Dozens of California breweries have earned global recognition at the 2025 World Beer Cup, with several taking home top honors for producing some of the best beers in the world.
Dubbed the “Olympics of Beer,” this year’s international competition was hosted in Indianapolis over seven days and 14 sessions. Organized by the not-for-profit Brewers Association, the event brought together 256 judges from 37 countries to evaluate entries. Winners were announced on May 1.
Chris Williams, competition director, praised the entries, stating, “The World Beer Cup continues to highlight the industry’s innovation, diverse flavors, and technical excellence.”
This year, 8,375 beers from 1,761 breweries across 49 countries were submitted. A total of 349 awards were presented across multiple categories, with each category offering gold, silver, and bronze medals.
California breweries made a strong showing, earning 76 awards across 55 different breweries. Notably, six breweries in the greater Los Angeles area received gold medals.
Top Los Angeles and Orange County Winners
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Golden Road Brewing (Anaheim) won gold in the Fruit Wheat Beer category for Mango Cart.
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Brewery X (Anaheim) took top honors in the American-Style India Pale Ale category with Super Slap.
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Everywhere Brewery (Orange) claimed gold in the Juicy or Hazy IPA category for Shifted Visions.
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Arts District Brewing Co. (Los Angeles) won for Through The Roof in the International Pale Ale category.
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Claremont Craft Ales received gold for Pepper & Peaches in the Experimental IPA category.
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San Fernando Brewing Co. took gold in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer category for Dr. Sleep.
Statewide Standouts
In addition to the Southern California winners, breweries from across the state stood out in a wide range of categories:
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Ghost Town Brewing (Oakland) won multiple awards, including golds for Necrocat, Mordant, Perverse Inverse, and Ossuary.
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Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico) earned two golds, including one for their non-alcoholic Trail Pass Hazy IPA.
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Russian River Brewing Co. (Windsor) won gold for STS Pils and silver for Damnation.
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MadeWest Brewing Co. (Ventura) received several accolades, including bronze for MadeWest Pale and MadeWest Hazy IPA.
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Alvarado Street Brewery (Salinas) took home gold for Howzit Punch and silver for Contains No Juice.
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Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (Paso Robles) earned multiple medals, including silver for Pear Saison and bronze for Pivo.
A full list of winners spans a wide variety of beer styles, from stouts and IPAs to lagers, pilseners, and experimental brews.
A Legacy of Excellence
The 2025 event marked the 16th edition of the World Beer Cup since its founding in 1996. Originally held every two years, it became an annual event in 2022. Each year, the competition sets new standards for craft brewing and fosters international collaboration and innovation.
“These winners represent the very best of the brewing world,” Williams said. “Their passion and creativity continue to push the boundaries of what beer can be.”
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