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Bloomberg
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
IPA Guide: Craft Beer's Dominant Style Has Many Faces
Cheers! It's Tony Rehagen, your lanyard-wearing drinks correspondent still unpacking and sorting hotel-restaurant receipts from this year's Craft Brewers Conference in Indianapolis. The annual gathering of North American brewers, vendors, suppliers and assorted beer professionals is a great place to hear the latest scuttlebutt in the industry. Among the headlines being talked about: In addition to the educational seminars, product expo and evening networking events, the Craft Brewers Conference features the annual World Beer Cup, one of the biggest beer and cider competitions. More than 250 judges from 37 different countries taste and appraise brews in 112 categories and subcategories, from Hoppy Lager to Belgian Fruit Beer to Smoke Beer.
Axios
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Colorado brewers take home 21 medals in World Beer Cup
Colorado brewers took home 21 medals Thursday in the prestigious World Beer Cup. Why it matters: The competition is the foremost beer and cider contest, pitting Colorado breweries against the best around the globe. State of play: Denver's River North Brewery won three medals, one each for their chocolate, pumpkin and coffee beers. Loveland's Verboten Brewing medaled for the fourth year in a row, scoring a third consecutive or Grow Old With You, a barleywine. Six first-time winners landed medals: New Terrain Brewing, Wibby Brewing, Stodgy Brewing, Mythmaker Brewing, Best Day Brewing, and Mash Lab Brewing. The big picture: The contest drew 8,375 entries from 1,761 breweries and cideries across 49 nations. The awards were announced in Indianapolis at the annual Craft Brewers Conference, hosted by the Boulder-based Brewers Association. Zoom in: Here's the full list of Colorado winners: Gold medals: Verboten Brewing: Mountain Man (Old Ale or Strong Ale) Mash Lab Brewing: Burnout Brown (English-Style Brown Ale) New Terrain Brewing: Suntrip (Belgian-Style Witbier) Cellar West Brewery: Gallus (Belgian-Style Ale or French-Style Ale) Verboten Brewing: Grow Old With You (Barley Wine-Style Ale) Blue Moon Brewing: Krystal Moon (German-Style Leichtes or Kristal Weizen) Blue Moon Brewing: Tonya's Still Crushing It (Field Beer) Avery Brewing: Cold Front (German-Style Bock or Maibock) Silver medals: River North Brewery: Pumpkin Spice J. Marie (Pumpkin Beer) Coopersmith's Pub & Brewing: Old Fortwaukee (American Light Lager) Stodgy Brewing: Gin Golden Sour (Wood and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer) Ratio Beerworks: Dear You (American-Belgo-Style Ale) The Post Brewing: East County Fine Malt Liquor (Other Strong Beer) River North Brewery: Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun (Coffee Beer) Bronze medals:
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Best Beers In The World, According To The 2025 World Beer Cup
Representatives of Pizza Port pose for photographers after winning a medal at the 2025 World Beer Cup. Don Tse The World Beer Cup is the largest and most prestigious beer competition in the world. Often referred to as 'The Olympics of Beer Competitions,' the World Beer Cup is held annually, with the winners announced on the last evening of the annual Craft Brewers Conference, hosted by the Brewers Association. The Craft Brewers Conference and World Beer Cup Awards ceremony was hosted in Indianapolis, Indiana this year. Breweries from around the world sent representatives to attend the conference and the awards ceremony, hoping to return home with a medal from the world's most competitive beer awards—each of the 112 awards categories received an average of 73 entries. The beers are judged blind by a group of invited international judges, all of whom hold judging credentials or industry experience. This year, there 265 total judges, 132 of whom came from 37 international locations. Because of the quality of the judging and the large number of entries, winning a medal at the World Beer Cup is viewed as the ultimate affirmation of a beer's quality. Awards often result in increased sales for the brewery. The number of entries in each category are also used as indicators of trends in beer. The 2025 World Beer Cup, received 8,375 entries, from 1,761 producers representing 49 countries. In an informal meeting with beer-industry media, Bart Watson, president and CEO of the Brewers Association said that the number of entries was down from the number entered into