American craft brewers delivered a standout performance at the 2025 International Beer Cup, hosted by the Craft Beer Association of Japan, reinforcing the growing global reputation of US craft beer.

Held in Osaka, Japan this impressive annual event drew 1,562 entries from 385 breweries across 22 countries, with international judges evaluating entries over three days in November.

US Brewers Bring Home 30 Medals

US breweries captured a total of 30 medals, including six golds, 13 silvers, and 11 bronzes, showcasing the diversity and quality of American brewing talent on a world stage. Among the top performers…

Trap Door Brewing emerged as one of the competition’s most decorated breweries, capturing six awards across hop-forward categories, including a gold for Trap Door IPA (American-Style Strong Pale Ale).

River North Brewery also had a banner showing, winning three gold medals for beers such as Rheinzeit is 20/20 (Düsseldorf-Style Altbier), Hello Darkness (Other Strong Beer), and Bucket of Bolts (Old Ale or Strong Ale).

True North Ale Company’s Milk Mustache took a gold medal in the Coffee Beer category.

Other gold winners included Great Lakes Brewing Company (Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Export Stout) and Breakside Brewery (silver for Learning from Las Vegas, Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout).

Breadth of Styles and Regional Winners

The medals spanned a wide range of beer styles, from classic lagers and porters to experimental and gluten-free beers, reflecting the breadth of innovation in American craft brewing.

Highlights included:

Heater Allen Brewery earning silver with its Gold Dot Beer Dark Lager (Münchner-Style Dunkel).

Hinterland Brewery winning silver with a gluten-free sour (Saving Gracie).

Malibu Brewing Company scoring silver in two categories for First Point IPA (American-Style Strong Pale Ale) and a chili-infused lager.

Bronze medals were also won by notable US breweries such as Bootstrap Brewing, Lakefront Brewery, Little Beast Brewing, and The Virginia Beer Company among others.

International Recognition and Craft Beer Growth

The International Beer Cup (IBC) continues to grow a key platform for smaller and independent breweries to build global recognition and showcase their products to international markets.

Participation from American breweries was supported through the Brewers Association’s terrific Export Development Program, which helped cover entry fees and facilitated shipment logistics to Osaka.

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Congratulations to all of the 2025 International Beer Cup winners…Live long and prosper!