Celebrating Excellence: Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild 2024 Brewers Cup Awards
The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild held its highly anticipated 2024 MN Brewers Cup Awards in Minneapolis. This celebration highlighted the state’s thriving craft beer scene and recognized outstanding achievements. The Brewers Cup issued awards in 23 style categories, assessed through blind taste tests by 30 judges, along with five member-voted awards including Best Collaboration, Best Art and Design, and Most Innovative Brewery.
Top Honors and Best in Show
The coveted Best in Show award was a highlight of the evening. Surly Brewing Co. from Minneapolis took home the top prize with their Axe Man IPA, a crowd favorite known for its bold and robust flavor. Here are the winners of the top three honors in the Best in Show category:
- Surly Brewing Co., Minneapolis — Axe Man IPA
- Arbeiter Brewing Company, Minneapolis — Tokki
- Summit Brewing Company, St. Paul — Sága Imperial IPA
Diverse Categories Highlight Minnesota Breweries
This year’s competition showcased a wide range of categories, demonstrating the diversity and creativity among Minnesota breweries. From hard seltzers to wild ales, every style was represented.
Hard Seltzer
- Sunken Ship Brewing Company, Princeton — Minimum Wake
- Wooden Hill Brewing Company, Edina — The Mule
- Chanhassen Brewing Company, Chanhassen — Lake Ann – Wild Strawberry & Hibiscus Hard Seltzer
Specialty and Innovative Beers
Specialty beers and innovative brews are where creativity truly shines. Indeed Brewing Company’s Mexican Honey Imperial Lager impressed in the Specialty Beers category. Meanwhile, Bad Weather Brewing Company’s Calamity won over judges in the Wood-Aged Beers category.
Specialty Beers
- Indeed Brewing Company, Minneapolis — Mexican Honey Imperial Lager
- Gambit Brewing Co., St. Paul — Backwoods Lullaby
- Wooden Ship Brewing Company, Minneapolis — I Have Achieved My Final Form
Wood-Aged Beers
- Bad Weather Brewing Company, St. Paul — Calamity
- Canal Park Brewing Co., Duluth — Night Trekker Baltic Porter – Barrel Aged
- Locale Brewing Co., Mankato — 2023 Anniversary
Recognizing Excellence Across Styles
The awards also celebrated excellence in traditional and contemporary beer styles, including stouts, IPAs, and lagers.
Stouts
- Thousand Lakes Brewing Company, Parkers Prairie — Breakfast For Supper
- Dangerous Man Brewing Co., Minneapolis — Dry Irish Stout
- Summit Brewing Company, Maple Lake — Sága Imperial IPA
Hazy IPAs
- Ursa Minor Brewing, Duluth — Galactic Face Slap
- Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative, Minneapolis — Lil Haze
- Omni Brewing Company, Maple Grove — Fad
Member-Voted Awards
In addition to the judged categories, the Brewers Guild members cast their votes for special awards, celebrating contributions and collaborations within the community.
Member-Voted Winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Art and Design | Arbeiter Brewing Company |
| Best Collaboration Beer | Wooden Ship Brewing Company and Team Nevertheless — “Lady of the (Brew)House” |
| Most Innovative Brewery | Modist Brewing |
Conclusion
The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild’s 2024 MN Brewers Cup Awards showcased the remarkable talent and creativity within the state’s craft beer industry. From Surly Brewing Co.’s Axe Man IPA to the innovative creations by various breweries, this event highlighted why Minnesota is a hub for craft beer lovers. Whether you’re a fan of hard seltzers, specialty beers, or robust stouts, there’s something for everyone in Minnesota’s diverse craft beer scene.
