The 2025 Brewers Cup of California Winners

(Courtesy Sacramento Area Brewers Guild)

California is home to some of the best craft breweries in the country, so the Brewers Cup of California competition is about picking the best of the best.

And we’ve all this year’s big winners for you!

Sponsored by Sacramento Area Brewers Guild with support from several of the state’s brewers guilds and sponsor Craftmaster Stainless, this year’s competition received a total of 1,360 entries from 203 independent craft breweries. And a panel of more than 60 expert judges awarded Bronze, Silver, and Gold to the top three beers in 64 style categories

Geisthaus Brewing Company was awarded “Best in Show” for its Progenitor Kellerbier. And Tracy, CA-based Morgan Territory Brewery was once again named “Brewery of the Year.”

The “Guild of the Year” award, a title given to the brewers guild whose membership collectively medaled highest in the competition, was awarded to the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild.

“We were thrilled to see a record-breaking number of beers entered this year, making this our largest competition yet,” said David Weiss, President of the Sacramento Area Brewers Guild and Head Brewer of Blue Note Brewing.

“Providing a platform to recognize the hard work, innovation, and passion of California’s independent craft brewers is paramount, and we’re proud that this competition continues to grow in significance within the industry.”

The 2025 Brewers Cup of California Winners

Altbier (5 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Cerveceria Del Pueblo	Antigua	German-Style Altbier
2nd	Lodi Beer Company	Anniversary Alt Bier	German-Style Altbier
3rd	Black Hammer Brewing Company	Ctrl Alt Repeat	German-Style Altbier

American IPAs (138 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Auburn Alehouse	Cross Rut IPA	West Coast-Style India Pale Ale
2nd	Trademark Brewing	Codebreaker	West Coast-Style India Pale Ale
3rd	Topa Topa Brewing Co.	We Love LA	West Coast-Style India Pale Ale
HM	Three Mile Brewing Company	Angry Goat	American-Style India Pale Ale

American Wheat/Rye (9 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Canyon Lakes Brewery	Walk Or Ryed?	Rye Ale or Lager with or without Yeast
2nd	Stone Church Brewing	Eucharist Wheat	Light American Wheat Ale or Lager with Yeast
3rd	Claremont Craft Ales	Jacaranda	Rye Ale or Lager with or without Yeast
HM	Trinity County Brewing Company	Hayfork Hefeweizen	Light American Wheat Ale or Lager with Yeastt

American-Style Amber Lagers (14 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Wagon Wheel Brewing Company	Elbow Bender	American-Style Amber Lager
2nd	Eureka Brewing Company	Tacos & Beer	American-Style Amber Lager
3rd	June Lake Brewing	Chingona Amber Lager	American-Style Amber Lager

American-Style Amber/Red Ale (28 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Lincoln Beer Company	Railsplitter	American-Style Amber/Red Ale
2nd	Far Field Brewing Company	INFRARED	American-Style Amber/Red Ale
3rd	Half Moon Bay Brewing Company	Mavericks Amber Ale	American-Style Amber/Red Ale

American-Style Brown Ale (15 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Hodad’s Brewing Company	Throwback	American-Style Brown Ale
2nd	Three Mile Brewing Company	Barkada	American-Style Brown Ale
3rd	Wild Fields Brewhouse	Three Bridges	American-Style Brown Ale

American-Style Cream Ale or Lager (21 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Morgan Territory Brewing	Snap Shot	American-Style Cream Ale or Lager
2nd	Del Cielo Brewing	Orale	American-Style Cream Ale or Lager
3rd	Malibu Brewing Company	Sand And Sea Mexican Lager	American-Style Cream Ale or Lager

American-Style Dark/Amber Lager (9 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Bottle Logic Brewing	Lagerithm	American-Style Dark Lager
2nd	Porchlight Brewing	Oktoberbeast	American-Style Maerzen/Oktoberfest
3rd	Touchstone Brewing Company	Oktoberbeast	American-Style Maerzen/Oktoberfest

American-Style Lagers (49 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Epidemic Ales	Lager At World’s End	American-Style Lager
2nd	Creature Comforts Brewing Co. – Los Angeles	Pils, Baby!	Contemporary American-Style Pilsener
3rd	Auburn Alehouse	Gold Country Pilsner	American-Style Pilsener

