Discover the Nation’s Top Beers and Ciders at the Great American Beer Festival
The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) 2025 showcased the finest beers and ciders from across the nation, awarding 347 medals to 273 breweries and cideries. This event continues to emphasize the growth and diversity within the craft beverage industry.
Key Highlights from the 2025 Great American Beer Festival
- Total Entries: 8,315 beers and ciders judged
- Participants: 273 breweries and cideries from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Awards Given: 347 medals awarded
- Judges Involved: 250 expert judges
- Competition Duration: Seven days with three judging phases
Competition Overview
The 2025 GABF introduced a new Vera Hop category alongside six cider categories. More than 1,550 breweries and cideries participated, showcasing the vibrant options available to craft beer and cider enthusiasts. Chris Williams, competition director for the Brewers Association, noted the increasing competition level and creativity demonstrated by this year’s participants.
Most-Entered Categories
Categories with the highest number of entries included:
| Category | Style | Entries |
|---|---|---|
| Category #107 | Juicy/Hazy India Pale Ale | 301 |
| Category #105 | West Coast India Pale Ale | 300 |
| Category #51 | Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest | 186 |
Top Medal Winners
Among the top winners for beer styles were:
- Juicy/Hazy India Pale Ale
- Gold: TourBus® Double Dry Hopped Hazy IPA – DESTIHL Brewery
- Silver: MadeWest Hazy – MadeWest Brewing Co.
- Bronze: Cloud Counter – Pollyanna Brewing Co.
- West Coast India Pale Ale
- Gold: How the West Was One: Mosaic – Westbound & Down Brewing Co.
- Silver: Coast Molinos – Los Molinos Beer Co.
- Bronze: Cosmic Guava West Coast IPA – pFriem Family Brewers
Celebrating New Entrants
This year saw 180 first-time entrants in the competition. Additionally, 12 newcomers won medals in various categories, reflecting the continuous innovation within the craft brewing community.
Collaboration and Pro-Am Highlights
The collaboration competition featured 68 entries, with awards going to:
- Gold: Route 4 Revive-ALE – Municipal Brew Works with Third Eye Brewing Co.
- Silver: La Lumbre – Waredaca Brewing Co. with Mayan Monkey Brewing Co.
- Bronze: Mounds of Importance – Third Eye Brewing Co. with Narrow Path Brewing Co.
In the Pro-Am competition, the following were awarded:
- Gold: Christopher’s Bier – Fritz Family Brewers and Christopher Owens
- Silver: Cool Uncle Dunkel – Hidden Wit Brewing Co. and Joel Miller
- Bronze: Battles for Bavaria – San Diego Brewing Co. and Jeffery Battles
The awards ceremony occurred on Saturday, October 11, 2025, and was broadcast live. The Great American Beer Festival remains a pivotal event, celebrating the top beers and ciders in the nation.
