The question “Which craft beer is best?” might seem straightforward at first, but it’s anything but simple. With thousands of breweries around the world, ever-evolving styles, and passionate drinkers with very different palates, there’s no single answer. Instead, the best craft beer is a blend of personal taste, quality, creativity, cultural context — and sometimes, recognition from prestigious beer awards.
Why Beer Awards Matter
Beer awards don’t define taste, but they help highlight excellence, innovation, and craftsmanship in the brewing world. Awards usually involve blind tastings by expert panels, and winners often gain visibility among consumers, retailers, and other brewers.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the most respected beer awards worldwide:
World Beer Awards
The World Beer Awards are a globally recognised competition that aims to find the best beers across internationally recognised styles. Breweries from around the world submit entries – and judges blind-taste and evaluate them based on style standards, balance, flavour, aroma, appearance, and overall drinkability. Beyond beer taste categories, this competition also includes design awards that celebrate packaging and branding excellence.
World Beer Cup
Often referred to as the “Olympics of beer,” the World Beer Cup is organised by the Brewers Association and is one of the largest and most prestigious beer competitions there is. It covers more than 100 categories and awards gold, silver, and bronze medals to beers that meet exceptionally high style standards.
Winning a World Beer Cup medal – whether for a classic IPA, a delicate wheat beer, or an innovative sour – can rapidly elevate a brewery’s reputation on the international stage.
Other Notable Awards
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Champion Beer of Britain & Wales: UK-centric awards judged through extensive tasting panels and festivals.
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Great American Beer Festival (GABF): One of the most iconic competitions in the craft beer world, especially for American brewers, where medals are highly coveted.
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Brussels Beer Challenge: A highly competitive European event with entries from multiple continents.
Each competition has its own judging criteria and prestige, but all share a common goal: celebrating quality, innovation, and craftsmanship.
What Makes a Craft Beer “The Best”?
When beer lovers ask “Which craft beer is best?”, they’re really asking a deeply subjective question. Here are the factors that typically influence that answer:
1. Personal Taste
Your favourite beer might be:
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A juicy New England IPA with tropical fruit aromas.
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A crisp pilsner perfect for summer afternoons.
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A rich stout with notes of coffee and chocolate.
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A sour or wild ale that dances on the tongue.
There’s no right or wrong preference – just flavour, balance, and the moment.
2. Style Standards
Beer styles have guidelines (e.g., International Bitterness Units, colour ranges, alcohol strength). Judges use these when awarding medals – and brewers often measure themselves against these benchmarks. High-quality beers that strongly represent their style often rise to the top.
3. Creativity and Innovation
Craft breweries thrive on creativity. Whether it’s incorporating local ingredients, experimenting with barrel ageing, or blending unconventional flavours, innovation keeps the craft beer world exciting.
4. Cultural Impact
Some beers become ‘best’ because they represent a place, a community, or a movement. Small breweries often become cultural hubs, and their beers gain status far beyond the liquid in the glass.
Spotlight: Tun Brewing’s Success at the 2025 World Beer Awards
Among the many talented breweries showcased on the global stage, excitingly, Tun Brewing Co. had a standout moment at the 2025 World Beer Awards.
In what was our very first entry into this prestigious competition, we earned multiple medals across both taste and design categories – an impressive achievement for a debut if we say so ourselves!
Tun Brewing’s Award Wins
Here’s how we performed:
Taste Awards:
Design Awards:
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Archetype: Silver for Can Design, Silver for Can Label Design, and Bronze for New Launch.
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Gem State of Mind: Silver for Can Design, Silver for Can Label Design, and Bronze for New Launch.
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Lemondrop: Silver for Can Design, Silver for Can Label Design, and Bronze for New Launch.
These wins reflect not only great beer but also standout creativity and branding, which is an increasingly important part of the craft beer experience.
Tun Brewing’s success demonstrates how new breweries like us can make a bold entrance onto the international stage, all while staying committed to brew quality, and having a clear mission – our beers are vegan and gluten-free, which is part of our broader ethos around inclusivity and mindful drinking.
So, Which Craft Beer Is Best?
The honest answer? It depends.
There’s no single best beer – but there are many exemplary ones. Award-winning beers from competitions like the World Beer Awards or the World Beer Cup can be great places to start your exploration. These medals often point to beers that excel in their style and have impressed expert judges.
However, your own best beer might be something discovered at a local brewery taproom, a limited seasonal release, or a friend’s recommendation that becomes your go-to.
Final Thoughts: Drink What You Love, Explore What You Don’t Yet Know
Craft beer is all about discovery. From classic IPAs and crisp lagers to rich stouts and wild sours, there’s a whole world of flavour out there.
Awards like the World Beer Awards highlight excellent beers that many people should try (like ours!). But the best beer for you is the one that makes you smile, whether it’s a medal winner or a hidden gem.
Cheers to great beer, and happy tasting!