the 2024 World Beer Cup reflecting the overall craft beer industry, which is seeing negative growth. But even as the industry was stagnant, some breweries were thriving, said Watson. This is reflected in 338 breweries entering the World Beer Cup for the first time. Also reflective of overall trends in the beer industry, the World Beer Cup added five categories of cider, which more breweries are branching into as they seek to diversify their offerings. As has been common in recent years, the most-entered categories were versions of IPA—Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale received 290 entries, West Coast-Style India Pale Ale received 253 entries and American-Style India Pale Ale received 208 entries. But in recent years, more craft breweries have been making lager-style beers. German-Style Pilsener was the fourth-most entered category with 186 entries. And a relatively new beer style, Hoppy Lager, received 153 entries. The winners of the 2025 World Beer Cup are: Gold: Fuzztail, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR Silver: Lunar Fallout, Tilted Axis Brewing Co., Lapeer, MI Bronze: Spring Valley Silk Ale, Spring Valley Brewery, Shibuya, Japan Gold: Altstadt Radler, Altstadt Brewery, Fredericksburg, TX Silver: Hey Girl, Hey, Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop, Richmond, VA Bronze: Limaveza, New Realm Brewing, Atlanta, GA Gold: Mango Cart, Golden Road Brewing Anaheim, Anaheim, CA Silver: Yuzu Weiss, Yokohama Bay Brewing Co., Yokohama, Japan Bronze: Samuel Adams Summer Ale, Boston Beer Co., Somerville, MA Gold: Tonya's Still Crushing It, Blue Moon Brewing Co., Denver, CO Silver: Heiwa Craft A Study in Pink, Heiwa Shuzou Co., Kainan, Japan Bronze: Coconut Oil Man, Elevation Beer Co., Poncha Springs, CO Gold: Not Your Grandma's Pumpkin Ale, Grand Junction Brewing Co., Westfield, IN Silver: Pumpkin Spice J. Marie, River North Brewery, Denver, CO Bronze: Pumpkin Ale, Bier Brewery and Taproom, Indianapolis, IN Gold: Pyro's Prost, Hop Dogma, Half Moon Bay, CA Silver: Breakside All Yellow, Breakside Brewery, Portland, OR Bronze: Tangerine Heat, Dakota Point Brewing, Rapid City, SD Gold: Sansho Gose - Koji, Open Air Brewing, Kobe, Japan Silver: Burma Ale, Alameda Brewing, Alameda, CA Bronze: Lavender & Chamomile, Craft Beer Base, Osaka, Japan Gold: Chocolate Porter, Diatribe Brewing Co., Asheville, NC Silver: Viator Obscura: Triple Chocolate, Wandering Monsters Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH Bronze: Midnight Hike, River North Brewery, Denver, CO Gold: Coffee Cream Ale, Pantown Brewing Co., St. Cloud, MN Silver: Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun, River North Brewery, Denver, CO Bronze: Gusto Crema, Georgetown Brewing Co., Seattle, WA Gold: Midnight Sea, Morgan Territory Brewing, Tracy, CA Silver: Dusk Til Dawn, Pizza Port San Clemente, San Clemente, CA Bronze: Lil' Zoomie, Brink Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH Gold: The Gateway, West Coast Brewing, Shizuoka, Japan Silver: Saturday Morning Cartoons, Hackamore Brewing Co., Chanhassen, MN Bronze: Happy Almonds, Moksa Brewing Co., Rocklin, CA Gold: Steamy Wonder, Proper Brewing Co., Salt Lake City, UT Silver: Wooly Pig Farm Brewery Rye Dunkel, Wooly Pig Farm Brewery, Fresno, OH Bronze: Roggenbier, Schulz Bräu Brewing Co., Knoxville, TN Gold: Hachimitsu Mai, Deschutes Brewery - PDX Pub, Portland, OR Silver: Miss Behave, Moonraker Brewing, Cameron Park, CA Bronze: Ommegang Farm Fresh Ale, Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY Gold: Tsingtao Non-Alcoholic Wheat Beer, Tsingtao Brewery Co., Qingdao, China Silver: Svyturys Ekstra Non Alko, Švyturys-Utenos alus, Vilnius, Lithuania Bronze: Kölsch, Best Day Brewing, Berthoud, CO Gold: Trail Pass Hazy IPA, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico, Chico, CA Silver: Disarm, Go Brewing, Naperville, IL Bronze: Bird of Prey 0.2, Uiltje Brewing Co., Haarlem, Netherlands Gold: Sim! Cerveja Sem Álcool - Melancia SOUR'n Salt, Sim! Cerveja, Campinas, Brazil Silver: BBNOALC, Four Winds Brewing Co., Delta, Canada Bronze: New School, Go Brewing, Naperville, IL Gold: Table Beer, Lost Cabin Beer Co., Rapid City, SD Silver: Shiner Bock, Spoetzl Brewery, Shiner, TX Bronze: Saison Lily, ColdFire Barrel House, Eugene, OR Gold: Micro Blaster, Shred Beer Co., Rocklin, CA Silver: Hefty Fee, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano, CA Bronze: Scenic Route, Westbound & Down Brewing Co., Lafayette, CO Gold: Battle Axe, Fat Heads Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH