Every summer, thousands of amateur brewers ship their best batches across the country hoping to hear their name called at homebrewing’s biggest stage — and 2026 was no exception. The American Homebrewers Association’s National Homebrew Competition, now in its 48th year, drew 3,575 entries from 1,054 AHA members across 46 states, Washington, D.C., and 7 countries, with 120 medals awarded across 40 categories at the awards ceremony in Asheville, North Carolina. Topping it all was San Diego’s Ben Frymark of homebrew club QUAFF, named 2026 Homebrewer of the Year after his American barleywine was crowned Best of Show out of every beer in the competition — proof that a garage setup and a great recipe can still beat the pros at their own game.
2026 National Homebrew Competition — Final Round Winners
Category 1: Pale American Beer
GOLD: Jeff Zwetsch (with Don Frakes) – Anaheim, CA – Ace Brewing Society
SILVER: Rodney Kibzey – Portland, OR – Oregon Brew Crew
BRONZE: Pete Graham – Fishers, IN – Foam Blowers of Indiana, Inc (FBI)
Category 2: Pale European Beer
GOLD: Steven Severn – Santa Ana, CA – Orange County Mash Ups
SILVER: Ron Barnes (with Jeremy Rott) – Basehor, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters
BRONZE: Juan Pablo Salcedo – San Ysidro, CA – Tijuana Homebrew Club
Category 3: Pale Lager
GOLD: Tom Zacher – Murrysville, PA – Three Rivers Underground Brewers (TRUB)
SILVER: Ian Campbell – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective
BRONZE: Rob Hardisty – Fort Collins, CO – Liquid Poets
Category 4: German Pilsner
GOLD: Russell Berger – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective
SILVER: Mark Hughey – Gainesville, VA
BRONZE: Larry Bentley – North Plainfield, NJ – Garden State Homebrewers (GSHomebrewers)
Category 5: Pale Malty European Beer
GOLD: Chuck Beckman – Gilbert, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers
SILVER: Lee Birkett – West Dundee, IL – Midnight Carboys
BRONZE: Bob Teich – Clear Lake, MN – River City Brewers
Category 6: Amber European Beer
GOLD: David Towles – Amarillo, TX – High Plains Drafters [TX]
SILVER: Kevin Worthen – San Antonio, TX – Bexar Brewers
BRONZE: Steve Ristau – Black Hawk, SD – Ale Riders Homebrew Club
Category 7: Dark European Lager
GOLD: David Towles – Amarillo, TX – High Plains Drafters [TX]
SILVER: Beth Migalla – Highland Park, IL – North Urban Brewing Society (NUBS)
BRONZE: Chris Kaebisch – Edgerton, WI
Category 8: American Wheat & Blonde
GOLD: Adam Wyss – Alamo, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)
SILVER: Alex Owen – Stamford, CT
BRONZE: Alex Mullen – San Diego, CA
Category 9: German Wheat & Rye Beer
GOLD: Chuck Redpath – Downers Grove, IL
SILVER: Eric Boyle – Berkley, MI – Royal Oak Area Homebrew Club
BRONZE: Wuilmer Venegas – Toronto, ON – GTA Brews Homebrew Club
Category 10: Pale British Ale
GOLD: Tim Lambert – Albuquerque, NM – Dukes Of Ale
SILVER: Jamye & Cody Naramore – Quenemo, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters
BRONZE: Michael Johnson – Salt Lake City, UT
Category 11: Scottish & Irish Ale
GOLD: Greg Winterburn – Rockaway, NJ
SILVER: Stephen P Polczynski – Moore, OK – Red Earth Brewers
BRONZE: David Carruthers – Puyallup, WA – Puyallup Brew Crew
Category 12: American Pale Ale
GOLD: Jamye & Cody Naramore – Quenemo, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters
SILVER: Tom Leonard (with Ross Stuart) – Chandler, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers
BRONZE: Taylor Shastid – Walnut Creek, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)
Category 13: Amber & Brown American Ale
GOLD: Craig Martin – Louisville, KY – Louisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society (LAGERS)
SILVER: Jeffry Battles (with Bob Cook) – Lemon Grove, CA – QUAFF
BRONZE: Larry Reuter (with Donna) – Akron, OH – Society of Akron Area Zymurgists (SAAZ)
Category 14: Brown British Beer
GOLD: Sebastian Seith – Hinsdale, IL – Brixie’s Brewers
SILVER: John Luhmann – West Des Moines, IA – Kansas City Bier Meisters
