Pawpaws. Muscadines. Honeydew.
Those aren’t the ingredients you’d expect to see earning national awards, but that’s exactly what happened for one Mississippi brewery. Biloxi’s Fly Llama Brewing has been named one of the Top 10 Hard Seltzer Producers in the nation, bringing home four medals at the 2026 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship.
Located in the heart of downtown Biloxi, the craft brewery claimed four medals, proving that Southern flavors can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the country.
Fly Llama struck gold with its Pawpaw Seltzer, while its Honeydew Seltzer and Blackberry Seltzer each earned silver medals. Rounding out the impressive showing was a bronze medal for its Muscadine Seltzer, giving the brewery four national awards across multiple categories.
If those flavors sound unmistakably Southern, that’s exactly the point.
Fly Llama has built its reputation on taking familiar Southern ingredients and giving them a fresh twist through thoughtful brewing. From muscadines to pawpaws—North America’s largest native fruit—the brewery embraces flavors that reflect the region’s roots while creating something refreshingly different.
The recognition comes from the 2026 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship, held annually in Oxford, Ohio. The competition featured a record number of entries this year and evaluated beverages across 37 categories, making Fly Llama’s Top 10 finish an impressive accomplishment in an increasingly competitive craft beverage industry.
“We are honored to be included in this esteemed group of producers,” said founder and brewmaster David Reese. “Being recognized among the top 10 in a field of incredible talent from across the country is a testament to our commitment to quality, creativity, and innovation.”
Reese brings an extraordinary level of expertise to the brewery. A graduate of the prestigious Siebel Institute of Technology, he is also Mississippi’s only Master Cicerone—a designation held by just 29 people worldwide. The certification represents one of the highest levels of knowledge in brewing, beer evaluation, and food pairing.
Since opening in downtown Biloxi, Fly Llama Brewing has become known for producing approachable craft beers and refreshing hard seltzers while blending traditional brewing methods with unexpected Southern ingredients. The brewery sources local ingredients whenever possible and has developed a loyal following for beverages that are equal parts creative and distinctly Mississippi.
Its motto says it all: “If you’re going to be a Llama, be a Fly Llama.”
Now, that philosophy has earned national recognition.
For Mississippians, it’s another reminder that some of the state’s most creative makers are earning attention far beyond our borders. Whether you’re already a fan of craft beverages or simply enjoy discovering unique places around the Magnolia State, Fly Llama Brewing has given us one more reason to make a stop in Biloxi.
Congratulations to David Reese and the entire Fly Llama Brewing team on an outstanding national achievement—and on putting a taste of Mississippi in the winners’ circle.
