(Union Jack IPA named “Best American Beer” In Brussels / Courtesy Firestone Walker)

American breweries turned in a VERY impressive performance at the 2025 Brussels Beer Challenge. We’ve that, “Words to Drink By” and more…

US Brewers Win Big in Brussels

American breweries turned in an impressive performance at the 2025 Brussels Beer Challenge, walking away with 28 medals — a sharp jump from last year’s 19 and a reminder that US craft beer continues to play on the world stage. The three-day competition drew 1,701 entries from 36 countries, yet American producers still managed to claim six golds among their medals. It’s the kind of showing that, as Brewers Association international relations director Steve Parr puts it, proves “American craft beer deserves a place at tables around the world.”

Leading the US pack were pFriem Family Brewers out of Hood River, Oregon, and Firestone Walker Brewing Company from Paso Robles, California. pFriem collected four medals spanning pale ales, lagers, and even lambics. Firestone Walker wasn’t far behind, earning three medals — including the coveted Best American Beer award for its flagship IPA, Union Jack.

Firestone Walker also notched a standout victory with a gold for Pivo Pils in the Italian-style Pilsner category, beating out two Italian-made entries for the top spot. pFriem, meanwhile, continued its strong year with a gold in the Helles category for its Lager, topping competitors from Germany’s Bayreuther Bierbrauerei and Oregon’s Heater Allen Brewing.

Union Jack’s “Best American Beer” win adds another layer of intrigue.

First brewed in 2006 by brewmaster Matt Brynildson with a Simcoe–Chinook–Centennial hop trio, the beer is marketed as a West Coast IPA but still lands squarely within classic English IPA guidelines. That quirk makes its back-to-back victories in the Pale & Amber Ale: English IPA category feel especially fitting.

All told, it was a banner year for US breweries in Brussels — and a reminder that American beer can hold its own, even in the heart of Europe’s brewing tradition.

Words to Drink By

“Don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s a dangerous world.”  – Ozzie Osborne (1948-2025)

(Courtesy Brewdog)

BrewDog is back with another twist on the alcohol-free playbook—this time with a functional spin. The Scotland-based brewer has rolled out Mello, a new AF beer brewed with magnesium, chamomile, and balm extract, all aimed at helping drinkers feel a little less tired and worn down.

The brand is no stranger to the no-and-low space. Its AF lineup already includes hop-forward IPAs and crisp lagers, but Mello marks a shift toward the growing demand for “better-for-you” beverages. And that demand is real: according to YouGov, one in three UK adults now say they don’t drink alcohol at all, and a quarter of 18–24-year-olds have cut back. Health is top-of-mind, too—40% of shoppers say it’s their biggest priority when choosing what to buy, even ahead of price.

Adam Turner, BrewDog’s senior marketing manager, says the move was impossible to ignore. “The growth of low and no alcohol along with functional drinks has been hard to miss,” he notes. Turner adds that Mello’s design and flavor profile resonated especially well with younger drinkers—18 to 35-year-olds who are increasingly shaping the future of the beer, wine, and spirits categories. And flavor matters: more than a third of respondents in BrewDog’s research said they’d happily drink alcohol-free beer if it tasted good.

With its fruit-forward flavor and stress-soothing ingredients, Mello aims to hit that sweet spot—something refreshing, functional, and a little more fun than your average wellness drink.

###

Got Something We Need To Know About? Send Your Press Releases to: pr@AmericanCraftBeer.com