BRONZE: Jeff Ong – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective
Category 15: Irish & British Stout
GOLD: Preston Booth – Easley, SC – South Carolina Upstate Homebrewers Anonymous
SILVER: Steven Jones – Fort Collins, CO – Liquid Poets
BRONZE: Peter Daniels – Columbus, OH – SODZ
Category 16: American Porter & Stout
GOLD: Trevor McGuire – Concord, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)
SILVER: Chris Johnson – Maplewood, NJ – Morris Area Society of Homebrewers
BRONZE: Taylor Shastid – Walnut Creek, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)
Category 17: American IPA
GOLD: Weston Wright – Thornton, CO – Indian Peaks Alers
SILVER: Russell Berger – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective
BRONZE: Metts Potter – Morrow, OH – Bloatarian Brewing League
Category 18: Specialty IPA
GOLD: Jarrett Long (with Amanda Long) – Arlington, TX – Horsemen of the Hopocalypse
SILVER: Steven Severn – Santa Ana, CA – Orange County Mash Ups
BRONZE: Mark Pennick – Denver, CO – The Brew Crew
Category 19: Hazy IPA
GOLD: David James – Eugene, OR – Cascade Brewers Society
SILVER: Tom Fontes – Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Homebrewers
BRONZE: Colby Reineke – Minnesota, MN – Minnesota Home Brewers Association
Category 20: Strong American Ale
GOLD: Benjamin Frymark – San Diego, CA – QUAFF
SILVER: Eli Palma – San Diego, CA – QUAFF
BRONZE: Jeremy Gramkow (with Nicole Thompson) – Boise, ID – Snake River Brewers
Category 21: Strong European Lager
GOLD: Alex Rezmerski – Louisville, KY – Louisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society (LAGERS)
SILVER: Karl Wayne King – Colleyville, TX – Cap and Hare Homebrew Club
BRONZE: Brady Smith – Westfield, IN – Foam Blowers of Indiana, Inc (FBI)
Category 22: Strong British Ale
GOLD: Tony Hamric – Leland, NC – Wort City Brewers
SILVER: Mark Unick – Wentzville, MO – St Charles County Society of Brewers
BRONZE: Andy Cox – Wilton, CT – Underground Brewers of Connecticut
Category 23: Imperial Porter & Stout
GOLD: Joe Formanek – Bolingbrook, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain
SILVER: Gerad Miller – Dayton, OH – Dayton Regional Amateur Fermentation Technologists
BRONZE: David Zwach – Manassas, VA – Downright Obsessed Homebrewers (DOH)
Category 24: Saison
GOLD: Mark Pennick – Denver, CO – The Brew Crew
SILVER: Magnus Vasilis – Gothenburg, Sweden – Hembryggning Halleluja!
BRONZE: Bradford Berger – Pioneertown, CA – Mojave Desert Brewers Guild
Category 25: Belgian Ale
GOLD: James Allen (with Steve Speth and Heather McCullough) – Highlands Ranch, CO – Rock Hoppers Brew Club
SILVER: Michael Johnson – Salt Lake City, UT
BRONZE: Pete Graham – Fishers, IN – Foam Blowers of Indiana, Inc (FBI)
Category 26: Strong Belgian Ale
GOLD: Nicholas B Griner – Ayer, MA – Merrimack Valley Homebrew Club
SILVER: Kevin Kiernan – Washington, DC – DC Homebrewers
BRONZE: Guillermo Velasco (with Antonio Aguirre) – Tijuana, BC – Tijuana Homebrew Club
Category 27: European Sour Ale
GOLD: Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain
SILVER: Kris Gould – Hamilton Township, NJ – ALEiens Homebrew Club
BRONZE: Ian Campbell – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective
Category 28: Fruit Beer
GOLD: Josh Willard – Ocala, FL – Brick City Brewers
SILVER: Andy Scherzinger (with Fernando Puga) – Berthoud, CO – Weizguys Homebrew Club
BRONZE: Eric Boyle – Berkley, MI – Royal Oak Area Homebrew Club
Category 29: Spice, Herb & Vegetable Beer
GOLD: Steve Powell – Sioux Falls, SD – Big Sioux Brewing Society
SILVER: Andres Teene – Fort Collins, CO – Liquid Poets
BRONZE: Art Kim – Highland, IN – Illiana Beer Rackers Union (IBRU)
Category 30: Specialty & Seasonal Spiced Beer
GOLD: Douglas Mandic – Denver, CO – Aurora City Brew Club
SILVER: Eli Palma – San Diego, CA – QUAFF
BRONZE: Steven Jones – Fort Collins, CO – Liquid Poets
Category 31: Smoke-Flavored Beer
GOLD: Russell Berger – Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective
