Japanese brews win 13 medals at the prestigious international event held in Indianapolis, with China in third place after Canada, gaining six
Japanese beers have received more medals than any country other than the United States at the recent 2025 World Beer Cup, organised by US trade organisation, The Brewers Association. This year, 1,761 breweries from 49 countries entered the competition, putting up a total of 8,375 beers and ciders for consideration in 117 categories. Judges were drawn from 37 countries. The initial tastings were held near the Brewers Association headquarters in Colorado, before the competition moved to Indianapolis for its final week of judging.
Brews from Japan winning gold medals were Bay Pilsner by Yokohama Bay Brewing Co., in the Bohemian-Style Pilsener category; Minoh Beer Stout by Minoh Brewery, in the Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout category; The Gateway by West Coast Brewing, in the Dessert Stout or Pastry Stout category; Sansho Gose – Koji by Open Air Brewing, in the Herb and Spice Beer category; and UCHU Relax by UCHU Brewing, in the Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale category.
Japanese silver medalists were The Devil in John’s Brown by DevilCraft, in the American-Style Brown Ale category; Heiwa Craft A Study in Pink by Heiwa Shuzou Co., in the Field Beer category; and Yuzu Weiss by Yokohama Bay Brewing Co., in the Fruit Wheat Beer category.
Bronze medals were awarded to Spring Valley Silk Ale by Spring Valley Brewery, in the American Wheat Beer category; Minoh Beer Pilsner by Minoh Brewery, in the Bohemian-Style Pilsener category; Daisen G Beer Stout by Daisen G Beer – Kumezakura Brewery Co., in the Brown Porter category; Chiastolite by Bighand Bros. Brewery, in the English Mild or Bitter category; and Lavender & Chamomile by Craft Beer Base, in the Herb and Spice Beer category.
China also fared well in the competition with Tsingtao Brewery Co winning a gold for its Tsingtao Non-Alcoholic Wheat Beer in the Classic Non-Alcohol Ale or Lager category; and a silver for its Tsingtao Wheat Beer in the German-Style Leichtes or Kristal Weizen category.
Silver medalists for China were NBeer Belgian Blonde Ale by NBeer Craft Brewing Co., in the Belgian-Style Blonde Ale category; and Hard Candy Tamarind Earl Grey Cider by Hard Candy, in the Botanical or Spiced Cider category.
Other bronze medalists were Urbrew Adventure (Blue) Strong Dark Ale by Urbrew, in the Belgian-Style Quadrupel category; and Wild Side by Jing-A Brewing, in the Brett Beer category.
The two other Asian winners were Screaming Plum by Muho Brewery from Taiwan, winning a gold in the Experimental Beer category; and Hong Kong’s Frank On Sled by Deadman Brewery which was awarded a bronze in the Mixed-Culture Brett Beer category.
