Silver Harbor Brewing delivered an impressive showing at the 2025 U.S. Open Beer Championship, collecting four national medals, the most earned by any Michigan brewery this year.
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Gold for Maple Grenade, its bold, bourbon barrel–aged Strong Stout/Porter
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Silver for Shipfaced in English Barleywine
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Silver for Happy Accidents, Fruit Wheat Beer (Peach)
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Silver for Two Brewers are Better Than One, a Belgian Quadrupel
These wins bring Silver Harbor’s national medal tally across major contests like the U.S. Open, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup to nearly 20 medals in 2025 alone. Facebook+1Facebook+1. That performance cements their reputation as one of Michigan’s most awarded craft breweries this year.
Michigan’s Medal Leaders
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Bell’s Brewery in Comstock secured the next-highest haul for the state with three medals, including two golds:
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Bell’s Smitten — Gold, Single Hop Pale Ale
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Oberon Light — Gold, American‑Style Fruit Beer – Orange
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Kalamazoo Stout — Silver, American Stout
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Every Michigan fan knows Bell’s legacy in craft brewing—and these wins reinforce its place among the state’s elite.
Other Michigan Brewers Bringing Home Hardware
Three additional Michigan breweries each earned a single bronze at the competition:
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Schoolcraft Brewery (Livonia) — Old Crank, Strong Scottish Ale
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Big Lake Brewing (Holland) — Michigan Amber, American Amber/Red Ale
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Three Blondes Brewing (South Haven) — Dill With It, Herb & Spice Beer
What It Means for Michigan Beer
Silver Harbor Brewing’s haul of four medals—including a rare gold—and Bell’s multi-medal performance speak volumes about Michigan’s craft beer landscape in 2025. These award-winning beers reflect a blend of adventurous aging, bold flavors, and classic styles that appeal to national judges and local drinkers alike.
It’s also a reminder: smaller breweries like Silver Harbor and Three Blondes are staking their claim on the national stage, one medal at a time.
Taste What’s Winning
Silver Harbor Brewing is located at 721 Pleasant Street, downtown St. Joseph.
Three Blondes Brewing is located at 1875 Phoenix Street in South Haven, off Exit 20.
