2025 World Beer Cup: Who won the most competitive categories?

The Brewers Association has revealed the winners of its 2025 World Beer Cup Competition, which seeks to honor the beer industry’s “dedication to innovative craftsmanship, diverse flavors, and technical excellence,” according to competition director Chris Williams.

This year, 1,761 breweries across 49 countries entered the competition, putting up a total of 8,375 beers and ciders for consideration in 117 categories. Judges from 37 countries determined the best of the best during initial tastings held near the Brewers Association headquarters in Colorado, before the competition moved to Indianapolis for its final week of judging.

Chili’s changed its most popular burger and no one noticed, CEO says

Williams, at the awards ceremony in Indianapolis on Thursday, said the judges of the 2025 World Beer Cup were impressed with the “great” quality of the submissions even in the earliest rounds — a sure sign of an especially competitive year.

Who won the most competitive categories?

Of the 117 categories, five were singled out by the Brewers Association as perhaps the most competitive: “Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale,” “West Coast-Style India Pale,” “American-Style India Pale Ale,” “German-Style Pilsener” and “Hoppy Lager.” According to the organization, these categories were the “most entered,” with some attracting hundreds of submissions each.

The winners of these categories, as well as the breweries that submitted the beers, can be found below.

Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale

Gold: Shifted Visions, from Everywhere Beer in Orange, California
Silver: How to Make Friends, from Hana Koa Brewing Co. in Honolulu, Hawaii
Bronze: Riverside NEIPA, from Guggman Haus Brewing Co. in Indianapolis, Indiana

West Coast-Style India Pale

Gold: Mosaic Takedown, from Pinthouse Brewing in Austin, Texas
Silver: Chasmic Absorption Through Whirlpools of Disarray, from Ghost Town Brewing in Oakland, California
Bronze: Terraform, from Wayward Lane Brewing in Schoharie, New York

American-Style India Pale Ale

Gold: Super Slap, from Brewery X in Anaheim, California
Silver: Party Crusher from Beachwood Brewing in Huntington Beach, California
Bronze: Breakside IPA, from Breakside Brewery & Taproom in Milwaukie, Oregon

German-Style Pilsener

Gold: Haha Pils, from Arbeiter Brewing Co. in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Silver: Kinabik Pilsner, from Snake Lake Crewing Co. in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada
Bronze: Planks, from MadeWest Brewing Co. in Ventura, California

Hoppy Lager

Gold: Cold IPA, from pFriem Family Brewers in Hood River, Oregon
Silver: Super Smash, from Unsung Brewing Co. in Tustin, California
Bronze: Krispi Kiwi, from Far Field Beer Co., in Lawndale, California

A representative for the Brewers Association was not immediately available to provide a breakdown of entrants by country, though beers from the U.S. won over 300 of the awards (either gold, silver or bronze) out of the ceremony’s 349 total winners. Japan fared next-best, with 13 wins, followed by Canada, with nine.

More information, including a full list of the 2025 World Beer Cup winners, can be found at WorldBeerCup.org.