Latest news with #WorldBeerCup
Fox News
5 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
American brews crush the competition at 'Olympics of beer' world championship
The United States of America is home to some of the world's best beer and ciders. American brews claimed most of the top prizes in their respective categories at the 2025 World Beer Cup. Brewers along the West Coast led the way in this year's World Beer Cup — which has been dubbed "the Olympics of beer." The 2025 World Beer Cup attracted 8,375 entries from 49 countries. An international panel of judges rated beers across 112 categories to determine the medalists. Entries were evaluated based on style, color, appearance, aroma and flavor. California beers received 76 total medals – the most of any U.S. state – followed by Oregon (35), Washington (24) and Colorado (21). Texas rounded out the top five states with 13 awards. A total of 1,761 breweries or cideries participated in this year's event, which was in May. "The World Beer Cup competition continues to showcase the global industry's dedication to innovative craftsmanship, diverse flavors and technical excellence," competition director Chris Williams said in a statement. "This roster of 2025 winners represents the pinnacle of craft brewing and cideries, demonstrating what's achievable through dedication and passion." Juicy or hazy India pale ales (IPAs) had the most entries (290) – and the U.S. swept this category by winning gold, silver and bronze medals. Shifted Visions from an Orange, California-based brewery called Everywhere won the gold medal in this category. For more Lifestyle articles, visit How to Make Friends from Hana Koa Brewing Co. in Honolulu, Hawaii, took home the silver, while Riverside NEIPA from Guggman Haus Brewing Co. in Indianapolis won the bronze. Cider also made its debut in the 2025 competition – and one Oregon-based brewery stood out. 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Corvallis, Oregon, medaled in four out of the five possible categories and earned six of the 15 total cider medals awarded globally, including three golds. The cidery, which launched in 2010, claimed gold for its Cidre Bouche in the tannic cider category, Raspberry Cosmic Crisp in the fruited cider category and 2019 Pommeau in the category for experimental, barrel-aged or specialty cider. It also tied for the most medals of any entrant in this year's competition across all categories. Fox News Digital reached out to the Brewers Association and World Beer Cup for comment.
Forbes
21-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Costco's Kirkland Lager Is One Of World's Best Beers, Say Competition Judges
Costco's Kirkland Signature Helles-Style Lager has earned top medals at two of the world's most prestigious beer competitions. Most recently it took home silver at the World Beer Cup Phealan Robinson One of the best helles lagers anywhere on Earth is Costco's Kirkland Signature Helles-Style Lager, judges at the World Beer Cup ruled recently, and it's not the first prestigious award the beer has won. The Kirkland Signature Hellles is brewed by Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. Though Deschutes is one of the largest craft breweries in the U.S., its Helles-style lager was not traditionally one of its better-known beers. In fact, the lager, which was then called Prinz Crispy, was an obscure small-batch offering until it won gold at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival. That win helped lead to a collaboration between Costco and Deschutes to ramp up production of the beer and rename it, but the recipe remained unchanged. Today, the beer's combination of light, malt-forward character and approachability is continuing to earn impressive awards. The lager took home the silver medal in the highly competitive Helles Lager category at this year's World Beer Cup. As Peter Skrbek, Deschutes' CEO, told me in a video call, it is one thing to win an award for a beer brewed on a small scale but 'it's another thing when you have a scaled-up production beer that's also taking down medals.' The Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup are the two most prestigious beer competitions in the U.S. and, arguably, the world. Many of the beers that medal at each festival have limited distribution and are sometimes only available at the taproom at the brewery where they were produced. Kirkland Lager on the other hand, is an award-winning beer that is sold at every Costco that can legally sell private-label beer. It costs $13.99 per 12-pack. Costco's Kirkland Signature Helles-Style Lager has won two of the most coveted competition medals in craft beer. Phealan Robinson A few years back, Robin Johnson, Deschutes' head brewer, was looking for a beer to enter into the Great American Beer Festival. 'He's like, 'What if we really went after lager and really went competitive on lager?' Skrbek said. 'So he spent a ton of time developing this Helles recipe.' The initial beer was brewed at Deschutes' 10-barrel brewing system at its Bend brewpub. The goal was a limited-edition beer for competitions, not wide distribution. 