American-Style Light Lager (28 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	San Fernando Brewing Company	Del Valle Lager	American-Style Light Lager
2nd	Bright Spark Brewing	Game Day Lager	American-Style Light Lager
3rd	Lucky Luke Brewing Co.	Lucky Light	American-Style Light Lager

American-Style Pale Ales (47 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Common Space Brewery	Good Signs	American-Style Strong Pale Ale
2nd	Fieldwork Brewing Company	Hellflower	American-Style Strong Pale Ale
3rd	Angel City Brewery	IPA	American-Style Strong Pale Ale
HM	Puesto Cerveceria	Puesto IPA	American-Style Strong Pale Ale

American-Style Stout/Black Ales (12 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Arts District Brewing Company	Norm	American-Style Stout
2nd	Riip Beer Company	Strategic Arrangement	American-Style Stout
3rd	Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co	Big Cone	American-Style Black Ale

American-Style Strong Ales (22 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Lincoln Beer Company	Vanilla Carousel	American-Style Imperial Porter
2nd	Sutter Buttes Brewing Co. Inc.	Moon Sabbat	American-Style Imperial Stout
3rd	Five Point Five Brewing Co.	Tank Farm	American-Style Imperial Stout

Belgian Style Pale Beers (17 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Apogee Brewing Co.	Aurora	Belgian-Style Blonde Ale
2nd	ISM Brewing	Stable Trestles	Belgian-Style Session Ale
3rd	Paperback Brewing	Surrealist	Belgian-Style Blonde Ale

Belgian-Style Strong Ales (28 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Trinity County Brewing Company	Anniversary 4	Belgian-Style Quadrupel
2nd	Strong Church	Trinity	Belgian-Style Tripel
3rd	Apogee Brewing Co.	Monks In Space	Belgian-Style Tripel

Bocks (15 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Feather Falls Brewing Company	Doppel Down	German-Style Doppelbock
2nd	Morgan Territory Brewing	Lubricator	German-Style Doppelbock
3rd	Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.	Frozen Goat	South German-Style Weizenbock/Weissbock

Bohemian-Style Pilsener (24 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Jackrabbit Brewing Co.	Dun’ Workin’	Bohemian-Style Pilsener
2nd	Alaro Craft Brewery	La Boheme	Bohemian-Style Pilsener
3rd	FiftyFifty Brewing Company	Tahoe Pilz	Bohemian-Style Pilsener

British Stouts (17 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Morgan Territory Brewing	Grinding Stone	Oatmeal Stout
2nd	Bravery Brewing	Korova	Sweet or Cream Stout
3rd	Feather Falls Brewing Company	Volcano Mudslide	Sweet or Cream Stout

British Strong Beers (18 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Morgan Territory Brewing	Old Diablo	British-Style Barley Wine Ale
2nd	San Fernando Brewing Company	O’Melveny Red Ale	Strong Ale
3rd	North Coast Brewing Co.	Old Stock Ale	Old Ale

Chocolate Beers (10 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Burning Barrel Brewing Company	Suffered From The Start	Chocolate/Cocoa-Flavored Beer
2nd	TapRoom Beer Company	The Chocolate Klub	Chocolate/Cocoa-Flavored Beer
3rd	Altar Society Brewing Company	Darkest Rituals	Chocolate/Cocoa-Flavored Beer

Coffee-Flavored Beer (24 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.	Cafe Stagecoach	Coffee-Flavored Beer
2nd	Etna Brewing Co.	Yakauccino Coffee Vanilla Stout	Coffee-Flavored Beer
3rd	Pizza Port – San Clemente	Dusk Til Dawn	Coffee-Flavored Beer

Dessert Stout (11 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Moksa Brewing Company	Happy Almonds	Dessert Stout or Pastry Stout
2nd	Moksa Brewing Company	Salutations	Dessert Stout or Pastry Stout
3rd	Chapman Crafted Beer Company	Crafted Campfire	Dessert Stout or Pastry Stout

