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NC Brewers Cup Medal Winners

November 20, 2025 by Dow Scoggins

North Carolina’s craft beer scene shines every fall at the NC Brewers Cup, the state’s largest and most prestigious professional beer competition. Organized by the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild since 2001, the Cup brings together hundreds of entries from breweries big and small to be blind-judged by BJCP-certified and professional judges using the latest Brewers Association style guidelines. Medals are awarded in dozens of categories (everything from classic lagers and IPAs to wild ales and barrel-aged stouts), plus a special “NC Home-Grown” category that celebrates beers made with at least 50 % North Carolina ingredients. Winners are announced each November at the NC Craft Brewers Conference in Winston-Salem, with the Brewery of the Year trophy going to the shop that racks up the most points across all categories. Over the years the competition has grown into a beloved celebration of Tar Heel brewing excellence, spotlighting both legendary names (Highland, NoDa, Fullsteam) and rising stars while giving beer lovers across the state a trusted guide to the very best local pints.

2025 NC Craft Beer Cup Medal Winners

British Pale & Bitter Ale
Gold: Cricket Hill — Fullsteam Brewery
Silver: Iron Horse — Trolley Barn Fermentory
Bronze: “Made For Walkin’” — Salt Face Mule Brewing Company

Scottish & Irish Beer
Gold: Scott’s View — Compass Rose Brewery
Silver: Scott’s View — Compass Rose Brewery
Bronze: “Dawn of the Red” — Neoteric Brewing Company

British Porter & Brown Ales
Gold: Black Cat Porter — Lost Province Brewing Co
Silver: Grizzly Brown Ale — Cavendish Brewing Company
Bronze: “Boar Brown” — Pig Pounder Brewery
Honorable Mention: Gems & Rhinestones — Edit Beer Co.

American Porter, Amber, & Brown Ales
Gold: Green Man Porter — Green Man Brewery
Silver: Unibrown — Happy Valley Filling Station
Bronze: “Trains of Fayetteville” — North South Brewing
Honorable Mention: Might Be Better — Eno River Brewing

Stouts
Gold: The Throne — Cabarrus Brewing Company
Silver: Blue Tape Special 2024: Point of Origin — Eno River Brewing
Bronze: “Imperial Stout” — Town Brewing Company

Strong Ale
Gold: Forest Hills — Olde Hickory Brewery
Silver: Warrior Knight — Toasty Kettlyst Beer Company
Bronze: “King in the Castle” — Little Brother Brewing

Session IPA
Gold: Beach Beer — HopFly Brewing Company
Silver: Gentle Giant Session IPA — Primal Brewery
Bronze: “Season 34” — Edit Beer Co.
Honorable Mention: Trail Candy Tropical IPA — Lazy Hiker Brewing Co.

American Pale Ale
Gold: Dead West — Oklawaha Brewing Company
Silver: Turtle Speed — Wilmington Brewing Company
Bronze: “Beach Time” — Wilmington Brewing Company
Honorable Mention: Born for Dying — Incendiary Brewing Company

American-Style IPA
Gold: Tidal Break — Compass Rose Brewery
Silver: Lil’ Fish — Outer Dunes Brewing Company
Bronze: “Mindweaver” — Petty Thieves Brewing Co.
Honorable Mention:

Juicy/Hazy Pale Ale
Gold: Illusion Of Truth — Edit Beer Co.
Silver: Juice Whirled — Gypsy Road Brewing Company
Bronze: “Juice Train” — Seaboard Brewing

Juicy or Hazy IPA
Gold: 73 & Hazy — Royal Bliss Brewing Co
Silver: Foggy Nights VII — Leland Brewing Co
Bronze: “Trail Hazer” — Trailside Brewing Co.
Honorable Mention: Astrotrain v.6 — Seaboard Brewing

American-Style Sour Ale
Gold: Merican — Hatchet Brewing Company
Silver: Vera Sour — Diatribe Brewing Company
Bronze: “Rules of Acquisition” — Vaulted Oak Brewing
Honorable Mention: The Way Life Gose — Pitt Street Brewing Co.