SILVER: Barry Forrest – Dallas, TX – Horsemen of the Hopocalypse
BRONZE: Matthew Johnsen – Castle Rock, CO – Rock Hoppers Brew Club
Category 32: Wood-Aged Beer
GOLD: Wesley Kulcak (with Megan Kulcak) – El Campo, TX – Bay Area Mashtronauts
SILVER: Doug Brown – San Diego, CA – QUAFF
BRONZE: Robbie Proctor – Pleasant Hill, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)
Category 33: American Wild Ale
GOLD: Paul Pitre – Eunice, LA – Redstick Brewmasters
SILVER: Shaun Huggins – Universal City, TX – San Antonio Cerveceros
BRONZE: Kyle Hufford – Santa Barbara, CA
Category 34: Specialty Beer
GOLD: Kenneth Troy Traynham (with Sue Traynham) – Spring Hill, FL – Pour Decisions Home Brew Club
SILVER: Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain
BRONZE: Ben Jankowski – Oyster Bay, NY
Category 35: Traditional Mead
GOLD: Kevin Wagner – Stilwell, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters
SILVER: Shane Kammerer (with Susan Kammerer) – Shawnee, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters
BRONZE: Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain
Category 36: Fruit Mead
GOLD: Allen Martin – Gilbert, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers
SILVER: Kyle Ducharme – Saint Albans, VT – Green Mountain Mashers
BRONZE: Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain
Category 37: Spice Mead
GOLD: Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain
SILVER: Austin Brown – Sterling Heights, MI – Brewers Anonymous
BRONZE: Kyle Ducharme – Saint Albans, VT – Green Mountain Mashers
Category 38: Specialty Mead
GOLD: Kyle Ducharme – Saint Albans, VT – Green Mountain Mashers
SILVER: Kyle Ducharme – Saint Albans, VT – Green Mountain Mashers
BRONZE: Jarrett Long (with Amanda Long) – Arlington, TX – Horsemen of the Hopocalypse
Category 39: Traditional Cider & Perry
GOLD: Jeffrey Carlson – Grand Rapids, MI – PrimeTime Brewers
SILVER: Doug Brown – San Diego, CA – QUAFF
BRONZE: Kristyn Minkoff – Gainesville, FL – Hogtown Brewers
Category 40: Strong & Specialty Cider & Perry
GOLD: Nelson Crowle – Foxfield, CO – Indian Peaks Alers
SILVER: Mark Kunzelmann – St Louis, MO – St. Louis Brews
BRONZE: James Werner – New Berlin, WI – Beer Barons of Milwaukee
Overall AHA Awards
Samuel Adams Ninkasi Award
Dan Acheson – Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain
Gambrinus Club Award
Portland Brewers Collective – Portland, OR
Homebrew Club of the Year Award
Kansas City Bier Meisters – Kansas City, MO
Homebrewer of the Year
Benjamin Frymark – San Diego, CA – QUAFF
Meadmaker of the Year
Kyle Ducharme – Saint Albans, VT – Green Mountain Mashers
Cidermaker of the Year
Jeffrey Carlson – Grand Rapids, MI – Prime Time Brewers
More about the American Homebrew Association and the U.S. Open Beer Championship
The American Homebrewers Association (AHA), founded in 1978 by Charlie Papazian, has grown into the leading membership organization for homebrewers across the United States, with tens of thousands of members supporting its mission to promote and advance the art and hobby of homebrewing. A division of the Brewers Association, the AHA hosts the National Homebrew Competition, the world’s largest beer competition judged exclusively by style, and its annual Homebrew Con event draws thousands of hobbyist and craft brewers together each year for education, camaraderie, and the exchange of ideas that have shaped the American craft beer movement. That same spirit of homebrewer excellence has long found a home at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, where amateur and professional brewers compete side by side and homebrewers frequently medal against commercial breweries with decades of production experience. Over its 18-year history, the U.S. Open has celebrated countless homebrewers who got their start through AHA-affiliated clubs and competitions, underscoring the vital role the AHA plays in developing the next generation of talent in American brewing.
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