2025 has come to an end. When reading this it will be New Year’s Eve. Wow, a full year has pass and I’m truly grateful for all the support that has been shown to Beer Porn Magazine as an online magazine and brand. Without you the followers and fellow beer drinks we probably would have called it quits along time ago but we must be doing something right that y’all keep supporting us.
Through the year I’ve had the pleasure of traveling through out Texas and California. It has a been a year of trying some old classics and new favorites. I’ve learned one thing that the beer scene has changed since my days of getting into it so many years back. My palate has definitely changed over the years and 2025 has brought out some new taste buds.
I can’t wait for 2026 because I plan to bring something new to the brand and some more photoshoots. Traveling will be a must especially outside of Texas. I hope to attend some festivals and collaborate more. But with all this been said lets get into the top 10 beers I drank this year.
10. JESTER KING BREWING CO. – BLOODPACT (AUSTIN, TX)
Coming in at number 10 is from Jester King Brewing Co. out of Austin Texas. This is a 4.8% abv Pale Lager. This was hands down a legit clean, refreshing and thirst quenching beer. Here is a bit about the beer.Jester King explores the terroir of Texas grains. For their latest exploration, they received Texas-grown Bloody Butcher corn from their friends at Barton Springs Mill. Bloody Butcher is a 19th century corn varietal originally from North Carolina. The Bloody Butcher we used for Bloodpact was grown in New Braunfels, TX. The grist is 80% Weyermann Barke Pilsner and 20% unmalted Bloody Butcher corn. The rich, earthy flavor from the corn is a perfect complement to the Texas fall.
9. SLICE BEER CO. – STORM THE GATES (LINCOLN, CA)
Coming in at number 9 is Storm The Gates, a 5.8% abv Pilsner from Slice Beer Co. out of Lincoln California. One thing for sure is California will always be home even though I moved to Texas a few years ago and Cali will always be my go to for lagers when you want them dank instead of the typical classic style and Storm the Gates didn’t disappoint. When this dank liquid hit my palate I fell in love. This beer is everything one wants in a WC Pils.Slice states; The drawbridge lowers, the horns sound, and “Storm the Gates” surges forth, a beer built for conquest! This West Coast Pilsner charges forward with Mosaic, Nectaron, Nectaron Cryo, and Krush Cryo, unleashing juicy mango, ripe nectarine, passionfruit, and bright citrus zest notes, all sharpened by a crisp, resinous finish. Crisp and clean, yet bold enough to breach any palate’s defenses, it’s brewed for those who thirst for victory. Raise your glass, sound the war horn, and storm the gates of flavor.
8. MONKISH BREWING – RINSE THE RIFFS (TORRENCE, CA)
Coming in at number is from another California brewery and what better brewery then the one and only Monkish Brewing. I’ve had Monkish before but in all my years of drinking I never been to the brewery till this year back in September and man was it everything I expected and to leave home with cans and some goods from the staff who blessed me with glassware and past releases was truly amazing. Thanks Monkish. Now back to the beer. This 8.4% abv double dry hopped double IPA was perfect with balance and drinkability all while being full of flavor and intensity of hops. The DDH definitely plays a huge part and it made me glad to have been able to try it. It had me wanting more.
7. PINTHOUSE – ELECTRIC JELLYFISH (AUSTIN, TX)
Coming in at number 7 is from Penthouse Brewing Co. out of Austin Texas. This hazy IPA is a flagship classic from Penthouse even having people considering it be Pinthouse’s popular beer like Russian River’s Pliny or Alchemist’ Heady Topper. Trust me they’re right this beer has that vibe to it and for reasons. When I first drank this beer I knew it was something special. Juicy and well rounded with tons of citrus and floral notes this bright hazy will have you wanting to take home a flat not just a 4 pack.
