Cass sweeps 2026 Brand of the Year Awards with triple win
Key Takeaways
- •Cass won the beer category at the 2026 Brand of the Year Awards for the fourth consecutive year.
- •Cass Zero was named the top nonalcoholic beer for the second year in a row after a product renewal this year.
- •CassCool Festival received the inaugural Music Festival of the Year award.
- •The awards were decided by consumer voting, with more than 770,000 people taking part this year.
- •Cass said it will keep developing products and brand experiences aimed at different consumer preferences and lifestyles.
Oriental Brewery’s flagship lager brand, Cass, strengthened its position in the domestic market by sweeping three categories at the 2026 Brand of the Year Awards, earning top votes for its traditional beer, zero-alcohol lineup and music festival properties.
Cass won the beer category for the fourth consecutive year, while Cass Zero captured the nonalcoholic beer category for the second straight year.
CassCool Festival, the brand’s summer music event, was selected for the newly created Music Festival of the Year category.
The awards, organized by the Korea Consumer Forum, are determined through annual consumer voting, with more than 770,000 people participating this year.
Cass said the latest honors reflect both the strength of its products and the response to its efforts to create more interactive experiences around the brand.
This year, Cass expanded its consumer-facing campaigns through a World Cup-themed pop-up called Cass Fan Base Camp and viewing events at Cass Viewing Pubs, underscoring how beer brands in Korea are increasingly pairing product launches with live events and fan engagement.
The brand also promoted Cass Extreme Cold, served at minus 3 degrees Celsius, and “Ultra Fresh” draft beer produced the day before it is sold at major summer festivals.
Cass Zero underwent a product renewal this year, using what the company calls its Smart Zero Process to achieve an alcohol content of 0 percent while enhancing its beer flavor and refreshing finish.
CassCool Festival was recognized for combining music, water shows and interactive programming, including performances, water slides and festival-only food and beverage offerings.
A Cass brand representative said the recognition was particularly meaningful because Cass, Cass Zero and CassCool Festival were all selected through consumer voting.
The representative added that Cass would continue developing products and brand experiences tailored to different consumer tastes and lifestyles.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