Silver: Baltic Porter, Haymarket Beer Co., Bridgman, MI Bronze: Baltic Porter, Nonsuch Brewing Co., Winnipeg, Canada Gold: Imperial Dark Mast, Pond Farm Brewing Co., San Rafael, CA Silver: East County Fine Malt Liquor, The Post Brewing Co., Lafayette, CO Bronze: Imperial Pilsner, New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, WI Gold: Screaming Plum, Muho Brewery, Rende Dist., Taiwan Silver: Big Trouble in Little Tokyo, Angel City Brewery, Los Angeles, CA Bronze: Amalfi, Sun King Brewery, Indianapolis, IN Gold: Pepper & Peaches, Claremont Craft Ales, Claremont, CA Silver: Infinite Glow, Highlander Beer - Salmon, Salmon, ID Bronze: Rainbow Suspenders, Seapine Brewing Co., Seattle, WA Gold: Vinter Liv, Paddlefish Brewing Co., Saint Peter, MN Silver: AEgir's Wreath, Archival Brewing, Belmont, MI Bronze: Lichtenhainer, Mythmaker Brewing, Fort Collins, CO Gold: Pacific Ale, TWØBAYS Brewing Co., Dromana, Australia Silver: Winter Lager, Orange Bike Brewing Co., Portland, ME Bronze: Met at Midnight, Armored Cow Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC Gold: Breakside Spring Day, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR Silver: Dear You, Ratio Beerworks, Denver, CO Bronze: Picked Last, Fieldwork Brewing Co., Berkeley, CA Gold: Howzit Punch, Alvarado Street Brewery, Salinas, CA Silver: Limoilou Beach, Microbrasserie La Souche, Stoneham-et- Tewkesbury, Canada Bronze: Tropic Desert, Other Brother Beer Co., Seaside, CA Gold: Free Range Farmhouse Ale, Sun King Brewery, Indianapolis, IN Silver: Pear Saison, Firestone Walker Brewing - Propagator, Paso Robles, CA Bronze: Wild Side, Jing-A Brewing, Beijing, China Gold: Brett Para 3, Cervecería Kürüf, Buenos Aires, Argentina Silver: Bobbi, Fair Isle Brewing, Seattle, WA Bronze: Frank On Sled, Deadman Brewery, Kowloon, Hong Kong Gold: Dr. Sleep, San Fernando Brewing Co., San Fernando, CA Silver: A.5, Eighty-Three Brewery, Akron, OH Bronze: Sensationator, Deschutes Brewery - PDX Pub, Portland, OR Gold: Perpetual Peace, No Label Brewing Co., Katy, TX Silver: Anniversary Year 5, Lumberbeard Brewing, Spokane, WA Bronze: Afterlife Elixir, Aslin Beer Co., Alexandria, VA Gold: Depth Dweller, Indigo Reef Brewing Co., Mount Pleasant, SC Silver: Elagabalus, Caius Farm Brewery, Branford, CT Bronze: Deth's Tar, Revolution Brewing, Chicago, IL Gold: The Virtue of Patience, Bold Monk Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA Silver: Gin Golden Sour, Stodgy Brewing Co., Fort Collins, CO Bronze: Broliner Weisse, Wooden Bear Brewing Co., Greenfield, IN Gold: Broumy, Pivovar Matuška, Broumy, Czech Republic Silver: Pilsners are Lagers, Benchtop Brewing Co., Norfolk, VA Bronze: Karbach Kellerbier, Karbach Brewing, Houston, TX Gold: Weiherer Rauch, Brauerei-Gasthof Kundmüller, Viereth-Trunstadt, Germany Silver: Daisy Lampkin, Late Addition Brewing + Blending, Pittsburgh, PA Bronze: Smokey the Beer, Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant, Topeka, KS Gold: Clubhaus Lager, Von Ebert Brewing, Portland, OR Silver: Old Fortwaukee, Coopersmith's Pub & Brewing, Fort Collins, CO Bronze: Really Decent, Werk Force Brewing Co., Plainfield, IL Gold: Solveza, Peaceful Side Brewery, Maryville, TN Silver: Yucatan Sunrise, Full Distance Brewing Co., Stafford, VA Bronze: Snow Dust, Sacred Waters Brewing Co., Kalispell, MT Gold: Birkebeinerpils, Victor 23, Portland, OR Silver: Hi-Wire Lager, Hi-Wire Brewing, Asheville, NC Bronze: Icicle Premium Pilsner, Icicle Brewing Co., Leavenworth, WA Gold: Yamagata, Original Pattern Brewing, Oakland, CA Silver: Otaku Hyper Dry, GameCraft Brewing, Laguna Hills, CA Bronze: Rice Breaker, Hana Koa Brewing Co., Honolulu, HI Gold: Cold IPA, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR Silver: Super Smash, Unsung Brewing Co., Tustin, CA Bronze: Krispi Kiwi, Far Field Beer Co., Lawndale, CA Gold: G.G., Exile Brewing Co., Des Moines, IA Silver: Horn of Hammerhand, Flix Brewhouse - Des Moines, Des Moines, IA Bronze: Moondoor Dunkel, Wibby Brewing, Longmont, CO Gold: Late Czech Out, Pilot Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC Silver: Secret Secret, Wayfinder Beer, Portland, OR Bronze: Czech Style Dark Lager, Cold Bear Brewing Co., Arnprior, Canada Gold: STS Pils, Russian River Brewing Co., Windsor, CA Silver: Hamburghini, ISM Brewing, Long Beach, CA Bronze: Pivo, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA Gold: Haha Pils, Arbeiter Brewing Co., Minneapolis, MN Silver: Kinabik Pilsner, Snake Lake Brewing Co., Sylvan Lake, Canada Bronze: Planks, MadeWest Brewing Co., Ventura, CA