English-Style Brown Ale (9 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Feather Falls Brewing Company	Sir Charles	English-Style Brown Ale
2nd	Lodi Beer Company	School Street Brown Ale	English-Style Brown Ale
3rd	Trinity County Brewing Company	Ol’ Snickelfritz	English-Style Brown Ale

English-Style Milds and Bitters/IPA (21 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.	Hoppy Poppy	English-Style India Pale Ale
2nd	Amador Brewing Company	Dirty Blonde	Special Bitter or Best Bitter
3rd	Bravery Brewing	Brighton ESB	Extra Special Bitter

European-Style Dark/Munchner Dunkel (9 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Movement Brewing Co.	Walter Sobczech	European-Style Dark/Munchner Dunkel
2nd	Pond Farm Brewing Co.	Daily Brot	European-Style Dark/Munchner Dunkel
3rd	Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.	I Dunkeled In My Pants	European-Style Dark/Munchner Dunkel

Experimental Beer (6 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Malibu Brewing Co.	Canyon Rose’ Rice Lager	Experimental Beer (Lager or Ale)
2nd	Solorio Brewing Company	Cheeky Peach Crumble	Experimental Beer (Lager or Ale)

Experimental India Pale Ale (8 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Berryessa Brewing Co.	Buddha’s Hand IPA	Experimental India Pale Ale
2nd	Fieldwork Brewing Company	Picked Last	Experimental India Pale Ale
3rd	Mike Hess Brewing Company	Lone Pine IPA	Experimental India Pale Ale

Field Beer (6 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Norco Brewing Co.	Pioneer	Field Beer
2nd	Hop Dogma Brewing Company	Cucumber Rocket Surgery	Field Beer
3rd	Lake Arrowhead Brewing Company	Srawberry Peak	Field Beer

Fruit Beer (32 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Angel City Brewery	Grenache Grisette	Belgian-Style Fruit Beer
2nd	Cerveceria Del Pueblo	Melosa	Fruit Beer
3rd	Bravery Brewing	Lime Fatboys Cerveza	Fruit Beer

German Helles/Export (19 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Geisthaus Brewing Company	Hallowed	Munchner (Munich)-Style Helles
2nd	Morgan territory Brewing Company	The Cushman	Dortmunder/European-Style Export
3rd	Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro – Carmel	Servus!	Munchner (Munich)-Style Helles

German-Style Pilsener (31 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Long Beach Beer Labs	Klassisch Pils	German-Style Pilsener
2nd	Transmission Brewing	Downshift	German-Style Pilsener
3rd	Two Ravens Brewery	Longship	German-Style Pilsener

German-Style Wheat/Rye (15 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro – Carmel	Bistro Hef	South German-Style Hefeweizen/Hefeweissbier
2nd	standard deviant brewing	Hefeweizen	South German-Style Hefeweizen/Hefeweissbier
3rd	Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro – Carmel	Dunkelweizen	South German-Style Hefeweizen/Hefeweissbier

Golden or Blonde Ale (34 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Crooked Lane Brewing Co.	Hammock Time	Golden or Blonde Ale
2nd	Aftershock Brewing Company	Love Wave	Golden or Blonde Ale
3rd	Long Beach Beer Labs	Blonde	Golden or Blonde Ale

Gose (12 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	MachineHead Brewing Co.	Punk Fuzz	Contemporary-Style Gose
2nd	San Francisco Brewing Company	Golden Gate Gose	Contemporary-Style Gose
3rd	Old Stump Brewing Co.	Raspberry Lemonade Gose	Contemporary-Style Gose

Hard Kombucha (3 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Midscape Fermentations	Free Spirit	Hard Kombucha
2nd	Midscape Fermentations	The Starman	Hard Kombucha
3rd	Midscape Fermentations	Dream Big	Hard Kombucha

Hard Seltzer (34 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Crow and Wolf Brewing	Dark Horse	Hard Seltzer (Flavored Malt Beverage)
2nd	Crow and Wolf Brewing	Cosmonaut	Hard Seltzer (Flavored Malt Beverage)
3rd	DarkHeart Brewing Citrus Heights	Krakens Klau Lavender Lemondrop	Hard Seltzer (Flavored Malt Beverage)