'There was never an intent of this beer being a commercial beer, in part because, ironically, the cost of making it, because of the raw ingredients, was extremely high,' Srkbek said. Costco has carried Deschutes beer for years. In a meeting between the Deschutes team and Russ York, a Costco buyer, they began to discuss doing something for the Kirkland Signature brand. 'I said that we would like to do something that was NOT an IPA,' York explains in an email to me. 'I felt our members needed something more sessionable and refreshing. IPAs are everywhere, and everyone has their favorite.' Srkbek had just the right beer in mind. 'I was like, 'Well, man, you know, we just won this gold medal for this beer that we have really no big plan for commercially. How awesome would it be to introduce this gold medal-winning beer to members?' York liked the idea and was completely sold as soon as he tasted the beer. 'I loved it because it had the refreshing taste of a light beer, but it had substance,' York wrote. 'With standard domestic light beers, it just quenches your thirst, not leaving an impression. But the lager does both.' A Craft Beer Available in Bulk To brew the rebranded Kirkland Signature Helles-Style Lager, Deschutes moved production of Prinz Crispy from its 10-barrel system to its 150-barrel production brewery. Producing such large quantities of beer itself wasn't difficult, Srkbek said, but sourcing ingredients and handling the distribution logistics at the scale necessary wouldn't have been possible without Costco's help. York declined to share sales numbers. 'I can say that it is selling quite well and actually did more than we anticipated, given it launched in the off-season for this style of beer—winter,' he wrote. Srkbek couldn't offer any sales numbers either but did say the beer has impacted overall U.S. demand for Tettnang hops, which are a key part of its recipe. 'We basically consumed the entire domestic Tettnang crop last year, which is an insane thought. And as a result, we have more farmers planting Tettnang,' Srkbek said. Despite that scale, Srkbek is proud that the quality of that beer has not slipped: a view that was validated when the beer took home silver at the World Beer Cup. 'The cool thing there is that it is the production beer. It's not a different batch. It's right out of the same batch that went to members and into the warehouses at Costco.' More From Forbes Forbes The World's Best IPA—According To The International Beer And Cider Awards By Erik Ofgang Forbes The Best Lagers Of 2025—According To The World Beer Cup By Erik Ofgang
Forbes
08-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Best Pilsners Of 2025—According To The World Beer Cup
Breweries in the U.S. and Japan were honored for their pilsners at this year's World Beer Cup. The best pilsner beers in 5 subcategories of pilsner were recently selected at this year's World Beer Cup. The winning beers were made by breweries across the U.S. and globe, though surprisingly, given the style's European roots, no breweries from Europe took home pilsner medals. The World Beer Cup took place this spring in Indianapolis. The prestigious competition is run by the Brewers Association, a not-for-profit trade association representing American independent craft brewers. This year, judges assessed 8,375 beers and ciders in more than 300 categories submitted by producers from 49 countries. Submissions included hundreds of pilsners—a clean and crisp style of lager that is often referred to as a brewer's handshake because it is considered one of the clearest indicators of a given brewer's skill. For each pilsner category and beer category overall at the competition, only three medals were awarded: gold, silver, and bronze. Forbes previously looked at the pilsner gold medal winners, particularly Haha Pils,the German-style pilsner gold medal winner. Here we're taking a closer look at all the pilsners that took home a medal at this year's World Beer Cup. 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: 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: Highwayman, Roadhouse Brewing, Jackson, WY Silver: Bellevue 1882 Lager, Bellevue Brewing Co., Bellevue, WA Bronze: Gold Country Pilsner, Auburn Alehouse, Auburn, CA The pilsner category has seen increasing interest from brewers and beer fans overall in recent years. All pilsner variants are themselves a type of pale light lager. These beers are generally noted for their crisp, clean flavors, low bitterness, and subtle malt flavors. Hops are important in this style of beer, but they take on a less in-your-face role than they do in an IBA. The differences between types of pilsners can range from subtle to more pronounced. German pilsners tend to have more bitterness than other styles of pilsner and frequently use Tettnang or Hallertau hops. They are also often unfiltered and cloudy in appearance. Czech pilsners tend to be clear in appearance and often use the Saaz hop, which gives them a distinct taste. American pilsners are based upon German pilsners but can incorporate a wider variety of ingredients, including corn and can be described as falling between a Bohemian pilsner and German pilsner in terms of flavor. Meanwhile, Italian pilsners add dry hopping to the traditional pilsner brewing process, adding more hop character to the finished product.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Asheville breweries win World Beer Cup gold, silver medals: Here's why they won
