06-05-2025
California beers named best in the world during international competition
Dozens of California breweries have received global recognition, with some of their products being named the best in the world.
The 2025 World Beer Cup, an international competition organized by the not-for-profit Brewers Association, took place this past week in Indianapolis.
Billing itself as the 'Olympics of Beer,' this year's competition was held over 14 sessions, spanning seven days with 256 judges from 37 different countries. Winners were announced May 1.
'The World Beer Cup competition continues to showcase the global industry's dedication to innovative craftsmanship, diverse flavors, and technical excellence,' said Chris Williams, World Beer Cup competition director.
In total, 8,3715 beers from 1,761 breweries and cideries were entered into the World Beer Cup for consideration. The breweries came from all different corners of the globe, with 49 nations represented.
At the end of the judging period, 349 awards were given out to beers in their respective categories, with three beers per category bestowed with the bronze, silver and gold awards.
Among them, six breweries in the greater Los Angeles area, three in Orange and three in Los Angeles counties, received the prestigious gold awards for their beers.
Anaheim-based Golden Road Brewing won for its Mango Cart in the Fruit Wheat Beer category, while fellow Anaheim brewery Brewery X claimed gold for Super Slap in the American-Style India Pale Ale category. Orange's Everywhere Brewery was awarded gold for Shifted Visions in the Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale category.
From Los Angeles, Arts District Brewing Co. earned top honors for Through The Roof in the International Pale Ale category; Claremont Craft Ales won Gold in the Experimental India Pale Ale category for its beer, Pepper & Peaches; and San Fernando Brewing Co. took Gold for Dr. Sleep in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer category.
Of the hundreds of beers to receive awards, 76 were brewed in the state of California, representing 55 unique breweries.
The full list of California breweries to receive awards, and their respective categories, is below:
Bronze – Picked Last, Fieldwork Brewing Co. – Berkeley
Bronze – Chismosa, Old Caz Beer – Rohnert Park
Gold – Singing Coyote, Mountain Rambler Brewery – Bishop
Silver – Matador Red, 818 Brewing – Canoga Park
Bronze – Blackside Snap, Riip Beer Co. – Huntington Beach
Gold – Bold Rush, Drake's Brewing Co. – San Leandro
Silver – Amendment Lager, 21st Amendment – San Leandro
Gold – Super Slap, Brewery X – Anaheim
Silver – Party Crusher, Beachwood Brewing – Huntington Beach
Bronze – Home Run Jack, 14 Cannons – Westlake Village
Gold – Necrocat, Ghost Town Brewing – Oakland
Bronze – MadeWest Pale, MadeWest Brewing Co. – Ventura
Bronze – Gold Country Pilsner, Auburn Alehouse – Auburn
Gold – Howzit Punch, Alvarado Street Brewery – Salinas
Bronze – Tropic Desert, Other Brother Beer Co. – Seaside
Gold – Mordant, Ghost Town Brewing – Oakland
Bronze – Gold Label Mai Tai P.A., Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill – Monterey
Silver – XPA, Craft Coast – San Marcos
Bronze – How's the Serenity, Original Pattern Brewing – Oakland
Bronze – Lower De Boom, 21st Amendment – San Leandro
Bronze – Funk Yeah Peach, Beachwood Blendery – Huntington Beach
Bronze – Rector 2025, Absolution Brewing Co. – Torrance
Silver – Traced in Air, Bartlett Hall – San Francisco
Bronze – Funk Yeah, Beachwood Blendery – Huntington Beach
Silver – Damnation, Russian River Brewing Co. – Windsor
