World Beer Awards and that it produces the best beer in the world in its category,” stated Baptista.

In total, Praxis secured nine medals at the 2026 edition of the competition, five of which were national winners in their respective categories: Grape Ale, Onyx, Belgian Triple, Glutbeer, and Topázio.

The brand also won two silver medals for its Non-Alcoholic IPA and NEIPA, and two bronze medals for its Imperial Stout and IPA.

“It is a source of pride to know that our work is recognised in competition against the best in the world, especially across so many different categories; the breadth of our award record is, in itself, a testament to our technical expertise,” said Pedro Batista, the brewery’s CEO.

The World Beer Awards are among the most internationally renowned beer competitions, evaluating beers from around the globe by style category each year. A panel of expert judges grants awards through blind tasting.