ASHEVILLE - In a global blind taste test, North Carolina breweries competed against breweries representing 49 countries, earning 11 medals in the prestigious World Beer Cup awards program known as "the Olympics of beer competitions." Four medals were awarded to Asheville area beer companies: Diatribe, Highland, Hi-Wire and Sierra Nevada. The Brewers Association received 8,375 entries from 1,761 breweries that were judged over 14 sessions by 265 industry experts. Winners were announced at the 2025 World Beer Cup award ceremony on May 1 during the Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America in Indianapolis. The local brewing teams shared details about their award-winning beers and how bringing home the medals is a win for the Asheville area brewing community, particularly after a challenging season following last fall's Tropical Storm Helene. 1042 Haywood Road, West Asheville. Diatribe Brewing Co. won the gold medal in the Chocolate Beer category for its Chocolate Porter. Diatribe opened in 2023 with an American Porter that's been a taproom guest favorite and earned the West Asheville brewery a gold medal in the 2024 Best of Craft Beer Awards. Dave Byer, co-owner and brewer, said he began with that base to build the Chocolate Porter, using imported cocoa nibs, testing different techniques, and then introducing varieties to guests. "It's been a fun journey with us and with our customers, and everyone weighing in on what's their favorite, Byer said. "It's been a big group effort to create this beer, seeing what we love, and taking nibs that worked and putting them in our award-winning porter." Byer said he's witnessed Asheville's brewing industry strengthen for over a decade to compete on the world's stage. He said Helene was another example of the community's resilience. The Chocolate Porter was one of the first batches of beer Byer brewed after water was restored several weeks after the storm. He attributed the community's support to keeping the brewery open and thriving. Betty Dunajski, co-owner and taproom manager, said the brewery will be one of the participating locations, hosting events during AVL Beer Week, May 15-29. "We always have fun experiments and different ways for people to connect with beer, whether it's different ingredients or different ways of serving beer," she said." We like to get our customers and community involved." The Chocolate Porter is available exclusively served in the taproom. It's seasonal, and supplies are limited. 12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Asheville. Highland Brewing Co. won the gold medal in the German-style Kölsch category for its Daycation Gold. "The German-style Kölsch category is highly nuanced," said Nikki Mitchell, vice president of brand development. "It's such a delicate beer. To win for 'Gold' fills me and everyone at Highland with a huge amount of pride." Daycation Gold was introduced in 2021 as a small-batch Kölsch named Distance Driver, which won gold at the 2022 Best of Craft Beer Awards. It was designed to quench the thirst of disc golfers at Highland's East Asheville campus. Due to demand, it continued to be brewed. This spring, a revamped and rebranded brew version was released as Daycation Gold, under the same session beer umbrella as Daycation IPA. It's available in the taproom and for retail sale. Innovation Brewing Manager, Josh Jiles, said it's a technical, challenging beer to brew, but when done correctly, it should be refreshing and bright. "Daycation hits that perfect sweet spot," Jiles said. "It's clean, crisp, incredibly well-balanced." Jiles said Helene significantly impacted Asheville's brewery industry, as there was little to no water to brew. He commended the beer community for working hard to get back on its feet. "We're all pretty crafty. Asheville produces some of the world's best beers, and every brewer should be proud of that," Jiles said. "It's a good win for the community." Various locations, including 2A Hunstman Place, Biltmore Village. Hi-Wire Brewing Co. won the silver medal for its Hi-Wire Lager in the International-Style Pilsner category. This is the seventh World Beer Cup award the brewery, founded in 2013 in Asheville, has earned. "This one is different for us than the others," said Adam Charnack, co-founder. "The Hi-Wire Lager is the first beer we ever made. ... It's everything about our brand that we love." Charnack said the lager is the ideal representation of the brewery, describing the brew as timeless, classic, simple, complicated, and easy-drinking. It's the brewery's bestselling beer in its taprooms. He said winning the World Beer Cup award this year heightened the emotions from Helene, and it's a chapter-turner for Hi-Wire, as it recovers. In May, Hi-Wire will reopen its beer garden in the River Arts District, which was devastated during the historic storm. "We're beyond ecstatic," Charnack said. "We can't be more proud." 