European Hybrid Styles
Gold: Guidon Kölsch — Guidon Brewing Co.
Silver: Daycation Gold — Highland Brewing Company
Bronze: “Car Show Cosmo’s Kolsch” — Lake Norman Brewery

European Sour Ale
Gold: Gose — Ponysaurus Brewing Co.
Silver: Largesse — Divine Barrel Brewing
Bronze: “Beauty in the Cracks” — Twin Leaf Brewery

European Wheat
Gold: Broyhans Bock — Gilde Brewery
Silver: Banana Breeze — Pig Pounder Brewery
Bronze: “Hazy Skies Hefeweizen” — Pilot Brewing Company
Honorable Mention: 40 East — The Glass Jug Beer Lab

Belgian Ales
Gold: Cosmic Bloom — Eno River Brewing
Silver: Blonded by the Light — Fishtowne Brew House
Bronze: “Brushy Mountain Blonde Ale” — TwoBoros Brewery
Honorable Mention: Cast Net — Fishtowne Brew House

Saison
Gold: Saison — Flytrap Brewing
Silver: All is not lost — Petty Thieves Brewing Co.
Bronze: “New Slang Raspberry Saison” — Americana Beer Company
Honorable Mention: Songs To Fill The Air — Divine Barrel Brewing

Belgian Strong Ale / Monastic Ale
Gold: Hell Yes Ma’am — Raleigh Brewing Company
Silver: Luminosity — Twin Leaf Brewery
Bronze: “Reserve Ale” — Ponysaurus Brewing Co.
Honorable Mention: Death Machine — Hatchet Brewing Company

Pale European & International Lager
Gold: Phuket Sunset Thai Lager — Local Time Brewing
Silver: Pactolus Light Lager — Pitt Street Brewing Co.
Bronze: “Sexy Canoe” — Tarboro Brewing Company
Honorable Mention: Fire in the Mole — Mad Mole Brewing

Amber & Other Pale European Lager
Gold: Festbier — Resident Culture Brewing
Silver: Fontana Export — Mountain Layers Brewing Company
Bronze: “Tower Buzz” — Gaston Brewing Company
Honorable Mention: Yodeling Down Lake Starnberg — 760 Craft Works

Dark European Lager
Gold: Schwarzbier — Triple C Brewing Company
Silver: Midnight Waddle — Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company
Bronze: “Rain Czech” — Clouds Brewing
Honorable Mention: Duckin’ Funkel — Ghostface Brewing

German-Style Bock
Gold: Zuganator — Seaboard Brewing
Silver: Doppel Trouble — Ghostface Brewing
Bronze: “Bock Bock Goose” — Surf City Brewing Company
Honorable Mention:

Smoke Beer
Gold: Rauchbier — Diatribe Brewing Company
Silver: Embers and Periscopes — 760 Craft Works
Bronze: “East Meets West Rice Lager” — bmc brewing
Honorable Mention:

International Style Pale Ale & IPA
Gold: Yonder — Leland Brewing Co
Silver: New Zealand Pils — Diatribe Brewing Company
Bronze: “Drum>Space Galaxy” — Riverside Rhapsody Beer Company
Honorable Mention: Pyrle IPA — Little Brother Brewing

North American-Style Lager
Gold: Uno Mas — Lenny Boy Brewing Co.
Silver: Small Fires — Little Brother Brewing
Bronze: “Carolina Heritage” — Brunswick Beer and Cider

Pilsner-Style & Hoppy Lager
Gold: Heavy Hands — Little Brother Brewing
Silver: Foam Party — Trophy Brewing Company – Maywood
Bronze: “Wandering Waves” — Oaklyn Springs Brewery

North American-Style Amber & Dark Lager
Gold: Seaboard Oktoberfest — Seaboard Brewing
Silver: She Sells Seashells by the Sea Schwarz — Brunswick Beer and Cider
Bronze: “Last Day at the Office” — Neoteric Brewing Company

Other American Pale Lagers & Ales
Gold: Cotton Blonde — Cabarrus Brewing Company
Silver: User Friendly — Little Brother Brewing
Bronze: “Little Wing” — King Canary Brewing Company