6. SHRED BREWING – MICRO BLASTER (ROCKLIN, CA)
Coming in at number 6 is Micro Blaster Crushable IPA from Shred. Now if you ever find yourself wanting a dank easy drinking low abv IPA that’s not watered down then here you go. This session IPA was the shit and had me smiling while drinking it. Dank, flavorful, earthy and pure hop bomb with balance and citrus finish. I must say having a session beer coming at number 6 seems a bit to much to be real but that’s why it is number 6 out of a lot of the beers I got into this year it simply was what I was craving and made an impression on me.
5. RAR – OUT OF HYDRA HEADS (CAMBRIDGE, MD)
Coming in at number 5 come from A brewery I truly enjoy. If you’re a fan of pastry sours then RaR has you covered. This is a collaboration with another banger of a brewery who makes fruited sours, yes Mortalis Brewing. Out Of Hydra Heads takes the thick base of RaR beers and combines the fruit forward notes mortals is known for and gives you a creamy, rich, thick, and fruit forward pastry sour. This contains lactose and is conditioned over raspberry, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, cocoa nibs, marshmallow & pastry cream. Imagine a milkshake with all these fruits, add a ton of pastry creamy and sugar and finish it off with chocolate and bam there you go a beer that will wanting more every zip. Hands down it’s addicting.
4. MONKISH – CITRA CAT ( TORRANCE, CA)
Coming in at number 4 we head back to Torrance California to Monkish again. That’s right their 6.4% abv Pale Ale. Now if you know me then you know Im a fan of danky Pale Ales that have a medium body and pack a punch of hops. This Pale Ale gave off notes of danky garlic and cat piss yes cat piss. Floral earthy dank! Crisp and clean with an aftertaste that balanced perfectly. I could drink this daily and that’s why it’s in my top 10 beers of 2025.
3. PINTHOUSE BREWING CO. – RIATA (AUSTIN, TX)
Coming in at n umber 3 is another banger from Penthouse Brewing Co. and this time it’s their West Coast Pilsner Riata. Like I said with number 4 dank pale ales are my jam and this Pilsner reminds me of. dank Pale Ale but still,showcasing a Pilsner. Super crushable and super dank all while being well rounded. Whenever I stop into Penthouse this would be my go to beer. It’s just refreshing as hell and never leaves me disappointed. Trust me if you love WC Pils this the one and mean it.
2. CELESTIAL BEERWORKS – GOLDEN NUCLEI (DALLAS, TX)
The list of top 10 beers is close to the end but before we get into the best beer I had of 2025 lets talk about number 2. It was close and I mean close. Celestial Beerworks Golden Nuclei was so damn good and I mean so damn good it almost took the number 1 spot. This West Coast Double IPA was a banger. The first zip made me fall involve with beer again and had me laughing while drinking it amazed how good it was. A lovely malt backbone that had amazing soft sweetness with soft caramel that lead to a bold soft booze that fades and jumps into danky hops and citrus with earthy balance. It reminded me of the classic OG West Coast Doubles we all loved and enjoyed similar to OG Stone Ruination and Lagunitas first Waldo release. Whenever I see this beer I’m buying it and im buying a flat to drink on all month.
1. RAR BREWING – OUT OF ORDER: LEPRECHAUN BAIT DELUXE (CHAMBRIDGE, MD)
Here it is the number one beer I drank in 2025, from RaR Brewing Co. is their 4% abv pastry sour from their Out of Order series. Leprechaun Bait Deluxe. Their Deluxe versions is RaR’s take on following in the footsteps of “Westside Connection”, the thickest they can possibly produce in this style of beverage and still squeeze it in a can. 16 ounces of pure cereal milk times a million. Every flavor maxed out to thee absolute limits of taste. It’s on another level. Words cannot describe this experience. Flavor profile based on your favorite Lucky cereal. Yes this bad boy was thick like milkshake sludge. I felt like I was eating lucky charms, drinking a shake, and falling in love all at the same time. This is why this beer is number 1 on my list. I never had something that had me in shook and amazed at the same time. I just smiled and said this is why I drink craft beer. You would have to experience to see what I mean.
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