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. won the gold medal for its Weizenbock in the South German-Style Weizenbock category. It also earned the gold medal at the 2024 competition and the Great American Beer Fest in 2024. 'It's a wonderful example of the beer style," Brian Grossman, chief brewer and second-generation brewery owner at Sierra Nevada, said in an email. "It is brewed using traditional techniques, and it showcases an authentic German yeast strain that came from our long-time friends at a historic Bavarian brewery. It is a testament to our brewing team's hard work and dedication to premium quality craft brewing.' Grossman, who called Asheville 'a world-class beer destination,' said the Weizenbock is a limited batch beer available at the Mills River taproom, though it may not last long. The North Carolina Brewers Guild and North Carolina brewers were honored with the Brewers Association's Recognition Award, honoring the brewers' collective response to Tropical Storm Helene. View the complete list of 2025 World Beer Cup winners at Discover more Asheville breweries in a citywide celebration, AVL Beer Week, from May 15-29, at various locations. For a complete list of events, visit Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@ or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram/Bluesky. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville breweries win World Beer Cup medals: Here's why they won
Eater
05-06-2025
- Business
- Eater
D.C.'s Polished New Brewery Stands Out With a Rare English Ale — And Much More
D.C.'s newest brewery Henceforth is out to undo the typical craft beer experience its locals are accustomed to. No warehouse full of uncomfortable picnic tables and metal stools. No yelling to hear a conversation as the crowds swell. Quality food from a real kitchen and tenured D.C. chef. A production program that swings from classic to hard-to-find styles. A traditional English pale ale — something that few American craft breweries attempt to make — has quickly emerged as a customer and staff favorite since its May debut (1335 H Street NE). 'The starting premise was that craft beer drinkers have grown up, but the breweries haven't,' says founder, managing partner, and H Street NE resident Mike Spinello, The layout unfolds warmly, thanks to a sophisticated midcentury modern aesthetic free of TVs, and with music turned down low to encourage conversation. Comfortable couch nooks, deep chairs, and dining tables are far removed from the stereotypical warehouse-styled setup of picnic tables and metal stools. It in no way resembles the building's former tenant, the indoor mini golf and arcade that was H Street Country Club. 'We could have built a house out of the pencils that we found,' Spinello jokes. Everything at Henceforth is in service of the beer. That operation is overseen by co-founder and head brewer Ben Mullet. The tap list features styles that appeal to both classic and current tastes. 'I like to drink a range of beers and I also like to brew a range of beers,' Mullet says. 'Brewing the same beer over and over again is very boring.' Mullet's credentials include gold medals at the revered annual Great American Beer Festival held in Denver, Colorado and the World Beer Cup. He wants Henceforth to be a destination for quality beers, regardless of style. Related The Best Breweries Around D.C. The opening lineup is nine deep, each priced at $9 for a pint or $5 for a half. Options range from a crisp, easy drinking cream ale (4.2-percent ABV) to a rich and warming Belgian-style Dubble coming in strong at 7.8-percent. And its unique English pale ale, or ESB — which stands for 'extra special bitter' — is a nice balance between malt and hop bitterness. 'It's an under-appreciated style because it's an under-brewed style,' says Mullet. 'It's just a really approachable beer.' Having everything under the same roof means the beer is as fresh as it gets, and the small, 1,000-barrel brewing facility allows flexibility to explore new styles as seasons and tastes change. Henceforth plans to start producing a pilsner this week and a gose soon after. In addition to beer, there's a comprehensive wine program curated by Monica Lee, a veteran D.C. bartender whose resume includes stops at Ellē and Daikaya. The kitchen is the domain of Walfer Hernandez, formerly executive chef of Southern standby Barrel on Capital Hill. Standouts among his menu of elevated pub fare include fried chicken wings dusted with Old Bay and drizzled with honey, along with a tender and juicy braised beef cheek sandwich with lemon aioli, pickled red onion, and lettuce (extra napkins recommended). Henceforth has its eyes set on becoming a destination for the city's craft beer fans. But Spinello also hopes for something more: to rejuvenate a community that was hit especially hard in recent years. 'We all saw the potential of H Street prior to the pandemic,' Spinello says. 'This is my neighborhood. I wanted to help it come back.' The first-floor brewpub opens at 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and kicks off at 12 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. The larger second floor is open Wednesdays through Saturdays beginning at 4 p.m. No reservations. Sign up for our newsletter.
