2026 MN Brewers Cup Award Winners:
Best in Show
1st Place: Utepils Brewing, Ewald The Golden
2nd Place: Blackstack Brewing, Slopes
3rd Place: Back Channel Brewing, District 5
Brewery of the Year: Back Channel Brewing
Standard American Beers
1st Place: Venn Brewing Company, Modify Lager
2nd Place: Third Street Brewhouse, Minnesota Gold Light
3rd Place: Forgotten Star Brewing Co., Star Lite
German & Int. Pale Lagers
1st Place: Wandering Leaf Brewing Company, Ossuary
2nd Place: Inver Grove Brewing, Pilsner, Eh?
3rd Place: Lupulin Brewing Company, Dortmunder
Amber Lagers
1st Place: Back Channel Brewing, The Draftsman
2nd Place: Nine Mile Brewing Co., Dreher’s Dominion
3rd Place: Bucks Mill Brewing, Polar Lager
Dark Lagers
1st Place: The Savage Tap, Son Of Dad
2nd Place: Third Street Brewhouse, Cold Spring Bock
3rd Place: Tremendous Brewing Co., MachFest
Pils & Export Lagers
1st Place: Blackstack Brewing, Slopes
2nd Place: Pryes Brewing Company, Pragmatic Pils
3rd Place: Forgotten Star Brewing Co., Shorebird Pilsner
Fruit & Spice Beers
1st Place: Lift Bridge Brewing Company, Mango Blonde
2nd Place: Excelsior Brewing Co, Big Island Citrus Blonde Ale
3rd Place: Bad Weather Brewing Company, Girl Power
Spice, Herb, & Vegetable Beers
1st Place: Sleepy Eye Brewing Company, Salsa Dancing
2nd Place: Birch’s On the Lake, Coffee Chocolate Golden Ale
3rd Place: Wooden Hill Brewing Company, Mexican Hot Chocolate
Hazy IPAs
1st Place: Back Channel Brewing, District 5
2nd Place: Luce Line Brewing, Off The Deep End
3rd Place: Nine Mile Brewing Co., Current Obsession
American & Specialty IPAs
1st Place: Brau Brothers Brewing Co, Wild Mike’s Rye IPA
2nd Place: Dual Citizen Brewing Company, Wave Racer
3rd Place: Wooden Hill Brewing Company, Code 3
Hard Seltzers
1st Place: Wooden Hill Brewing Company, The Mule
2nd Place: Spilled Grain Brewhouse, Innuendo
3rd Place: None Awarded
German Ales
1st Place: Utepils Brewing, Ewald The Golden
2nd Place: Bucks Mill Brewing , Honey-Do Kolsch
3rd Place: Utepils Brewing, Alt 1848
British, Irish, & Scottish Ales
1st Place: Back Channel Brewing, Jug
2nd Place: Bucks Mill Brewing , Mill Pond Porter
3rd Place: Lakeville Brewing Co., Copper & Crown English Pale Ale
Porters & Stouts
1st Place: Brau Brothers Brewing Co, Moojoos Oatmeal Stout
2nd Place: Dangerous Man Brewing, Dry Irish Stout
3rd Place: Tanzenwald Brewing Company, Sister Midnight
American Amber, Brown, & Pale Ales
1st Place: Paddlefish Brewing Company, Red Owl Amber Ale
2nd Place: Imminent Brewing, Cannon River Pale Ale
3rd Place: Canal Park Brewing Co., Hank And Dabs Pale Ale
Dark Strong Beers
1st Place: Forgotten Star Brewing Co., Dark Skies
2nd Place: Tremendous Brewing Co. , Augen Auf!
3rd Place: Lupulin Brewing Company, Doppelbock
Pale Strong Beers
1st Place: Canal Park Brewing Co., Lone Trekker Belgian Single
2nd Place: Sleepy Eye Brewing Company, The Five
3rd Place: Unmapped Brewing Company, Disorientation
Sour, Wild, & Specialty Beers
1st Place: Brühaven, Over The Line
2nd Place: Canal Park Brewing Co., Superior Swell Kettle Sour
3rd Place: Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub, Smokehouse Porter
Barrel-Aged Beers & Imperial Stouts
1st Place: Canal Park Brewing Co., Night Trekker Baltic Porter – Barrel Aged
2nd Place: Lupulin Brewing Company, Night Witch 2025
3rd Place: Rapids Brewing Co, Batch 400 Imperial Stout
Ready to drink some award-winning Minnesota beer? Find a brewery near you!