Silver – Pear Saison, Firestone Walker Brewing – Paso Robles
Bronze – Raven's Revenge, Beachwood Brewing – Huntington Beach
Gold – Pyro's Prost, Hop Dogma – Half Moon Bay
Bronze – Lucky 4 Leaf, Danville Brewing Co. – Danville
Silver – Plough & Harrow, ISM Brewing – Long Beach
Gold – Midnight Sea, Morgan Territory Brewing – Tracy
Silver – Dusk Til Dawn, Pizza Port San Clemente – San Clemente
Bronze – Happy Almonds, Moksa Brewing Co. – Rocklin
Gold – The Cushman, Morgan Territory Brewing – Tracy
Gold – Union Jack, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. – Paso Robles
Silver – Oscar Wanted a Brown Ale, Pizza Port Solana Beach – Solana Beach
Silver – Big Trouble in Little Tokyo, Angel City Brewery – Los Angeles
Gold – Pepper & Peaches, Claremont Craft Ales – Claremont
Gold – Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – Chico
Gold – Mango Cart, Golden Road Brewing Anaheim – Anaheim
Bronze – Guava Hard Cider, Coronado Brewing Co. – San Diego
Silver – Monger's Choice, Docent Brewing – San Juan Capistrano
Silver – Red Vespa, Unsung Brewing Co. – Tustin
Bronze – Planks, MadeWest Brewing Co. – Ventura
Silver – Schwarzbier, Pizza Port Imperial Beach – Imperial Beach
Bronze – SMBW Basil Lemongrass Gose, Santa Monica Brew Works – Santa Monica
Silver – Burma Ale, Alameda Brewing – Alameda
Silver – Miss Behave, Moonraker Brewing – Cameron Park
Silver – Super Smash, Unsung Brewing Co. – Tustin
Bronze – Krispi Kiwi, Far Field Beer Co. – Lawndale
Gold – Trail Pass Hazy IPA, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – Chico
Silver – Fall On In, MadeWest Brewing Co. – Ventura
Bronze – House of Fu!, North Park Beer Co. – San Diego
Gold – Through The Roof, Arts District Brewing Co. – Los Angeles
Gold – Yamagata, Original Pattern Brewing – Oakland
Silver – Otaku Hyper Dry, GameCraft Brewing – Laguna Hills
Gold – STS Pils, Russian River Brewing Co. – Windsor
Silver – Hamburghini, ISM Brewing – Long Beach
Bronze – Pivo, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. – Paso Robles
Gold – Juice Master, Shred Beer Co. – Rocklin
Silver – Contains No Juice, Alvarado Street Brewery – Salinas
Gold – Shifted Visions, Everywhere – Orange
Bronze – Hop Magee, Danville Brewing Co. – Danville
Bronze – MadeWest Hazy IPA, MadeWest Brewing Co. – Ventura
Gold – Perverse Inverse, Ghost Town Brewing – Oakland
Bronze – Modern Love, TapRoom Beer Co. – San Diego
Gold – Imperial Dark Mast, Pond Farm Brewing Co. – San Rafael
Gold – Ossuary, Ghost Town Brewing – Oakland
Bronze – Blimp Hangar Porter, Tustin Brewing Co. – Tustin
Gold – Micro Blaster, Shred Beer Co. – Rocklin
Silver – Hefty Fee, Docent Brewing – San Juan Capistrano
Bronze – Junk In Da Trunkel Dunkel, Pizza Port Ocean Beach – San Diego
Silver – Side Hike, Kern River Brewing Co. – Kernville
Bronze – Imperial Red, Track 7 Brewing Co. – Sacramento
Silver – Chasmic Absorption Through Whirlpools of Disarray, Ghost Town Brewing – Oakland
Gold – Dr. Sleep, San Fernando Brewing Co. – San Fernando
'This roster of 2025 winners represents the pinnacle of craft brewing and cideries, demonstrating what's achievable through dedication and passion,' Williams said. 'They have once again helped set the standard for excellence in their craft, inspiring innovation and fostering healthy competition within the industry.'
The 2025 World Beer Cup was the 16th in the competition's history. The international event was founded in 1996 and was held every two years until it adopted an annual format in 2022.
The full list of this year's winners can be found here.
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