There’s no single beer crowned the best beer in the world-not because no one’s tried, but because no one can agree. Every year, thousands of brewers submit their beers to global competitions, and every year, different winners emerge. The truth? The best beer isn’t a trophy on a shelf. It’s the one you’re holding when you’re relaxed, hungry, and surrounded by people who get you.
Who Decides What’s the Best?
Not critics. Not influencers. Not your buddy who swears by his favorite IPA. The real decisions come from panels of certified beer judges-Master Cicerones, BJCP Grand Masters, sensory scientists-who taste blind, one sip at a time. In 2025, over 10,500 beers entered the World Beer Cup alone. Judges score each one on appearance, aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall impression. No brand names. No labels. Just beer in a glass.
One of the most respected competitions is the World Beer Championships by Tastings.com. Their 2025 results, published in December 2024, gave the highest score ever recorded: 94 out of 100 points to Fireforge Crafted Beer Baltic Porter from the USA. That’s not just good-it’s historic. This beer, at 7.2% ABV, delivers deep roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and a smooth, almost syrupy finish without being heavy. It won the "Best Flavored Beer" category, beating out over 200 other entries.
Other Top Winners in 2025
But Fireforge isn’t the only standout. The World Beer Awards named Buckskin Kolsch as the "World’s Best Pale Beer," and Opa Bier Hop Lager as the "World’s Best Lager." These aren’t flashy, over-the-top brews. They’re clean, precise, and perfectly balanced-exactly what traditional styles demand.
In the sour category, Terramar Brewing’s Octopus Garden Gose took Gold at the Best of Craft Beer Awards. Tart, salty, and lightly fruity, it’s a refreshing sip that shows how far sour beers have come. Meanwhile, Falling Sky Brewing’s Light Pillar Pilsner won Gold in the German Pilsner category, proving that even the simplest styles can shine when brewed with care.
Even in the strong ale space, Taxman Brewing’s Qualified from Indiana stood out. This Belgian-style ale, rich with dried fruit and spice, scored high because it didn’t try to be loud-it just tasted right.
Why Some Famous Beers Didn’t Win
You’ve probably heard of Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing. It’s rated 4.67 out of 5 on BeerAdvocate, with nearly 25,000 reviews. Or Pinta Barrel Liberty from Poland, which sits at 4.86 on Untappd with over 12,000 ratings. Yet neither appeared in the top 10 of any major 2025 competition.
Why? Because competition judging and public ratings measure different things. Judges look for technical perfection within style guidelines. Are the hops clean? Is the carbonation right? Does the malt backbone support the flavor without overwhelming it? Public reviewers care more about personal joy. They love bold, hoppy, experimental brews-even if they’re not textbook perfect.
One judge, Dr. Nicole Garneau, put it plainly in a 2025 podcast: "Technical execution within style guidelines remains the primary determinant in competition success." Meanwhile, Drew Beechum from Craft Beer & Brewing magazine said, "The best beer is the one you enjoy most." Both are right.
What’s Trending in 2025
The beer landscape is shifting. Sour beers saw a 27% jump in entries in the 2025 World Beer Championships compared to 2024. Hazy IPAs are still popular, but judges are getting pickier-they want clarity in haze, balance in bitterness. Barrel-aged stouts continue to impress, especially when they don’t taste like a whiskey bomb.
Traditional European lagers are making a comeback. Not the watery stuff you find in six-packs. Real, slow-fermented, cold-lagered beers like Opa Bier Hop Lager and Light Pillar Pilsner are winning because they’re hard to make well. They demand patience, precision, and perfect water chemistry.
And sustainability is starting to matter. The Brewers Association plans to add environmental scoring to the World Beer Cup by 2027. Brewers who use local grains, reduce water waste, or cut carbon emissions will soon be rewarded-not just for taste, but for responsibility.
What Winning Actually Means
Winning a gold medal doesn’t just mean bragging rights. It means sales jump. According to the Brewers Association, beers that win gold at the World Beer Cup see an average 42.7% sales increase in the six months after the win. That’s not just a bump-it’s a boom.
But here’s the catch: those winning beers are often limited. Fireforge’s Baltic Porter? Only 1,200 cases were brewed. Terramar’s Gose? Sold out in two weeks after the award. If you want one, you’ve got to act fast-or find a local bar that got a shipment.
So, What’s the Best Beer in the World?
There isn’t one. Not really.
But if you’re looking for the most technically perfect beer of 2025, based on blind judging by the world’s top experts, it’s the Fireforge Crafted Beer Baltic Porter. It scored higher than any other beer in any major competition this year. It’s a masterpiece of balance, depth, and restraint.
But if you’re asking what beer you should drink tonight? Try something new. Maybe a crisp lager after a long day. Maybe a tart sour with your pizza. Maybe a rich stout with your dessert. The best beer isn’t the one with the highest score. It’s the one that makes you pause, take another sip, and think, "Yeah. This one’s good."
Is there a single beer that’s officially the best in the world?
No. There’s no official global crown for "best beer." Different competitions award different winners each year based on style, technique, and blind tasting. The highest-scoring beer in 2025 was Fireforge Crafted Beer Baltic Porter with 94/100 points at the World Beer Championships, but other competitions crowned different beers in their own categories.
How do beer competitions decide the winners?
Teams of certified judges-like Master Cicerones and BJCP Grand Masters-taste beers blind, scoring them on appearance, aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall impression. Scores are based on how well the beer fits its style, not personal preference. Competitions like the World Beer Cup and World Beer Championships use scales up to 100 points, while others use Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals.
Why don’t popular beers like Pliny the Elder win competitions?
Pliny the Elder has high ratings from consumers, but competition judges look for technical perfection within a beer’s style. Pliny is a bold, hop-forward IPA that pushes boundaries. Judges often favor beers that stay true to traditional guidelines, even if they’re less flashy. Consumer ratings measure enjoyment; competition scores measure precision.
Are beer competition winners available to buy?
Some are, but many are limited. Winning breweries often produce small batches, and demand spikes after awards. Fireforge’s Baltic Porter had only 1,200 cases made. Terramar’s Gose sold out in weeks. Your best bet is checking the brewery’s website or asking your local craft beer shop if they carry award-winning beers.
Do beer competitions favor certain countries or styles?
Yes, to some extent. In 2025, 68% of World Beer Cup judges were from North America or Europe, which can influence style preferences. American IPAs and sours get lots of attention, but traditional European lagers and Belgian ales still win big when brewed well. The field is slowly becoming more global, with entries rising from Asia, South America, and Africa.
Will AI ever judge beer instead of humans?
The World Beer Awards plan to use AI-assisted sensory analysis in 2026 to help human judges-by detecting chemical compounds linked to flavor defects or style deviations. But AI won’t replace humans. Taste is emotional and cultural. No algorithm can tell you if a beer makes you happy.
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