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
2025 COMPETITION DETAILS
The 2025 Brewers Cup Competition Registration will launch November 2024, judging will occur in early March, and the Awards Ceremony will be held April 11, 2025.
Entry Drop-Off Period: 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!
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 first-place 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.
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.
Awards Ceremony Registration Link Coming Soon!
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 and Parking Information
The Awards Ceremony will be held at the Hilton Minneapolis-St Paul Airport.
Member-Voted Awards
In addition to recognizing quality brews, the awards ceremony is intended to celebrate the industry in Minnesota and recognize those who contribute to the high standards we hold in the state. These additional awards are voted on by fellow members of the industry and/or the Board of Directors.
- 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 to the craft beer industry.
- 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. You can vote based on beer quality, the approach the businesses took with the collaboration, or any other factor you deem valuable.
- Best Member Volunteer – A staff member at an MNCBG member brewery or brewpub who you feel has gone above and beyond in helping advance the Minnesota craft brewing industry this year.
- 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 15. Every MNCBG member staff can vote 1 time for these awards.
We 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
- 21+ valid photo ID. No exceptions.
- Tickets to the Awards. (Awards tickets are not the same as Conference tickets.)
- Can we feature your beer or NA product at the Awards Ceremony? Click here to find out more about donating!
- Please also read the MNCBG Code of Conduct and MNCBG Event Terms and Conditions and share with your teams.
Ticket widget not working? Visit the ticketing website to purchase.
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Thank you to our MN Brewers Cup Awards sponsors and partners!
