The 2025 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship, held in Oxford, Ohio, solidified its position as the premier hard seltzer judging event in the United States, drawing an unprecedented number of entries from producers nationwide. The competition highlighted the creativity and growth within the booming hard seltzer industry.
Medals were awarded across 35 diverse categories, reflecting the innovation driving hard seltzer production. A standout winner, Barn Town Brewing’s “PBJ-Grape,” secured both a Gold Medal and the prestigious “Director’s Award” for the most memorable seltzer, as selected by the newly appointed Hard Seltzer Director, Julia Kamp.
The event also saw a record number of THC seltzer entries, prompting the creation of seven distinct categories. Mountain Doom Seltzers earned the coveted Founder’s Award, chosen as the favorite by U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Founder, Dow Scoggins.
The 2025 Grand National Champion
The Grand National Champion’s Cup was awarded to Barn Town Brewing, last year’s runner-up, for their outstanding commitment to quality and innovation in hard seltzer and THC seltzer production. Their gold medal-winning entries included “PBJ-Grape” in the Anything Goes category, “Frozen Dreams” in the Orange Seltzer category, “Blue Raspberry Lemonade Lit” in the Flavored Lemonade category, and “Caramel Apple Pie Drips” in the Cake, Pie & Pastry category, setting a new benchmark for excellence.
Top 10 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Brewers
1. Barn Town Brewing, Des Moines, Iowa
2. Boulevard Brewing Company, St. Louis, Missouri
3. Crow and Wolf, Clovis, California
4. Ope Brewing Co, West Allis, Wisconsin
5. Coastalo, Cincinnati, Ohio
6. Penrose Brewing Company, Geneva, Illinois
7. Vermont Hard Seltzer Company, Lyndonville, Vermont
8. Sugar Creek Brewing, Charlotte, North Carolina
9. NewGrav, Kernersville, North Carolina
10. Inside The Five Brewing Company, Toledo, Ohio
2025 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship Medal Winners
Fruit
Gold: Par Three – Vermont Hard Seltzer Company – Vermont
Silver: That’s So Fetch – Grapefruit – Inside the Five Brewing Company – Ohio
Bronze: Hockey Mom – Vermont Hard Seltzer Company – Vermont
Fruits (2)
Gold: Yuzu Lychee – Evans Brewing Co – California
Silver: Quirk Peach Apricot Whip – Boulevard Brewing Company – Missouri
Bronze: Strawberry Banana Seltzer – Four Sons Brewing – California
Mixed Fruit (3 or more)
Gold: Blueberry Pomegranate Lemon Seltz-Up – Penrose Brewing Company – Illinois
Silver: Pass the Tabu – Crow and Wolf – California
Bronze: Cherry Temple Seltz-Up – Penrose Brewing Company – Illinois
Cherry
Gold: Quirk Black Cherry – Boulevard Brewing Company – Missouri
Silver: SLTZR – Cherry – Aspire Brewing- New York
Bronze: H2Ope! Cherry Pie – Ope Brewing Co.- Wisconsin
Orange
Gold: Frozen Dreams – Barn Town Brewing – Iowa
Silver: Space Horse – Missing Falls Brewery – Ohio
Bronze: Mimosa Sunday – The Explorium Brewpub- Wisconsin
Herb & Spice
Gold: Island Ginger Bee – Sugar Creek Brewing Company – North Carolina
Silver: Cosmonaut – Crow and Wolf – California
Bronze: TEA-LA Sorrel – Pivotal Brewing Company – Rhode Island
Lemon-Lime
Gold: Quirk Lemon Thyme Limeade – Boulevard Brewing Co – Missouri
Silver: Lotus Wave – Primal Brewery – North Carolina
Bronze: Lemon Lime Hard Seltzer – Alaskan Brewing Co – Alaska
Lemon/Lemonade
Gold: Gengo’s – Crow and Wolf – California
Silver: What’s In The Can – Vermont Hard Seltzer Company – Vermont
Bronze: Lemon Seltz-Up – Penrose Brewing Company – Illinois
Limeade
Gold: Persian Lime Ginger – Nuqi Vodka Soda – Florida
Silver: Mojito – Sugar Creek Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Hibiscus Lime – Maui Brewing – Hawaii
Flavored Lemonade
Gold: Blue Raspberry – Lemonade Lit – Barn Town Brewing – Iowa
Silver: H2Ope! Strawberry – Lemonade – Ope Brewing Co- Wisconsin
Bronze: Lavender Lemonade – COVA Brewing Co Virginia
Flavored Lemonade – Pink Lemonade
Gold: Pink Lemon Seltz-Up – Penrose Brewing Company – Illinois
Silver: Lady Marmalade – Crow and Wolf – California
Flavored Lemonade – Tea & Lemonade