Fruit Beer
Gold: Limelight — Ghost Harbor Brewing Company
Silver: Orange Hefe-Wit — Cavendish Brewing Company
Bronze: “Big SLURP” — NoDa Brewing Co.
Honorable Mention:Ultimo Hombre — Lower Left Brewing Company

Sour Fruit or Field Beer
Gold: Second Pick — Eno River Brewing
Silver: Manguava — Hatchet Brewing Company
Bronze: “Subject to Change (Blueberry Cheesecake Sour)” — Tobacco Wood Brewing

Field & Spiced Beers
Gold: Heat Seeking Pickle — Lower Left Brewing Company
Silver: Southern Basil — Fullsteam Brewery
Bronze: “Vanilla Cream Java Dream” — Hoptown Brewing Company

Brett, Mixed Culture, & Wild Ales
Gold: Raspberry Kaleidoscope — Lenny Boy Brewing Co.
Silver: Sisu 2025 — Cellarest Beer Project
Bronze: “Henotic 2025” — Cellarest Beer Project

Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer
Gold: Time Is Only Part Of The Equation — Divine Barrel Brewing
Silver: BBA Twice as Lonely with Macadamia & Vanilla — Resident Culture Brewing
Bronze: “Society #8” — DSSOLVR

Specialty Beer
Gold: Baklava Blond — Clouds Brewing
Silver: Belgian Moonlight — North South Brewing
Bronze: “Hops Mirage NA IPA” — Primal Brewery
Honorable Mention:Flashbacks — Trolley Barn Fermentory

Historic Beer
Gold: Smoke Over Lublin — Mountain Layers Brewing Company
Silver: You make me wanna Schopes — Gaston Brewing Company
Bronze: “Pleasing Gene” — Little Brother Brewing

NC Home-Grown
Gold: Sakura — Black Mountain Brewing
Silver: Time’s Arrow — Atomic Clock Brewing Company
Bronze: “Grandfather Paradox” — Atomic Clock Brewing Company
Honorable Mention: Spratt’s Lager — Town Brewing Company

About the The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild
The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild is the official voice and backbone of the Tar Heel State’s independent craft brewing community. Founded in 2000 by a handful of pioneering breweries (including Asheville’s Highland Brewing and Charlotte’s Olde Mecklenburg), the Guild was created to advocate for small, independent brewers at the state legislature, promote responsible growth, and foster collaboration in a rapidly expanding industry. Today it represents more than 300 brewery and brewpub members—from mountain towns to the Outer Banks—making North Carolina one of the top beer states in the country with over 400 independent craft breweries. The Guild hosts the annual NC Craft Brewers Conference, runs the hugely popular NC Brewers Cup competition, powers the NC Craft Beer Passport program, and fights for fair laws so local brewers can keep pouring world-class pints without red tape. More than just a trade group, it’s the heartbeat of North Carolina’s vibrant, independent beer culture.

The Bitter End: Rogue Ales Closes After 37 Years of Iconic Brewing

November 17, 2025 by Dow Scoggins

November 17(Newport, Oregon) – In the misty coastal town of Newport, Oregon, where the Pacific Ocean crashes against rugged cliffs and the scent of salt mingles with hops, a chapter of American craft beer history slammed shut last Friday. Rogue Ales & Spirits, the pioneering brewery that helped define the microbrew revolution, abruptly ceased all operations on November 14, 2025. What began as a scrappy venture in 1988 ended not with a final toast, but with locked doors, unpaid bills, and a stunned community left holding empty pint glasses.

The news hit like a rogue wave. Employees arrived at work to find “Closed Until Further Notice” signs plastered across locations from the flagship Newport headquarters to brewpubs in Portland, Astoria, and the newly opened Salem Public House. Rogue’s president, Steven Garrett, informed the Port of Newport that morning of the immediate shutdown, leaving a skeleton crew to pack up the remnants of a 47,000-square-foot facility that once buzzed with the alchemy of fermenting ales destined for shelves in all 50 states and over 50 countries.