Gold: Bay Pilsner, Yokohama Bay Brewing Co., Yokohama, Japan Silver: Pilsner Rešov, Equal Parts Brewing, Houston, TX Bronze: Minoh Beer Pilsner, Minoh Brewery, Minoh-shi, Japan Gold: Construct Of Quality, Cinder Block Brewery, North Kansas City, MO Silver: Kirkland Signature Helles Lager, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR Bronze: Hachenburger Hell, Westerwald-Brauerei H. Schneider, Hachenburg, Germany Gold: The Cushman, Morgan Territory Brewing, Tracy, CA Silver: Thunder from Dortmunder, Marble Brewery, Albuquerque, NM Bronze: Guldkällan, Spendrups Bryggeri, Stockholm, Sweden Gold: Vienna, Second Street Brewery, Santa Fe, NM Silver: Family Tradition, BarrieHaus Beer Co., Tampa, FL Bronze: Vienna Fest Bier, Quarter Celtic Brewpub, Albuquerque, NM Gold: Follow the Lederhosen, Moontown Brewing Co., Whitestown, IN Silver: Red Vespa, Unsung Brewing Co., Tustin, CA Bronze: Oktoberfest Gemütlichkeit, Wiseacre Brewing Co., Memphis, TN Gold: Schwarz Bear, Gatlinburg Brewing Co., Sevierville, TN Silver: Schwarzbier, Pizza Port Imperial Beach, Imperial Beach, CA Bronze: Shady Lady, Sky Puppy Brewing, Tampa, FL Gold: Cold Front, Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, CO Silver: Rosenbock, Ivanhoe Park Lager House, Orlando, FL Bronze: Maibock, Ocean View Brewing Co., Ocean View, DE Gold: Curse The Goat, Shoreline Brewery, Michigan City, IN Silver: Living a Double Life, Wise Man Brewing, Winston-Salem, NC Bronze: Coconspirator, Victor 23, Portland, OR Gold: Vacancy Classic, Vacancy Brewing, Austin, TX Silver: Cole's Light Lager, Wild Ride Brewing, Redmond, OR Bronze: Home Run Jack, 14 Cannons, Westlake Village, CA Gold: El Pato Loco, Able Baker Brewing Co., Las Vegas, NV Silver: Blackberry Smoke American Lager, New Realm Brewing, Atlanta, GA Bronze: Built to Chill, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR Gold: Highwayman, Roadhouse Brewing, Jackson, WY Silver: Bellevue 1882 Lager, Bellevue Brewing Co., Bellevue, WA Bronze: Gold Country Pilsner, Auburn Alehouse, Auburn, CA Gold: Bold Rush, Drake's Brewing Co., San Leandro, CA Silver: Amendment Lager, 21st Amendment, San Leandro, CA Bronze: Was Angeles, Uinta Brewing Co., Salt Lake City, UT Gold: 40 Mike Mike, Free Roam Brewing Co., Boerne, TX Silver: Ebb and Flow, Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA Bronze: Chismosa, Old Caz Beer, Rohnert Park, CA Gold: Breakside Hello My Alien, Breakside Brewery, Portland, OR Silver: XPA, Craft Coast, San Marcos, CA Bronze: How's the Serenity, Original Pattern Brewing, Oakland, CA Gold: Through The Roof, Arts District Brewing Co., Los Angeles, CA Silver: Pale, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR Bronze: Chur Enough, BKS Artisan Ales, Kansas City, MO Gold: Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico, Chico, CA Silver: Railhead Red, Lumberyard Brewing Co., Flagstaff, AZ Bronze: Velvet Organic ESB, Hopworks Brewery, Portland, OR Gold: Perverse Inverse, Ghost Town Brewing, Oakland, CA Silver: Loyal to the Soil, Formula Brewing, Issaquah, WA Bronze: Modern Love, TapRoom Beer Co., San Diego, CA Gold: Grow Old With You, Verboten Brewing, Loveland, CO Silver: Three Ryes Men, Reuben's Brews, Seattle, WA Bronze: Lower De Boom, 21st Amendment, San Leandro, CA Gold: Daycation Gold, Highland Brewing Co., Asheville, NC Silver: Monger's Choice, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano, CA Bronze: Kolsch, Second Street Brewery, Santa Fe, NM Gold: Canoa Quebrada, 277 Craft Beer, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil Silver: Gose, Four Generals Brewing, Renton, WA Bronze: SMBW Basil Lemongrass Gose, Santa Monica Brew Works, Santa Monica, CA Gold: Champagne Toast, Wander Brewing, Bellingham, WA Silver: East Side Gallery, Iron Hill Brewery, Exton, PA Bronze: Cactus Makes Perfect, Oregon City Brewing Co., Oregon City, OR Gold: Washout Wheat, Holy City Brewing, N. Charleston, SC Silver: Shed & Silo, 3 Nations Brewing, Carrollton, TX Bronze: Hefeweizen, Dru Bru, Cle Elum, WA Gold: Krystal Moon, Blue Moon Brewing Co., Denver, CO Silver: Tsingtao Wheat Beer, Tsingtao Brewery Co., Qingdao, China Bronze: Needlerush Hefeweizen, Silver Bluff Brewing Co., Brunswick, GA Gold: Apres Hefe, Fat Heads Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH Silver: Ayinger Urweisse, Brauerei Aying Franz Inselkammer, Aying, Germany Bronze: no medal awarded Gold: Michael Dorn-Kelweiss, Five Wits Brewing Co., Chattanooga, TN Silver: Big Banana Brown Dunkelweisen, Shaketown Brewing, North Vancouver, Canada Bronze: Junk In Da Trunkel Dunkel, Pizza