Gold: John Daly – Four Sons Brewing – California
Silver: The Farmer – Vermont Hard Seltzer Company – Vermont
Mango
Gold: That’s SO Fetch – Mango – Inside the Five Brewing Company – Ohio
Silver: Mango Mimosa – Sugar Creek Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Vodka + Mango – Maui Brewing – Hawaii
Cucumber
Gold: Spa Water – Primal Brewing – North Carolina
Silver: Cucumber Lime – Whalers Brewing – Road Island
Bronze: Paradiso – Crow and Wolf – California
Watermelon
Gold: H2Ope! Watermelon – Ope Brewing Co- Wisconsin
Peach
Gold: Tea’La Peach – Pivotal Brewing Co – Road Island
Pineapple
Gold: Pina Colada – The Explorium Brewpub- Wisconsin
Silver: Magical Pineapple Whip – Barn Town Brewing – Iowa
Bronze: The Patriot – Vermont Hard Seltzer Company – Vermont
Fruit & Berry
Gold: Quirk Strawberry Banana – Boulevard Brewing Company – Missouri
Silver: SLTZR – Raspberry Peach – Aspire Brewing- New York
Berry
Gold: Dark Horse – Crow and Wolf – California
Silver: Rain – Barn Town Brewing – Iowa
Blueberry
Gold: Quirk Blueberry Lemon – Boulevard Brewing Co – Missouri
Silver: Blueberry Lemon – Whalers Brewing – Rhode Island
Bronze: H2Ope! Pomegranate Blueberry – Ope Brewing Co- Wisconsin
Raspberry
Gold: H2Ope! Raspberry/Concord Grape – Ope Brewing Co- Wisconsin
Silver: Raspberry Massacre – Barn Town Brewing – Iowa
Bronze: Razzle Dazzle – Vermont Hard Seltzer Company – Vermont
Blue Raspberry
Gold: Blue Raspberry – Crow and Wolf – California
Blackberry
Gold: Eva’s Giggle Juice Hard Seltzer – Muskellunge Brewing Company – Ohio
Silver: Quirk Blackcherry – Boulevard Brewing Company – Missouri
Strawberry
Gold: Quirk Strawberry Lemon & Basil – Boulevard Brewing Co – Missouri
Silver: Strawberry Sumac Hydromel – Whistle Hop Brewing Company – North Carolina
Mixed Drink
Gold: Buckle Bunny Crow and Wolf – California
Silver: Ripple-Ginger/Lime – Moonraker Brewing – California
Bronze: Margarita Seltz-Up – Penrose Brewing Company – Illinois
Cake, Pie & Pastry
Gold: Caramel Apple Pie Drips – Barn Town Brewing – Iowa
Silver: Peach & Chong – Barn Town Brewing – Iowa
Bronze: Apple Cider Donut Seltz-Up – Penrose Brewing Company – Illinois
Non-Alcoholic Seltzer – THC – Grape
Gold: Fizzy Lifting THC Beverage – Grape Gelato – Pontoon Brewing – GA
Silver: Grape Soda – Coastalo – Ohio
Non-Alcoholic Seltzer – THC – Orange
Gold: Orange Soda – Coastalo – Ohio
Silver: Zenn Pacific Punch – Venn Brewing Company – Minnesota
Bronze: NewGrav Orange Crush – NewGrav – North Carolina
Non-Alcoholic Seltzer – THC – Lime/Limeade
Gold: Unwinde – Limeade Unwind – Illinois
Silver: NewGrav Cherry Limeade – NewGrav – North Carolina
Bronze: NewGrav Ginger Mule – NewGrav – North Carolina
Non-Alcoholic Seltzer -THC – Lemon/Lemonade
Gold: Wise Vibes Raspberry Lemonade – Wise Man Brewing – North Carolina
Silver: Lemon – Estazzi – Ohio
Bronze: Zenn Blueberry Lemonade – Venn Brewing Company – Minnesota
Non-Alcoholic Seltzer – THC – Berry
Gold: Bohemian Berry – Third Eye Mystic Groove – Ohio
Silver: Ofrenda – Strawberry Mojito – Foothills Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Higher Realm Blueberry – New Realm Brewing Company – Georgia
Non-Alcoholic Seltzer – THC – Grapefruit
Gold: Moon Rox – Galatic Grapefruit – Hop District Community Brewing – Illinois
Silver: NewGrav Paloma – NewGrav – North Carolina
Bronze: Zenn Paloma – Venn Brewing Company – Minnesota
Non-Alcoholic Seltzer THC – Anything Goes
Gold: Ofrenda – Spicy Mango Margarita – Foothills Brewing – North Carolina
Silver: Nostalgia – Cotton Canday – Barn Town Brewing – Iowa
Bronze: Iced Tea – Coastalo – Ohio
Non-Alcoholic Seltzer -THC – Tropical
Gold: Pineapple THC – 710 Beverage Company – North Carolina
Silver: Nostalgia – Maui Wowee – Barn Town Brewing – Iowa
Bronze: Grape Drank – Bodega Boyz DBA Bodega Soda – North Carolina
Non-Alcoholic Seltzer – THC – Soda
Gold: Mountain Doom – Coastalo – Ohio
Silver: Moon Rox – Supernova – Hop District Community Brewing – Illinois
Bronze: Red Cream Soda – Coastalo – Ohio
Anything Goes
Gold: PB&J – Grape – Barn Town Brewing – Iowa
Silver: Markerade Red – Marker 48 Brewing – Florida
Bronze: Purple Stuff – Southern Range Brewing – North Carolina