MN BREWERS CUP

Celebrating the Art and Passion of Minnesota Craft Brewing!

The MN Brewers Cup is the state-wide, blind taste-test competition for Minnesota breweries and brewpubs. This event showcases the innovation and mastery of craft brewing in our state. Submissions of beer, NA beer, and hard seltzer are organized into categories based on their BJCP styles, and entries are judged based on how well they represent the style standards. Winners are announced at an industry-only Awards Celebration each spring. Click below to see the list of some of the best beers in Minnesota from previous competitions!

See the 2024 MN Brewers Cup Award Winners

2023 MN Brewers Cup Winners  |  2021 MN Brewers Cup Winners

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2025 COMPETITION DETAILS

  • Register for the 2025 Brewers Cup Competition
    • Please defer to the Registration site for all competition details, information, requirements, and deadlines!
  • Entry Drop-Off: March 4-March 6 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Pryes Brewing Company, 1401 West River Rd N, Minneapolis, MN 55411
    • Please bring your entries as early as possible within the drop-off window. Wait times at drop-off in the mornings and Tuesday/Wednesday are usually a few minutes. Wait times in the afternoon on the last day can take over an hour!
  • NEW THIS YEAR: SHIPPING FOR GREATER MN! Breweries and brewpubs located 70+ miles from Minneapolis can sign-up to ship your entries directly to Pryes. Sign-Up by March 1 Required. Thank you to our host Pryes Brewing Company for facilitating. Adherence to all rules outlined on the sign-up form is required or you entries may be disqualified.
  • NEW THIS YEAR: NA BEER CATEGORY! To encourage entries in this new category, we’re offering a 30% discount ($15) off your NA Beer entry registration. Use code NABeer when paying.

2025 COMPETITION AWARDS CEREMONY

Friday, April 11, 2025
6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Hilton Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport
The MN Brewers Cup Awards Ceremony (evening) will be held the same day as the MN Brewers Conference (daytime). Both events will take place at the Hilton. Tickets to each event are sold separately.

Get Tickets to the Awards!

The Winning Brews: The winners of the top 3 entries in each category will be announced at the awards ceremony and put on the MNCBG website, and all winners will be sent graphics and a marketing packet to help promote their achievement. All winners in each category will be announced in a press release, highlighted on the Guild’s social media, and promoted at the Minnesota State Fair.

Member-Voted Awards

Member-Voted Awards

Cast Your Vote Here – all industry employees are encouraged to vote!!

  • Most Innovative Brewery – The MNCBG member brewery or brewpub that has shown originality and creativity in its products, branding, marketing, community engagement, or other factors you value.
  • Best Art/Design – The MNCBG member brewery or brewpub that epitomizes excellence in art and design. Consider the visual appeal of their branding, logo, website, packaging, and social imagery.
  • Best Collaboration – Two or more MNCBG member breweries or brewpubs and the name of their collaboration beer.
  • Best Member Volunteer – Any staff at a member brewery/brewpub that has gone above and beyond supporting the industry this year. Members of the MNCBG Board or Committees are eligible for this award.
  • Outstanding Allied Trade Member – The Allied Trade Member business that you consider to be outstanding in terms of industry impact and service.

Voting will close on March 21.

Ceremony Timeline

MN Brewers Cup Awards Ceremony Schedule

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.: Check-in & Cocktail reception
7:30 p.m.: Dinner service
8:00 p.m.: Award Ceremony begins
10:00 p.m.: Last Call/Bar Close
10:30 p.m.: Event ends

First-place winners will be awarded trophies at the ceremony along with a certificate; second and third place winners will also be announced and will receive a certificate at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Hotel & Room Block Information

Hotel and Parking Information

The Awards Ceremony will be held at the Hilton Minneapolis-St Paul Airport. 

We have reserved a limited number of discounted rooms for Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11. Rooms in our block are $119+ tax, and must be reserved by Thursday, March 27, 2025 to receive the block rate. Please get in touch with Lindsey Darling, MNCBG Events Manager, if you have issues booking your room. Once the block is full, we can no longer guarantee the discounted rate. Book sooner rather than later if you know you plan to stay the night!
On site parking at the hotel is free.
Event Emcees: Info Coming Soon!

Black Brewers PodcastWe are so excited to welcome Anthony, Greg, and Quan of the Black Brewers Podcast to emcee the MN Brewers Cup Awards Ceremony!

In 2023, Anthony and Phill of the BBP emceed the awards ceremony, and they did such a great job and we received so many positive comments about their presenting and energy that we asked if their team could return this year.

The BBP are, “Friends of the same mind working in the beer industry who came together like voltron.”  Since 2021, the BBP has been discussing the beer industry in Minnesota and nationally.

The hosts also have hands-on experience and insight into brewing through their work at member businesses: Anthony at Arbeiter Brewing and Wooden Ship Brewing Company, Greg at Modist Brewing, and Quan at 56 Brewing. We are honored and excited for them to take the stage in our biggest industry event of the year!

Prepare for the Ceremony: What to Bring & Check-In Details

Prepare for the Ceremony: What to Bring

Thank you to our MN Brewers Cup Awards sponsors and partners!