BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) — Fly Llama Brewing is raising a glass after bringing home four medals at the 2026 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship, earning a spot among the best in the country.
“When I opened Fly Llama, I knew that seltzers would be part of our portfolio, but I never really anticipated it being such a big part of our portfolio,” owner Dave Reese said.
The brewery earned four U.S. Open Hard Seltzer championship medals — gold for Pawpaw, silver for blackberry and honeydew and bronze for Muscadine.
They were also ranked eighth in the Top 10 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Producers.
“It’s a product that works with a lot of different taste profiles and a lot of different palettes, and with the different flavors we offer, we’re really able to kind of hit a large segment of the customer base,” Reese said.
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Kelly Edwards spent the afternoon enjoying the Pawpaw seltzer, continuing a post-COVID tradition of gathering with friends to draft new memories.
“I work hard throughout the week and on the weekend as well, so this is my relax time,” Edwards said.
For Edwards, the draw isn’t just the company; it’s the consistent quality.
“Drinks are always fresh, I’ll say that,” Edwards said. “I’ve never had a bad one here, but it’s really good beer.”
Paul Kirkpatrick enjoyed the Honeydew seltzer, calling it the perfect refreshing drink to beat the heat.
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“Especially when it’s hot, the Honeydew, the Pineapple Satsuma, they’re the best thing to drink on a hot summer day. They’re absolutely refreshing,” Kirkpatrick said.
That consistent, refreshing taste is no accident. Reese says keeping the community happy starts with a strict standard.
“It’s very important that anytime you buy a six-pack that it’s what you want it to be and what we want it to be, so I would say we take quality control very seriously,” Reese said.
As Fly Llama raises a glass to their latest achievement, they’ve tapped into the perfect recipe for community success.
“We’ve been really embraced by the Gulf Coast community, and I think the best part of my job is coming into a busy taproom on a Friday night and seeing everybody having a good time,” Reese said.
Reese says the building across from the brewery is being transformed into Copper Llama, their twist on different kinds of liquor. An opening date has not been announced.
For a full list of winners of 2026 U.S. Open Hard Seltzers Championship medal winners, click here.
Fly Llama Brewing is located at 186 Bohn Street. You can find party packs of their seltzers at gas stations, grocery stores, and in the taproom.
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