🍺 The 2025 Contra Costa County Brewery Awards
Presented by ContraCostaLive.com
Epidemic Ales in Concord has been crowned Best Brewery in Contra Costa County!
After tasting flights across the region, our judges named three regional champions—then picked the best of the best. Here are the results:
🏆 Top Breweries by Region
- Central County Winner: Epidemic Ales, Concord
- West County Winner: Armistice Brewing, Richmond
- South County Winner: Canyon Lakes Brewing, San Ramon
🥇 OVERALL WINNER: Epidemic Ales, Concord
Bold flavors, standout style, and crowd-favorite offerings made Epidemic rise to the top.
🍻 Best Beers in the County
- Peanut Butter Stout – Epidemic Ales, Concord
Rich, nutty, and unforgettable. Our panel called it “a dessert in a glass—with an edge.” - Raspberry Coulis – Armistice Brewing, Richmond
A refreshing fruit-forward brew that pops with flavor. - Green Jacket (American IPA) – Canyon Lakes Brewing, San Ramon
Hoppy, clean, and perfect for a summer afternoon.
👀 Behind the Rankings
We visited 12 Contra Costa breweries and divided them into three regions:
- Central County – (5) Concord, Martinez, Brentwood
- West County – (3) Richmond
- South County – (4) Moraga, Danville, San Ramon
From there, we selected one winner per region and held a final taste-off to name our countywide champion.
🔍 Tasting Room Observations
- Craft beer drinkers are loyal—they ride or die for their favorite brewery.
- Sampler flights reveal a lot: great beers come in bunches—and so do average ones.
- Lighter lagers still dominate the sales charts.
📚 Related Stories
Cheers to the winners—and to every brewer who’s making Contra Costa County a craft beer destination!
Want to sip the winners yourself? Grab a sampler and support your local pour!