Port Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA Sierra Nevada Brewing won gold for South German-Style Weizenbock, the only brewery to repeat in the same category they won last year. Don Tse Gold: Weizenbock, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Mills River, Mills River, NC Silver: Alpenglow, Fat Heads Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH Bronze: Weihenstephaner Vitus, Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany Gold: Lithium, Resonate Brewery, Bellevue, WA Silver: Alternative Medicine, Lakeville Brewing Co., Lakeville, MN Bronze: Hinterland Altbier, Hinterland Brewery, Green Bay, WI Gold: Gallus, Cellar West Brewery, Lafayette, CO Silver: French Kiss, Primeval Brewing, Noblesville, IN Bronze: Crazy Train, Fretboard Brewing Co., Blue Ash, OH Gold: Suntrip, New Terrain Brewing Co., Golden, CO Silver: Belgian Wheat, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA Bronze: Hoegaarden White, AB-Inbev Hoegaarden, Hoegaarden, Belgium Gold: Dogwood Saison, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA Silver: Plough & Harrow, ISM Brewing, Long Beach, CA Bronze: Belgian Blonde, Frontyard Brewing, Spicewood, TX Gold: Heirloom, Kane Brewing Co., Ocean, NJ Silver: Sacred Tree, Phantom Farms Brewing, Cumberland, RI Bronze: Foeder Aged Saison, New Realm Brewing, Atlanta, GA Gold: Flanders Red, Cerveza 7 Vidas, Tacna, Peru Silver: Flanders Redux, True Anomaly Brewing Co., Houston, TX Bronze: Stupid Sexy Flanders, Sun King Brewery, Indianapolis, IN Gold: Erlton Street 5, The Establishment Brewing Co., Calgary, Canada Silver: Spontaneous Manifesto 2023, Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Co. - The Monolith, Edmonton, Canada Bronze: Funk Yeah, Beachwood Blendery, Huntington Beach, CA Gold: Feral Garden Gnome, Liability Brewing Co., Greenville, SC Silver: NBeer Belgian Blonde Ale, NBeer Craft Brewing Co., Chengdu, China Bronze: Rector 2025, Absolution Brewing Co., Torrance, CA Gold: no medal awarded Silver: Damnation, Russian River Brewing Co., Windsor, CA Bronze: The Cannibal, Iron Hill Brewery, Exton, PA Gold: Size 6, Lost Shoe Brewing & Roasting Co., Marlborough, MA Silver: Dubbel or Nothing, Monkless Belgian Ales, Bend, OR Bronze: Discipline Dubbel, Bold Monk Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA Gold: Tripel Dog Dare, Big Dog's Brewing Co., Las Vegas, NV Silver: Bel Ringer, 9th Hour Brewing Co., Lake Villa, IL Bronze: La Fin du Monde, Unibroue, Chambly, Canada Gold: Frosted Monk, RockSolid Brewing Co., Ball Ground, GA Silver: Traced in Air, Bartlett Hall, San Francisco, CA Bronze: Urbrew Adventure (Blue) Strong Dark Ale, Urbrew, Handan, China Gold: Quadruppel 277, 277 Craft Beer, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil Silver: Hertog Jan Grand Prestige Brut, Hertog Jan, Breda, Netherlands Bronze: Eschaton, Wild Heaven Beer Avondale, Decatur, GA Gold: Kriek, New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, WI Silver: Champ Du Blanc, New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, WI Bronze: Funk Yeah Peach, Beachwood Blendery, Huntington Beach, CA Gold: Extra Medium Mild, White Oak Brewing, Normal, IL Silver: So Long, London, Two Frays Brewery, Pittsburgh, PA Bronze: Chiastolite, Bighand Bros. Brewery, Kyoto, Japan Gold: Union Jack, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA Silver: Hopadillo, Karbach Brewing, Houston, TX Bronze: Shanghai'd IPA, Old Town Brewing, Portland, OR Gold: Burnout Brown, Mash Lab Brewing, Windsor, CO Silver: Oscar Wanted a Brown Ale, Pizza Port Solana Beach, Solana Beach, CA Bronze: Rojo, Barrio Brewing Co., Tucson, AZ Gold: Skidder Brown Ale, Big Timber Brewing, Elkins, WV Silver: Mother Fuggle, Eudora Brewing Co., Kettering, OH Bronze: Daisen G Beer Stout, Daisen G Beer - Kumezakura Brewery Co., Saihaku-Gun, Japan Gold: Ossuary, Ghost Town Brewing, Oakland, CA Silver: Robust Porter, Reuben's Brews, Seattle, WA Bronze: Blimp Hangar Porter, Tustin Brewing Co., Tustin, CA Gold: Moozie, Brink Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH Silver: Hoochie Mama, StillFire Brewing, Suwanee, GA Bronze: Korova, Gnarly Barley Brewing, Hammond, LA Gold: North Tower Stout, Earth Rider Brewery, Superior, WI Silver: Opacus Oatmeal Stout, StormBreaker Brewing, Portland, OR Bronze: Dragula, Insurgente, Tijuana, Mexico Gold: Wrecking Ball Imperial Stout, No-Li Brewhouse, Spokane, WA Silver: Fayston Maple Imperial Stout, Lawson's Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, VT Bronze: Raven's Revenge, Beachwood Brewing, Huntington Beach, CA