445: The Best in Beer 2025 Special, Featuring the Stories Behind the Picks

It’s one of the most anticipated episodes of the year—our annual peek behind the scenes of the Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine ™ Best in Beer issue, as editorial director Jamie Bogner and executive editor Joe Stange share perspectives on the beers we’ve named as our best 20 of 2025 —plus, they reveal the results of the annual Readers’ Choice poll. Throughout the year, we taste thousands of beers submitted to the magazine for review; our blind-review panel narrows them down further, finding top scorers in various styles for each issue of the magazine; and finally, we convene for a final round of blind tasting to narrow it down to 20 standouts of great character and quality—beers that inevitably represent this moment in beer. In this episode, we pull back the curtain to share some of the thinking (and tasting) behind the decisions, and we run through your Readers’ Choice picks for best beers of the year, best breweries, best beer cities, best beer bars, and more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers ( https://gdchillers.com ) : G&D Chiller’s Elite 290 series chiller uses propane as a natural refrigerant with extremely low global warming potential, and will help lower your facility’s energy costs and impact on the environment. Visit gdchillers.com to learn more! Berkeley Yeast ( https://berkeleyyeast.com ) . Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you'd expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passionfruit. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com. Old Orchard ( https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer ) . Hit the refresh button on your fruit flavors with Old Orchard's flavored craft juice concentrate blends. Our latest additions include Fruit Punch, Guava, Kiwi, and Pomegranate. More information and free samples for pro brewers are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer. Indie Hops. ( https://indiehops.com ) Give your customers a pleasant surprise with Audacia in your next IPA. This descendant of Strata brings her own flare of catchy lilac/lavender aroma, and flavors of sweet-tart berries with tangy lychee. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful! Five Star Chemical ( https://fivestarchemicals.com ) Looking for a powerful, no-rinse sanitizer that gets the job done fast? Meet Saniclean PAA Pro from Five Star Chemicals. This EPA-registered, PAA-based acid sanitizer is tough on beerstone and perfect for everything from kegs to packaging lines. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. PakTech ( https://paktech-opi.com ) PakTech’s handles are made from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, PakTech helps brands stand out while staying sustainable. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Hart Print, ( https://hartprint.com ) the original in digital can printing.With three locations across North America, the Hart Print team has your back from concept to can. Get ten percent off your first can order when you mention the Beer & Brewing podcast. Open an account at hartprint.com or email info@hartprint.com for details. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast