A total of 852 beers from 18 countries were submitted for evaluation. Of those, 291 beers earned a Finest Beer Score of 90 points or higher, securing their place in the prestigious Finest Beer Selection 2025—a mark of quality awarded to outstanding brews.
Among this year’s top honors, the National Beer of the Year title went to Aventinus Eisbock by Schneider Weisse, achieving a near-perfect score of 99 points. The International Beer of the Year was awarded to Viennarillo by Italy’s Batzen Bräu, which scored 97 points.
Two breweries were also singled out for their exceptional overall performance. Germany’s Brauerei Kundmüller was named National Brewery of the Year, with 15 of its beers recognized. Meanwhile, Austria’s Stieglbrauerei earned the title of International Brewery of the Year, with 11 awarded entries.
According to Dr. Werner Gloßner of the Doemens Academy, which oversees the selection process, this year’s competition marked a noticeable increase in quality: “We observed a significant leap – 32 beers even reached world-class level with 95 points or more,” he noted.
Distinct from traditional beer competitions, the Finest Beer Selection focuses on sensory excellence. An international panel of experts conducts evaluations using a transparent 100-point rating system, supported by individual aromatic profiles illustrated through spiderweb diagrams.
