Registration is now open to submit to our 14th Annual Best of the Northwest beer awards!
Deadline to submit and receive product is September 26, 2025
Fresh Hop deadline to submit product is September 26, 2025
Fresh Hop deadline to ship and receive product is October 7, 2025
Competition will be held on October 14 -15, 2025 in Seattle, WA
Results will be released on November 12, 2025
Submissions are tasted blind, by a panel of the Northwest’s top palates made up of cicerones, beverage directors/buyers, beer writers, educators, distributors and beer industry professionals. Top contenders earn prestigious recognition with Platinum, Double Gold, Gold, or Silver medals in their respective categories. And not to miss Judges’ Picks, which spotlight exceptional beers that narrowly missed the top four but were favorites of the judging panels.
By the end of this long-running competition, gain exclusive insights into the dynamic Northwest beverage scene and uncover a curated list of must-try beers for the year ahead.
“Year after year, this competition impresses me with how flawlessly it’s organized and how seamlessly everything runs. The panel of world-class judges and the consistently outstanding lineup of beers make it one of the most respected and exciting events in the industry.” – Bobby Wood, Advanced Cicerone®
“I look forward to judging the beer competition every year. Sip’s Best of the Northwest competition has grown along with each of the beverage categories they support. Every year, the competitions are analyzed for continuous improvement. From product pick up to experienced judges, the Sip family has a deep commitment to showcasing the best the Northwest has to offer. To ensure repeat and high caliber judges, Sip leaders provide an incredibly comfortable set up, clear goals and a fun energy. The organized methodology is only outshined by the deep passion displayed by the Sip team from start to finish.“ – Nicole Kasten, Beer Connections
SUBMISSION DETAILS
1. Cost of entry is $60 for each individual product submission. Payment is accepted via credit card by clicking HERE ,as well as by check via mail to 1335 N. Northlake Way, Suite 101, Seattle, WA 98103. All applicable submission fees must be paid in full by Friday, Sept. 27 to be entered in the judging. *Please do not ship products to this location. Shipping instructions below.
2. Please submit your beer by clicking HERE. The submission will not be entered in the judging unless the online form is completed.
3. Send four (4) samples of each submission for 500ml or less, two (2) samples for 19oz, 22oz or 750ml bottles, two (2) 32 oz crowlers or one (1) 64 oz growler.
***There is no special labeling required but if you are submitting shiner bottles, cans or crowlers but please make note on each vessel the name of the beer and category it is submitted to.
4. All products must be produced in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana or British Columbia.
5. Shipping and drop off instructions at the bottom of the post.
*Credit card payment link: CLICK HERE
**Submission form link: CLICK HERE
SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS
1) Carefully package all glass-format beers, especially growlers, as shipping companies are not always gentle.
2) Please do not use packing peanuts or popcorn.
3) Ship all entries to the following address:
Seattle Wine Storage
Attn: Sip Magazine Best of Beer
9401 Aurora Ave N., Seattle WA 98103
In person deliveries can be made to Seattle Wine Storage daily from 12-6pm (excluding holidays).
2025 CATEGORIES
Category identification and judging criteria based on the Brewers Association 2025 Beer Style Guidelines published by the Brewers Association.
ALE STYLES
Amber / Red Ale
Belgian-Style Ales
Golden, Blonde, Cream Ales, or Other Light Ales
German Style Ales: Berliner Weiss, Gose,
German Wheat + Rye Beers
Kolsch
Porter
Fruited Sour Ale
Saison
Session India Pale Ale
Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale
American-Style Pale Ale
American-Style Strong Pale Ale
Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale
India Pale Ale – American-Style (Mainstay / Year-Round Offering)
India Pale Ale – American-Style (One Offs)
India Pale Ale – West-Coast Style (Mainstay / Year-Round Offering)
India Pale Ale- West-Coast Style – (One Offs)
India Pale Ale – Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale (Mainstay / Year-Round Offering)
India Pale Ale – Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale – (One Offs)
American-Style Imperial or Double India Pale Ale (7.60%-10.60% ABV)
Juicy or Hazy Imperial or Double India Pale Ale (7.60%-10.60% ABV)
Strong Ale – Barley Wine, Triple, Quadruple Ales
Stout
Imperial Stout
Wood & Barrel Aged Beer
LAGER STYLES + PILSNER STYLES
American-Style Lager – Lager, American-Style Light Lager, Contemporary American-Style Lager, American Light Pilsner, Contemporary American-Style Pilsner, American-Style Amber Lager, American-Style Dark Lager
International Dark Lager -Bockbiers, Shwarzbier, Czech Amber/Dark, Bock
International Light Lager – Japanese Lagers, Dortmunder, Helles, Vienna, Marzen, Oktoberfest, Altbier
Hoppy Lager – Dry Hopped Lager, New Zealand Pilsner, Italian PIlsner, India Pale Lager
Pilsner- German Pilsner, Czech or Bohemian
(American-style Pilsner should enter in the American-style Lager category)
OTHER BEER STYLES
Brett and Mixed Culture Beer
Wood & Barrel-Aged Sour Beer
Specialty Beer
Fruit Beer – raspberries, blueberries, watermelon, peach, etc.
Coffee
Non-Alcoholic Beer
FRESH HOP BEER
Fresh Hop Pale Ale
Fresh Hop India Pale Ale
Fresh Hop Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
Fresh Hop Other
While unlikely, categories are subject to change based on the number of submissions. If submissions are low, beers may be combined with the most appropriate category. If submissions are high, a new standalone category may be created.
Sip Magazine is an award-winning publication covering the wine, beer, spirits and cider of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. To view the complete list of winners from the 13th Annual Best of the Northwest Beer click here.