Table 37: Hazy IPA (67 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Eureka Brewing Company	Just A Phaze	Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale
2nd	Ambitions Ales	Professional Human Being	Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale
3rd	TapRoom Beer Company	North Park Haze	Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale
HM	San Diego Brewing Company	San Diego Hazy IPA	Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale

Hazy Pale Ales (34 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	CAPO Craft – Stanton Location	Hazy IPA	Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale
2nd	Tarantula Hill Brewing Co.	Liquid Candy	Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale
3rd	Flatland Brewing Company	Psychic Burden	Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale

Herb and Spice Beer (15 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Strike Brewing Company	Churro Beer	Herb and Spice Beer
2nd	Unsung Brewing Company LLC	The Pickler	Herb and Spice Beer
3rd	LogOff Brewing	Divide By Zero	Herb and Spice Beer

Historical (15 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Ten Mile Brewing	Hidden Hollow	Kentucky Common
2nd	Brewjeria Company	Californio	California Common Beer
3rd	Fruition Brewing	Alpino A Maritima	Historical Beer

Honey Beer (10 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	TrustedGut	Blonde Ale With Notes of Honey	Specialty Honey Lager or Ale
2nd	Old Stump Brewing Co.	Not Tonight Honey	Specialty Honey Lager or Ale
3rd	Mike Hess Brewing Company	EZ Drankin	Specialty Honey Lager or Ale

Imperial Hazy IPA (21 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Pure Project	Double Dust	Juicy or Hazy Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
2nd	Moksa Brewing Company	Light The Beam	Juicy or Hazy Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
3rd	Humble Sea Brewery	Hop Fusion 2.0	Juicy or Hazy Imperial or Double India Pale Ale

Imperial IPA (38 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Claremont Craft Ales	Triple IPA	Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
2nd	Morgan Territory Brewing	HopTomic	Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
3rd	Ghost Town Brewing	Nose Goblin	Imperial or Double India Pale Ale

India Pale Lagers (17 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Riip Beer Company	Alt Aboard	American-Style India Pale Lagers
2nd	Ghost Town Brewing	Cave Dweller	American-Style India Pale Lager
3rd	Topa Topa Brewing Co.	KQ Express	American-Style India Pale Lager

International Lagers (28 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Solorio Brewing Company	GOT SOL?	Australasian, Latin American or Tropical-Style Light Lager
2nd	Ten Mile Brewing	Koji	Australasian, Latin American or Tropical-Style Light Lager
3rd	Euryale Brewing Co.	Madre Medusa Mexican Lager	Australasian, Latin American or Tropical-Style Light Lager

International Pale Ales (34 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Tustin Brewing Co.	Lolly Trolly	New Zealand-Style Pale Ale
2nd	Tarantula Hill Brewing Co.	Call Day	Australian-Style Pale Ale
3rd	ISM Brewing	Chepedelic	New Zealand-Style Pale Ale

International-Style Pilsener (26 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Tarantula Hill Brewing Co.	Feel The Flow	International-Style Pilsener
2nd	LogOff Brewing	Birra Stallone	International-Style Pilsener
3rd	ROM Beer Company	When in ROM	International-Style Pilsener

Irish Stouts (13 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Feather Falls Brewing Co.	Celtic Dream	Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout
2nd	True Symmetry Brewing Co.	Tommy’s 34	Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout
3rd	Danville Brewing Company	Lucky Four Leaf	Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout

Irish-Style Red Ale (20 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Pizza Port Co. – Carlsbad Village	Irish Hello	Irish-Style Red Ale
2nd	CAPO Craft – Stanton Location	Irish Red	Irish-Style Red Ale
3rd	Promised Land Beer	Slainte Red	Irish-Style Red Ale

Kellerbiers (6 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Geisthaus Brewing Company	Progenitor	Kellerbier (Cellar beer) or Zwickelbier – Lager
2nd	Fruition Brewing	Slip	Kellerbier (Cellar beer) or Zwickelbier – Lager
3rd	Ketch Brewing	Dr. Billheimers Magic Pilsner	Kellerbier (Cellar beer) or Zwickelbier – Lager