Gold: Mountain Man, Verboten Brewing, Loveland, CO Silver: Forest Hills, Olde Hickory Brewery, Hickory, NC Bronze: King in The Castle, Little Brother Brewing - Production, Kernersville, NC Gold: Ridgetop Red, Silver City Brewery, Bremerton, WA Silver: Outraged Daughters, Wise Man Brewing, Winston-Salem, NC Bronze: Engine 402, Orange Hat Brewing, Knoxville, OH Gold: Minoh Beer Stout, Minoh Brewery, Minoh-shi, Japan Silver: Sláinte, Legion Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC Bronze: Lucky 4 Leaf, Danville Brewing Co., Danville, CA Gold: Starway, Barrel Mountain Brewing, Battle Ground, WA Silver: Der Reisende, Adams Street Brewery, Chicago, IL Bronze: Stoup Export Stout, Stoup Brewing - Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA Gold: Stoneykirk Scottish Ale, Lost Street Brewing Co., Durant, OK Silver: Dragoon Amber, Dragoon Brewing Co., Tucson, AZ Bronze: The Fulkin, Half Batch Brewing, Hendersonville, TN Gold: Higher Consciousness, Third Eye Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH Silver: The Magnificent Scotch Ale, Silver City Brewery, Bremerton, WA Bronze: Lord Grizzly, Lost Cabin Beer Co., Rapid City, SD Gold: Firemans #4, Real Ale Brewing Co., Blanco, TX Silver: Now What?, Saddle Mountain Brewing Co., Goodyear, AZ Bronze: Basecamp Blonde, Hutton & Smith Brewing Co., Chattanooga, TN Gold: Necrocat, Ghost Town Brewing, Oakland, CA Silver: Breakside Woodlawn Pale Ale, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR Bronze: MadeWest Pale, MadeWest Brewing Co., Ventura, CA Gold: UCHU Relax, UCHU Brewing, Hokuto, Japan Silver: Wisp, Lumen Beer Co., Omaha, NE Bronze: Hop Magee, Danville Brewing Co., Danville, CA Gold: Mordant, Ghost Town Brewing, Oakland, CA Silver: Westbound IPA, Westbound & Down Brewing Co., Lafayette, CO Bronze: Gold Label Mai Tai P.A., Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill, Monterey, CA Gold: Hazy IPA, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR Silver: Slice, Lumen Beer Co., Omaha, NE Bronze: MadeWest Hazy IPA, MadeWest Brewing Co., Ventura, CA Gold: Punchface Champion, Grains of Wrath Brewing - Camas, Camas, WA Silver: Fall On In, MadeWest Brewing Co., Ventura, CA Bronze: House of Fu!, North Park Beer Co., San Diego, CA Gold: Juice Master, Shred Beer Co., Rocklin, CA Silver: Contains No Juice, Alvarado Street Brewery, Salinas, CA Bronze: For 4, Brothership Brewing, Mokena, IL Gold: Singing Coyote, Mountain Rambler Brewery, Bishop, CA Silver: Matador Red, 818 Brewing, Canoga Park, CA Bronze: First Amber, Stemma Brewing, Bellingham, WA Gold: Peaked In High School, Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA Silver: Side Hike, Kern River Brewing Co., Kernville, CA Bronze: Imperial Red, Track 7 Brewing Co., Sacramento, CA Gold: Brown Ale, Second Street Brewery, Santa Fe, NM Silver: The Devil in John's Brown, DevilCraft, Shinagawa-ku, Japan Bronze: Boxcar Brown, Caboose Brewing Co., Vienna, VA Gold: Breakside Cheat Codes, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR Silver: American Stout, ColdFire Brewing - Production, Junction City, OR Bronze: Blackside Snap, Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach, CA Gold: Fulcrum Imperial Stout, ZwanzigZ Brewing, Columbus, IN Silver: Thunderbolt Stout, Valhöll Brewing, Poulsbo, WA Bronze: Lights Out, Project 9 Brewing, Seattle, WA Gold: Super Slap, Brewery X, Anaheim, CA Silver: Party Crusher, Beachwood Brewing, Huntington Beach, CA Bronze: Breakside IPA, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR Gold: Shifted Visions, Everywhere, Orange, CA Silver: How To Make Friends, Hana Koa Brewing Co., Honolulu, HI Bronze: Riverside NEIPA, Guggman Haus Brewing Co., Indianapolis, IN Gold: Mosaic Takedown, Pinthouse Brewing, Austin, TX Silver: Chasmic Absorption Through Whirlpools of Disarray, Ghost Town Brewing, Oakland, CA Bronze: Terraform, Wayward Lane Brewing, Schoharie, NY Gold: 2023 Cidre Bouché, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Corvallis, OR Silver: English Pub, Portland Cider Co., Clackamas, OR Bronze: Kingston Black, Bauman's Cider, Portland, OR Gold: Original Gold, Portland Cider Co., Clackamas, OR Silver: Cosmic Crisp, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Corvallis, OR Bronze: 14th Anniversary, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Corvallis, OR Gold: Raspberry Cosmic Crisp, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Corvallis, OR Silver: Bramble, Papa Moon Ciders, Scottsbluff, NE Bronze: Guava Hard Cider, Coronado Brewing Co., San Diego, CA Gold: Honey Lavender, Papa Moon Ciders, Scottsbluff, NE Silver: Hard Candy Tamarind Earl Grey Cider, Hard Candy, Nanjing, China Bronze: Apple Pie à La Mode, Six Byrd Cider, Tempe, AZ Gold: 2019 Pommeau, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Corvallis, OR Silver: Mojave Brewing Barrel Aged Cider, Mojave Brewing Co., Henderson, NV Bronze: Imperial Bad Apple - Westward Whiskey Barrel Cider, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Corvallis, OR
