*story updated 5/5 to include a quote from Andrew Bauman
The World Beer Cup is regarded by many to be the most prestigious beer competition in the world. This week in Indianapolis, several Arizona breweries flexed its beer-making muscles and brought home the hardware from the 2025 contest.
Goodyear’s Saddle Mountain Brewing Co. took home a silver medal for its Now What? Blonde Ale. SMBC won the gold at the 2024 Arizona Craft Beer Awards for this same beer. This is the fourth all-time WBC medal for Saddle Mountain, having previously won for Taildragger 5G in 2023 and Clandestine in 2023 and 2018.
The 2024 ACBA Brewery of the Year– Barrio Brewing– won its first ever World Beer Cup medal, taking home a bronze for Rojo in the English-style Brown Ale category. Rojo also earned bronze in a similar category at the ACBA.
Tempe’s Six Byrd Cider earned bronze for Apple Pie a La Mode.
Tucson’s Dragoon Brewing won silver for Dragoon Amber (bronze at ACBA) and Flagstaff’s Lumberyard Brewing took home a silver for Railhead Red. This marks the 7th medal all-time for the Lumberyard/Beaver Street Brewery family.
“Arizona beer is world-class and it is always a reason for celebration when our breweries and brewing industry receive recognition,” says Andrew Bauman, Executive Director of the Arizona Craft Brewer’s Guild. “There are many stories of Arizona breweries being recognized for their outstanding beverages, and perhaps more importantly, being amazing community members using their small business to help improve their greater community.”
Judging at the World Beer Cup spanned seven days and featured 265 judges from more than three dozen countries. 1,761 breweries and cideries from across the planet submitted 8,375 entries and 349 medals were awarded in total.