Kolsch-Style Ales (21 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	BrewBilt Brewing	Party Eyes Kolsch	German-Style Kolsch/Koln-Style Kolsch
2nd	Half Moon Bay Brewing Company	Kolsch	German-Style Kolsch/Koln-Style Kolsch
3rd	Discretion Brewing	Ten Million Flowers	German-Style Kolsch/Koln-Style Kolsch

Marzen/Oktoberfest (6 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Norco Brewing Co.	Norctoberfest	Geman-Style Marzen
2nd	Geisthaus Brewing Company	Stormbond	Geman-Style Marzen
3rd	DarkHeart Brewing Citrus Heights	Marzen	Geman-Style Marzen

New Zealand-Style IPA (16 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Fall Brewing Company	Sweet Resistance	New Zealand-Style India Pale Ale
2nd	Barebottle Brewing Company	NZ Envy	New Zealand-Style India Pale Ale
3rd	Evans Brewing Co.	Tanka Jahari	New Zealand-Style India Pale Ale

Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage (6 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Fieldwork Brewing Company	Day Money	Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage
2nd	Protector Brewery	Rancho West Non Alcoholic Beer	Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage
3rd	Touchstone Brewing Company	Off Belay	Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage

Porters (29 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Morgan Territory Brewing Company	Dark Reckoning	Baltic-Style Porter
2nd	Tustin Brewing Co.	Blimp Hangar Porter	Robust Porter
3rd	Pizza Port Brewing Co. – Carlsbad Village	Pine Park Porter	Brown Porter

Saison (9 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Stone Church Brewing	Saison De Church	French- & Belgian-Style Saison
2nd	Apogee Brewing Co.	Lucy In The Rye	French- & Belgian-Style Saison
3rd	Figueroa Mountian Brewing Co.	Saison	French- & Belgian-Style Saison

Schwarzbier (15 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	True Symmetry Brewing Co.	Midnight At Noon	German-Style Schwarzbier
2nd	Kairoa Brewing Company	Boots and Stubbies	German-Style Schwarzbier
3rd	Ogopogo Brewing	Nachtkrapp	German-Style Schwarzbier

Scottish Ales (15 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Fieldwork Brewing Company	Wrapt In Warm Flannel	Scottish-Style Heavy Ale
2nd	Steel Bonnet Brewing	Numpty	Scotch Ale
3rd	LogOff Brewing	Dianasty	Scotch Ale

Smoke Beers (7 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Arts District Brewing Company	Kindling	Bamberg-Style Helles Rauchbier
2nd	Clandestine Brewing	Smoke And Mirrors	Bamberg-Style Marzen Rauchbier
3rd	Black Hammer Brewing Company	Lillikoi Mezcalita	Smoke Beer (Lager or Ale)

Sour/Brett/Other Yeast (29 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Burning Beard Brewing	In Praise of Bacchus	Belgian-Style Lambic
2nd	Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co	Jam Jam BoysenBerry	American-Style Sour Ale
3rd	Angel City Brewery	Apple Pomace Puncheon	Wild Beer

Specialty Stouts (4 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	TapRoom Beer Company	True Dark	Specialty Stouts
2nd	Black Plague Brewing	Medusa	Specialty Stouts
3rd	Hop Secret Brewing Company	Tongue Butter	Specialty Stouts

Vienna-Style Lager (16 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Arts District Brewing Company	The Lush	Vienna-Style Lager
2nd	Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.	Non Serviam	Vienna-Style Lager
3rd	Alaro Craft Brewery	Adrianna	Vienna-Style Lager

Wit Beer (4 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	Ogopogo Brewing	Boeman	Belgian-Style White (or Wit)/Belgian-Style Wheat
2nd	The Monk’s Cellar	Biere Blanche	Belgian-Style White (or Wit)/Belgian-Style Wheat
3rd	Hop Dogma Brewing Company	Rocket Surgery	Belgian-Style White (or Wit)/Belgian-Style Wheat

Wood- And Barrel-Aged Beers (39 Entries)

Place	Organization	Entry Name	Style
1st	The Monk’s Cellar	Tradition	Wood- And Barrel-Aged Dark Beer
2nd	Two Ravens Brewery	Raven King	Wood- And Barrel-Aged Dark Beer
3rd	El Segundo Brewing Co.	Standard Crude	Wood- And Barrel-Aged Dark Beer