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Craft Beer Industry Adapting To New Normal, Brewers Association Says
Bart Watson, President and CEO of the Brewers Association, addresses thousands of representatives of small and independent breweries from 61 countries attending the Craft Brewers Conference. Don Tse The Brewers Association, the trade association representing America's small and independent breweries, delivered its annual state of the industry address today. The address was given by Bart Watson, in his new role as the Association's president and CEO, a position he has held since January 6, 2025, though he has given the address in recent years as the Association's chief economist. Watson's strong economic background and data-driven analysis is annually one of the highlights for attendees of the Craft Brewers Conference, being held this year in Indianapolis, Indiana. In his address, Watson reiterated the Association's previous report that craft breweries in America produced 4.0% less beer in 2024 than in 2023 and for the first time since 2005, the Association recorded more breweries closing—524—than opening—430. Despite this, 43% of breweries increased production volume in 2024, indicating that difficulties were not universal and that it is possible to thrive in the current climate. Watson noted that breweries making non-beer beverages—hard seltzer, ready-to-drink cocktails, flavored malt beverages or cider, for example—were more likely to have shown growth. The hardest hit segment of the industry was the smallest breweries—those brewing less than 500 barrels per year—which collectively produced 9.5% less beer in 2024 than in 2023. Those smaller breweries often lack the capital to invest in equipment needed to make alternative products or to have their beer distributed through retail channels, which channels are becoming more selective in what SKUs they carry in light of declining craft beer sales. While the industry has, in recent years, described its stagnant growth as 'headwinds,' Watson's presentation for 2025 distinguished between short-term difficulties and long-term trends, some of which craft breweries may need to face up to in order to survive. Watson's presentation was titled, 'Headwinds Or New Reality.' While much has been written about Gen Z drinking less, the Brewers Association reported that the number of people drinking craft beer was actually growing. 9.8% of people of legal drinking age report drinking craft beer. But while in prior years, there were more drinkers reporting drinking more craft beer than the number of drinkers reporting less craft beer, those lines crossed in 2024 on a graph presented during Watson's speech. So while there are more drinkers, they are choosing to drink craft beer less. Craft beer drinkers tend to be higher-income, but are becoming more price elastic, said Watson. In the face of inflationary pressures, former craft beer drinkers were, at least on some occasions, choosing beverages other than craft beer that might offer better value. According to Watson, younger consumers are less likely to make purchasing decisions based on product category and more likely to choose beverages based on flavor profile. This is why breweries making non-beer products were able to retain customers, rather than losing customers to other beverage alcohol products. Ironically, the craft beer industry might be suffering from its own success. Watson said that when consumers are asked why they do not drink craft beer, those consumers often say craft beer is too bitter or too hoppy. This is because many craft breweries have been leaning heavily into various forms of IPA that have been the best selling beers. The success of the craft beer industry in recent years has been driven by the popularity of IPA, which has become ubiquitous in craft beer taprooms. But beer includes many beer styles and many flavor profiles, covering fruity sour beers, malty stouts, funky farmhouse ales and everything in between. To encourage consumers to choose craft beer on more occasions 'breweries need to talk about flavor and variety,' said Watson.
