Celebrating Excellence: The 2025 New York State Craft Beer Competition Medal Winners
In the heart of America’s brewing renaissance, New York State stands as a powerhouse, boasting over 500 craft breweries and ranking second in the nation for brewery density. On March 21, 2025, the Empire State’s craft beer community gathered virtually and in person for the ninth annual New York State Craft Beer Competition (NYS CBC), a glittering affair that crowned the best suds from across the state. This event, the largest state-level beer competition in the U.S., drew over 1,300 entries across 32 categories, judged by a panel of industry experts. Amid the cheers and clinking glasses, Brooklyn’s Grimm Artisanal Ales emerged as a standout, snagging the prestigious Governor’s Excelsior Craft Beer Cup for its hazy, effervescent “Grimm Weisse.” But the story of 2025’s victors is just one chapter in a decade-long saga of innovation, community, and unyielding passion for craft beer. Let’s dive into the winners.
2025’s Standouts: A Toast to Innovation and Tradition
The 2025 competition, held during the NYS Brewers Conference, showcased New York’s breadth—from urban powerhouses in Brooklyn to rustic gems in the Finger Lakes and Catskills. With medals awarded in gold, silver, and bronze across dozens of styles, the results paint a portrait of a scene that’s equal parts bold experimentation and time-honored technique. Here’s a spotlight on the top honors and key category victors:
Overall Awards
Governor’s Excelsior Craft Beer Cup: The grand prize went to Grimm Weisse from Grimm Artisanal Ales (Brooklyn, NY), a Wheat Beer that dazzled judges with its pillowy mouthfeel and subtle fruit esters. This cup, akin to the Oscars for beer, marks the beer deemed the absolute best in the state.
NYS Brewery of the Year: In a rare tie, Grimm Artisanal Ales (3 Golds, 2 Silvers, 2 Bronzes) and Wayward Lane Brewing (Schoharie, NY; 4 Golds, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze) shared the crown, each tallying 15 points. Their dominance underscores Brooklyn’s edge alongside upstate resilience.
Best New York Farm Beer: Barrel 16 from Kingston Standard (Kingston, NY) in the Barrel Aged Sour category, honoring beers made with at least 20% NYS-grown ingredients.
Best Collab Beer: Veslo, a collaborative Amber Lager from Wayward Lane Brewing and Marlowe Artisanal Ales, proving that teamwork brews the finest results.
The 2025 New York State Craft Beer Competition Winners
Amber Lager – 56 Entries
Gold – Pleasantbrau Marzen – Soul Brewing Company LLC
Silver – 1903 New York Lager – Frog Alley Brewing Co
Bronze – Veslo – Wayward Lane Brewing
Amber/Red Ale – 61 Entries
Gold – Genesee Brew House Scotch Ale – Genesee Brew House
Silver – Opa’s Choice – Mill House Brewing Company
Bronze – Ol Fox – West Kill Brewing
American DIPA – 21 Entries
Gold – Saber’s Edge – Pearl Street Grill and Brewery
Silver – Hopnami – Greenport Harbor Brewing Co.
Bronze – Pacific Dawn – Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
American IPA – 55 Entries
Gold – Frisco Kid – Okay Beer Company
Silver – All or Nothing – Threes Brewing
Bronze – Cleaver IPA – Brewery at the CIA
American Lager – 42 Entries
Gold – Well Earned Pilsner – The Bronx Brewery
Silver – Crispy Boys – Prison City Brewing
Bronze – Home Slice – Finback Brewery
Barrel Aged (non-Sour) – 43 Entries
Gold – Quercus Reserve – Wayward Lane Brewing
Silver – Quad Rainbow – DESTINATION UNKNOWN BEER COMPANY
Bronze – Barrel Aged Murder – Keuka Brewing Company
Barrel Aged Sour – 16 Entries
Gold – Barrel 16 – Kingston Standard
Silver – White Label – Blackberry – Druthers Brewing Company
Bronze – DHFS: Motueka – Aurora Brewing Co.
Belgian Farmhouse – 19 Entries
Gold – Saison Blend One – ONCO Fermentations, Inc
Silver – Castling – Grimm Artisanal Ales
Bronze – Pearly Dewdrops – Grimm Artisanal Ales
Belgian Other (Trappist, Strong) – 44 Entries
Gold – Savior Vivire 10º – Strangebird
Silver – Tarrytown Dubbel – Duncan’s Abbey
Bronze – Soulstice – Soul Brewing Company LLC
Brown Ale – 23 Entries
Gold – Mild Return – UNDERGROUND BEER LAB
Silver – Honey Do List – DESTINATION UNKNOWN BEER COMPANY
Bronze – K Town Brown – Great Life Brewing
Cream Ale – 39 Entries
Gold – Dos Ojos – Bright Eye Beer Co.
Silver – Saint James Brewery Cream Ale – Saint James Brewery
Bronze – Honey Cream Ale – Birdhouse Brewing Company
Dark Lager – 55 Entries
Gold – The Phantom – Lower Lake Brewery
Silver – Soir – Drowned Lands
Bronze – Crispy Nights – Finback Brewery
Experimental – 17 Entries
Gold – Carrot Cake – Big Ditch Brewing Company
Silver – Another Caucasian Gary – Resurgence Brewing Company
Bronze – Chateau Tropicale – Eli Fish Brewing Company
Experimental IPA – 24 Entries
Gold – Twilight – Drowned Lands
Silver – Eleanor – DESTINATION UNKNOWN BEER COMPANY
Bronze – Quiet Riot – Prison City Brewing
Field Beer (sour) – 54 Entries
Gold – Oh My, Apple Pie – Heritage Hill Brewhouse
Silver – Peach Silhouette – Hudson Valley Brewery
Bronze – Bro-Mosa – Druthers Brewing Company
Field Beer (non-sour) – 37 Entries
Gold – Poet Marigold – Union Street Brewing
Silver – Blood Orange Kolsch – Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing Co.
