The MN Brewers Cup is the state-wide, blind taste-test competition for MN breweries and brewpubs! The 2025 Brewers Cup Competition had ~450 beers entered from 90+ MN breweries and brewpubs. Beers were judged blind by 38 beer judges based on how well each submission represented the standards of its style. Ready to drink some Minnesota beer? Find a brewery near you!
2025 MN Brewers Cup Award Winners:
Best in Show
1st Place: Boom Island Brewing Company, Punkin Pie
2nd Place: Luce Line Brewing, Maibock
3rd Place: Spilled Grain Brewhouse, Bearded Man Old Ale
Specialty Beers
1st Place: Brühaven, Over the Line
2nd Place: Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub, Wild Brunette
3rd Place: Waldmann Brewery, Rauchbier
Wood-Aged Beers
1st Place: Canal Park Brewing Co., Night Trekker Baltic Porter – Barrel Aged
2nd Place: Locale Brewing Co., 2024 Anniversary
3rd Place: Lupulin Brewing Company, Night Witch 2024
Spice, Herb, & Vegetable Beers
1st Place: Boom Island Brewing Company, Punkin Pie
2nd Place: Thousand Lakes Brewing Company, Give’er The Beans
3rd Place: Venn Brewing Company, Choconut
Fruit & Spice Beers
1st Place: Blackstack Brewing, Uncut Jams
2nd Place: Thousand Lakes Brewing Company, Sassy Redhead
3rd Place: Uncommon Loon Brewing Company, Force of Nurture
Wild, Sour, & Funky Ales
1st Place: Bad Weather Brewing Company, Winter’s Night
2nd Place: Locale Brewing Co., Many Moons
3rd Place: Pryes Brewing Company, Idyll Forest – Soiree
Strong Beers
1st Place: Spilled Grain Brewhouse, Bearded Man Old Ale
2nd Place: Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub, Doppelbock
3rd Place: Sleepy Eye Brewing Company, Five
Belgian & Monastic Ales
1st Place: Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub, Bridge Hanger
2nd Place: Forgotten Star Brewing Co., Tripels Is Best
3rd Place: Saint Paul Brewing, Dubbel Agent
American Amber, Brown & Pale Ales
1st Place: Klockow Brewing Company, Bhk
2nd Place: Nouvelle Brewing, Lucky Rooster
3rd Place: Omni Brewing Company, Lake Day
Stouts
1st Place: Sunken Ship Brewing Company, Aran Sweater
2nd Place: Brau Brothers Brewing Co, Moojoos Oatmeal Milk Stout
3rd Place: Thousand Lakes Brewing Company, Breakfast For Supper
English Brown Ales & Porters
1st Place: Heavy Rotation Brewing Co., London Calling
2nd Place: Bent Paddle Brewing Company, Towering Pines
3rd Place: Bear Cave Brewing, Bearly Nutty
English, Scottish, & Irish Ales
1st Place: Sunken Ship Brewing Company, The Old Crown
2nd Place: Bent Paddle Brewing Company, 14
3rd Place: Padraigs Brewing, Red Chimney Irish Red Ale
Double & Specialty IPAs
1st Place: Falling Knife Brewing Company, Cosmic Trailblazer
2nd Place: Modist Brewing Co, Dreamyard
3rd Place: Montgomery Brewing, Haze Against the MacHine
Hazy IPAs
1st Place: Lupulin Brewing Company, Boss Battle
2nd Place: Blackstack Brewing, Local 755
3rd Place: Headflyer Brewing, It Was All A Dream – Juicy
American IPAs
1st Place: Wooden Ship Brewing Company, Pattern of Pieces
2nd Place: Lake Monster Brewing, Depth Charge Juicy IPA
3rd Place: Nine Mile Brewing, Statement Of Westy
German Ales
1st Place: Utepils Brewing, Ewald The Golden
2nd Place: Blacklist Brewing Co., Royal Hefe
3rd Place: Bucks Mill Brewing, Kolsch Style Ale
German & Nz Pils & Export Lagers
1st Place: Lupulin Brewing Company, Dortmunder
2nd Place: Arbeiter Brewing Company, Haha Pils
3rd Place: Schells Brewery, Notorious Pils
Czech Lagers
1st Place: Back Channel Brewing, Jagr
2nd Place: Dangerous Man Brewing Co., Dark Czech Lager
3rd Place: Unmapped Brewing Company, Purgatory Pilsner
Dark Lagers
1st Place: Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub, Midnight Elf
2nd Place: Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative, Eagle 5
3rd Place: Schells Brewery, Bock
Amber Lagers
1st Place: Schells Brewery, Firebrick
2nd Place: Klockow Brewing Company, Lundr’s Lager
3rd Place: Bucks Mill Brewing, Polar Lager
German & International Pale Lagers
1st Place: Luce Line Brewing, Maibock
2nd Place: Fulton Brewing, Chill City
3rd Place: Utepils Brewing, Helles
American Blonde, Wheat, & Cream Ales
1st Place: Shakopee Brew Hall, Cinco De Shako
2nd Place: Excelsior Brewing Co, Big Island Blonde Ale
3rd Place: Uncommon Loon Brewing Company, Speckled Loon Cream Ale
American Lagers
1st Place: Wooden Hill Brewing Company, Hill Style
2nd Place: Elm Creek Brewing, Elm Creek Light
3rd Place: Back Channel Brewing, Lake Maker