Associated Press
29-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Volunteer Botanicals Launches Service to Help Brewers, Distillers Expand Product Line, Generate New Revenue
'Beverage Accelerator Program' lets beverage makers go from idea to distribution in 90 days using Volunteer Botanicals' microemulsion functional ingredients INDIANAPOLIS, IN, UNITED STATES, April 29, 2025 / / -- Volunteer Botanicals, developers of microemulsion ingredients for a variety of botanical-based products, announced today the launch of its Beverage Accelerator Program, which provides brewers, distillers and other beverage manufacturers with the resources and information needed to develop, produce and distribute new non-alcoholic beverages in as little as three months. The company made the announcement as it demonstrates the new service as part of the 'Taproom of Tomorrow' exhibit at the annual Craft Brewers Conference. 'We have worked with a number of breweries and distilleries over the past year that recognize the importance of expanding their product offerings in light of increased competition and changing consumer preferences,' said Jason Pickle, President of Volunteer Botanicals. 'The availability of hemp-based and other botanical ingredients make it possible for these entrepreneurs to create new products. But many business owners can be stymied by the development process when working with unfamiliar beverages. The Beverage Accelerator Program was created with these businesses in mind.' Entrepreneurs in the craft brewing and distilling business face challenges as consumer preferences shift and alcohol consumption decreases. In 2024, distillers faced mounting distribution challenges that hindered growth – and for the first time in 20 years more craft breweries closed than were opened in the United States. As a result, businesses are exploring new strategies to grow – or in some cases just to stay afloat. Many are leveraging their in-house beverage-making expertise to tap into the exploding popularity of beverages featuring hemp-derived cannabinoids and other botanical ingredients. The Beverage Accelerator Program (BAP) provides a step-by-step process for concepting, formulating, sourcing, manufacturing, packaging and distributing a new beverage that can be accomplished in as little as 90 days if needed. At every stage of product development, Volunteer Botanicals' experienced team helps brewers and distillers manage the process, including: -- New product development: Whether developing an entirely new brand or extending an existing product line, BAP can provide assistance with regulatory matters, distribution collateral and direct-to-consumer, e-commerce offerings -- Formulation and batching: The BAP process provides formulation math assistance, formulation calculators, optimizing desired effects and counsel on preservatives vs. pasteurization. -- Co-packing: The BAP team can assist in co-packing SOPs and, when necessary, will help match the product with the ideal co-packing facility (with specialized capabilities if required) to help streamline or scale operations. Volunteer Botanicals is always seeking qualified co-packers to serve as BAP partners. -- Testing: With years of experience, the BAP team can provide in-depth knowledge on microbial and stability testing, as well as provide referrals to qualified hemp testing labs. -- Distribution: BAP possesses relationships with an extensive list of national wine and liquor distributors, and can help with hemp wholesalers and self-distribution strategies. -- Scaling production: BAP aids the long-term success of the beverage by offering assistance optimizing supply chain logistics, expanding production capacity and expanding into new markets. 'We have experienced a significant increase in revenue since we launched Scofflaw THC Infused Beverages last year with the help of Volunteer Botanicals,' said JP Watts, Chief Operating Officer of Georgia-based Scofflaw Brewing Company, which created a line of five different hemp-derived THC/CBD-infused beverages in 2024. 'I think our existing beer-loving customers appreciated that we were providing something entirely new, and we have developed a devoted new following with the new THC beverage line. The energy and excitement the effort brought to the company cannot be overstated, and we would have had a much more difficult time making this successful were it not for the Volunteer Botanical team's expertise. Now, we're co-packing for other THC beverage customers as well.' For more information on Volunteer Botanicals or to schedule an interview with Jason Pickle, contact Jim Dissett at 303-532-7392 or [email protected]. About Volunteer Botanicals Volunteer Botanicals has developed an innovative in-house technology suite that produces Rapidose™ water-based microemulsions for beverages and shots, as well as free-flowing, pharmaceutical-grade powders for solid oral dose formats. This cutting-edge conversion technology is the cornerstone of the company's incredibly precise, highly effective and exceptionally bioavailable solutions. Whether creating a beverage or a custom tablet, Volunteer Botanicals' precision dosing technology offers endless possibilities when harnessing the power of plants. For more information, visit Jim Dissett Dissett Communications Strategies +1 303-532-7392 [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
