The winners of the New York State Craft Beer Competition presented by Ultimate Brew Service have been announced. Open to all licensed breweries in New York State, the competition received an impressive 1,320 beer submissions from 207 breweries, underscoring the vibrant growth and innovation in the state’s craft beer scene.

This year, beers were judged across 32 style categories by a distinguished panel of 75 industry professionals over two days, March 1-2, in Rochester, NY. The competition’s standards were as rigorous as ever, ensuring a fair and thorough evaluation of the diverse entries.

In total, 96 medals were awarded. The highlight of the competition was the Governor’s Cup, presented in-person by Gov. Kathy Hochul for the best-in-show beer, which went to Grimm Artisanal Ales from Brooklyn, NY, for their exceptional Wheat Beer, “Weisse.” This marks Grimm’s first Governor’s Cup win.

In addition, Gov. Hochul made a proclamation declaring April 11th New York Craft Beer Day.

A tie for the “NYS Brewery of the Year Award” saw both Grimm Artisanal Ales and Wayward Lane Brewing from Schoharie, NY, taking home the honors. Wayward Lane Brewing celebrated their second win for this prestigious title (2023, 2025) and Grimm, their fourth (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025).

The industry-member-only Awards Celebration presented by Malteurop, took place in-person at the Albany Capital Center and served as the closing event of the NYS Brewers Conference presented by TLF Graphics. Enthusiasts from across the state and beyond tuned into the awards ceremony via the New York State Craft Beer YouTube Channel, while breweries hosted remote watch parties, sharing the excitement and celebration of New York’s craft beer excellence.

Competition Overview
● Largest state-level craft beer competition in the U.S.
● Open to all 500+ licensed New York State breweries.
● Beers were judged in 32 style categories by 75 industry professionals.
● In addition to Gold, Silver, and Bronze awarded in each category, judges selected the “NYS Governor’s Craft Beer Cup” as best-in-show beer.
● Judging took place over 2-days March 1-2, 2025 in Rochester
● The industry-member-only Awards Celebration presented by Malteurop took place in-person at the Albany Capital Center as the closing event of the NYS Brewers Conference.
● Enthusiasts tuned-into the awards ceremony via the New York State Craft Beer YouTube Channel. Breweries throughout the state hosted remote watch parties.

2025 Competition Highlights
● Gov. Hochul joined the celebration to present the Governor’s Craft Beer Cup to Grimm Artisanal Ales. for their “Grimm Weisse” Wheat Beer as the best-in-show-beer.
● 1320 beers were entered by 207 breweries.
● 96 medals awarded in addition the titles of “NYS Brewery of the Year,” “Best NYS Farm Beer,” “Best Collaboration Beer,” and the coveted “Governor’s Cup” for the best-in-show beer.
● There was a tie for the “NYS Brewery of the Year Award”. The two winners are Grimm Artisanal Ales (Brooklyn) and Wayward Lane Brewing (Schoharie).
● Wayward Lane Brewing won their 2nd “NYS Brewery of the Year” title (2023, 2024).
● Grimm Artisanal Ales won their first Governor’s Cup award for the best-in-show beer, as well as their 4th “NYS Brewery of the Year” title (2021, 2022, 2024,2025).

Top 6 Style Categories Entered:
● Dark Lager (55 entries)
● American IPA (55 entries)
● Amber Lager (56 entries)
● Amber/Red Ale (61 entries)
● Light Lager – Traditional (91 entries)
● Hazy IPA (104 entries)

Governor’s Cup Winner:
● Grimm Artisanal Ales – “Weisse” (Wheat Beer)

New York State Brewery of the Year (TIE):
The Brewery of the Year Award is given to the brewery who earns the highest number of points in the competition. Points are determined by the number of medals won. Special awards (Brewery of the Year, Best Collab Beer, etc. are not included).

Point system: Gold = 3pts, Silver = 2pts, Bronze = 1pt

● Wayward Lane Brewing
○ 4 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze (15 points)
○ Gold: Hazy DIPA – “Enzyme Detonator”
○ Gold: Barrel Aged (Non-Sour) – “Quercus Reserve”
○ Gold: Specialty Beers: Stouts & Porters – “Hunk: Sichuan”
○ Gold: Light Lager – Modern & Contemporary – “Momo”
○ Silver: Hazy IPA – “Here On Out”
○ Bronze: Amber Lager – “Veslo”

● Grimm Artisanal Ales
○ 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze (15 points)
○ Gold: Imperial Stout and Porter – “Double Negative”
○ Gold: Kettle and Simple Sours – “Psychokinesis”
○ Gold: Wheat Beer – “Weisse”
○ Silver: Wild and Sour Ale – “Trellis”
○ Silver: Belgian Farmhouse – “Castling”
○ Bronze: Belgian Farmhouse – “Pearly Dewdrops”
○ Bronze: Hazy DIPA – “Psychedelic Gardener”

Best New York Farm Beer:
● Kingston Standard (Kingston, NY) – “Barrel 16” (Barrel Aged Sour)

Best Collaboration Beer:
● Wayward Lane Brewing & Marlowe Artisanal Ales – “Veslo” (Amber Lager)

Medals by Category

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 – The Bronx Brewery Well Earned – Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
● 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.