Bronze – Blueberry Lager – Valcour Brewing Company
Golden/Blonde Ale – 38 Entries
Gold – From the Top Kolsch – Bright Eye Beer Co.
Silver – Skanny Dipper Blonde Ale – Skaneateles Brewery
Bronze – OCTO BRAU – KCBC
Hazy DIPA – 50 Entries
Gold – Enzyme Detonator – Wayward Lane Brewing
Silver – Cats Are People Too – Finback Brewery
Bronze – Psychedelic Gardener – Grimm Artisanal Ales
Hazy IPA – 104 Entries
Gold – Blue Cheese – Other Half
Silver – Here On Out – Wayward Lane Brewing
Bronze – Wish I May – Grow Brewing Co.
Bronze – Green Yield – Drowned Lands
Hazy Pale Ale – 49 Entries
Gold – Particle – UNDERGROUND BEER LAB
Silver – Vast Expanse – UNDERGROUND BEER LAB
Bronze – Cosmic Juice – Great South Bay Brewery
Imperial Stout and Porter – 21 Entries
Gold – Double Negative – Grimm Artisanal Ales
Silver – Collusion – Seneca St. Brew Pub
Bronze – Baltic Porter – Old Klaverack Brewery
Kettle and Simple Sours – 17 Entries
Gold – Psychokinesis – Grimm Artisanal Ales
Silver – Leipzig Gose – Big Slide Brewery & Public House
Bronze – Surf Guitar Gose – Liquid State Brewing Company
Light Lager – Modern & Contemporary – 54 Entries
Gold – Momo – Wayward Lane Brewing
Silver – Petrini – Strong Rope Brewery
Bronze – Knee Deep – Druthers Brewing Company
Light Lager – Traditional – 90 Entries
Gold – Paradox Helles – Paradox Brewery
Silver – Montauk Pilsner – Montauk Brewing Co.
Bronze – Killsner – Kills Boro Brewing Company
Pale Ale – 31 Entries
Gold – Paleozoic – Gentle Giant Brewing Company
Silver – Ordinary Brooklyn Bitter – 18th Ward Brewing
Bronze – Fresh Coast – TALEA Beer
Porter (Non Imperial) – 28 Entries
Gold – Mudd Brooke Porter – Ausable Brewing Company
Silver – Burnt Knob Porter – Mountain King Brewing
Bronze – Visual Sounds – Threes Brewing
Specialty Beers: Light & Amber Ales and Lagers – 33 Entries
Gold – Burn Ban – West Kill Brewing
Silver – Pumpkin Cream Ale – Keuka Brewing Company
Bronze – Genesee Brew House Chocolate Scotch Ale – Genesee Brew House
Specialty Beers: Stouts & Porters – 48 Entries
Gold – Hunk: Sichuan – Wayward Lane Brewing
Silver – A Dark Bloom – Grow Brewing Co.
Bronze – Irish Coffee Stout – New York Beer Project
Stout (Non Imperial) – 40 Entries
Gold – OMS – Hamburg Brewing Company
Silver – First in First Stout – Brewery at the CIA
Bronze – Delightfully Ominous – Riseform Brewing Co.
Strong Ale (non-Belgian) – 33 Entries
Gold – Bear, Ninja, Cowboy 2024: Lunar Outlaw – Willow Rock Brewing Company
Silver – Kinsfolk – Drowned Lands
Bronze – Winter Warmer – Local 315 Brewing Company
Wheat Beer – 36 Entries
Gold – Weisse – Grimm Artisanal Ales
Silver – Resurgence White Ale – Resurgence Brewing Company
Bronze – Gather House – Drowned Lands
Wild and Sour Ale – 26 Entries
Gold – Trellis – Grimm Artisanal Ales
Silver – Contour Interval – Wild East Brewing Co.
Bronze – no award
The New York State Brewers Association
The New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA) is the leading non-profit organization representing New York’s thriving craft beverage industry, with more than 500 member breweries spanning every corner of the Empire State—from Brooklyn powerhouses to the rural farm breweries of the Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, and Adirondacks. Founded to champion independent craft brewers through advocacy, education, and promotion, NYSBA has played a pivotal role in securing landmark legislation, expanding production privileges, and launching the acclaimed #thinkNYdrinkNY campaign that encourages consumers to support local beer. As the proud organizer of the nation’s largest state-level craft beer competition—the annual New York State Craft Beer Competition—and host of the New York Craft Brewers Conference, NYSBA continues to elevate New York’s reputation as one of America’s premier beer destinations while fostering collaboration, innovation, and economic growth within the industry.
(NYSBA) is the leading non-profit organization representing New York’s thriving craft beverage industry, with more than 500 member breweries spanning every corner of the Empire State—from Brooklyn powerhouses to the rural farm breweries of the Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, and Adirondacks. Founded to champion independent craft brewers through advocacy, education, and promotion, NYSBA has played a pivotal role in securing landmark legislation, expanding production privileges, and launching the acclaimed #thinkNYdrinkNY campaign that encourages consumers to support local beer. As the proud organizer of the nation’s largest state-level craft beer competition—the annual New York State Craft Beer Competition—and host of the New York Craft Brewers Conference, NYSBA continues to elevate New York’s reputation as one of America’s premier beer destinations while fostering collaboration, innovation, and economic growth within the industry.
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