A Legacy Forged in Rebellion
Rogue’s story is as bold and unfiltered as its flagship Dead Guy Ale. Founded in Ashland, Oregon, by University of Oregon alumni Jack Joyce and Bob Woodell, the brewery started as a defiant response to the bland lagers dominating the American beer landscape. Relocating to Newport in 1989, Rogue quickly became synonymous with innovation under the guidance of legendary brewmaster John Maier. Maier’s recipes—think Shakespeare Stout, Hazelnut Brown Nectar, and the malty Dead Guy Ale—garnered over 2,000 awards, turning Rogue into Oregon’s second-largest craft brewery at its peak and a national powerhouse.

The brewery’s ethos was pure punk rock: self-reliance, eccentricity, and a touch of irreverence. They even brewed “Beard Beer” using yeast harvested from Maier’s famously unkempt facial hair. Rogue expanded into spirits and, in a nod to shifting tastes, launched THC-infused seltzers in June 2025—flavors like Blackberry Cucumber and Pineapple Guava aimed at a younger, sober-curious crowd. At its height, Rogue wasn’t just a brewery; it was a lifestyle brand, with pubs that doubled as community hubs and beers that evoked the wild spirit of the Oregon coast.

The Slow Ferment of Decline
But even the strongest brews can sour. Rogue’s closure wasn’t a bolt from the blue; it was the bitter culmination of years of industry headwinds. Craft beer sales have been flatlining since the pandemic, squeezed by inflation, shifting consumer preferences toward low- and no-alcohol options, and fierce competition from Big Beer conglomerates snapping up independents. According to the Brewers Association, six of Oregon’s 10 largest craft breweries saw sales dips in 2024, with Rogue suffering an 18% plunge—one of the steepest.

Financial red flags had been waving for months. In August 2025, Rogue outsourced its national sales to U.S. Beverage LLC, a desperate pivot to stem bleeding margins. Yet debts mounted: $545,000 in back rent to the Port of Newport, plus up to $30,000 in unpaid taxes to Lincoln County, including interest. The Port had been negotiating payment plans, but the brewery’s 37-year tenancy ended in eviction-like fashion. “We’ve been working with them on debt for a while,” Port Executive Director Don Mann told local reporters, his tone laced with regret.

The craft sector’s woes are emblematic of broader economic tremors. Post-COVID, on-premise sales at bars and restaurants—Rogue’s lifeblood—never fully rebounded. Younger drinkers are sipping hard seltzers and mocktails over hazy IPAs, and grocery aisles are flooded with cheap imports. Rogue, once the 50th largest U.S. craft brewer, had already retrenched: closing its Pearl District pub in 2020, a tasting room in Independence in 2021, and listing its Astoria property for sale last summer. The Salem pub’s spring 2025 debut now feels like a final, futile flourish.

A Community Left High and Dry
The human toll is raw. Former employees, blindsided by the shutdown, took to social media to vent frustration and grief. “Pours one out for Dead Guy,” tweeted Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer, a craft beer enthusiast, capturing the collective mourning. In Portland’s Southeast neighborhood, bar manager Sean Berryhill echoed the sentiment to KATU News: “It’s like taking down a large giant… but the way they handled it with employees? That’s not okay.” Retail partners like Belmont Station’s Ryan Jax called it “disheartening,” though he downplayed supply chain ripples given Rogue’s wide distribution.
Newport, where Rogue employed dozens and anchored the local economy, feels the sting deepest. The South Beach brewery overlooked Yaquina Bay, a picturesque sentinel between the marina and the iconic bridge. Now, it’s a ghost facility, its massive tanks silent. Local outlets like the Lincoln Chronicle broke the story, revealing how Rogue officials ghosted interview requests after an initial October overture. As one X user lamented, “The past 6 years have been devastating on the alcohol and food industries. Sad.”

Rogue joins a grim roll call of fallen Oregon icons: BridgePort and Portland Brewing, casualties of the founding era’s consolidation. Is this the “dead guy” for craft beer’s golden age? Perhaps. But whispers of potential buyers for the Newport site offer faint hope—could Rogue’s recipes rise from the ashes under new ownership?

Raising a Glass to What Was
As November rains lash the Oregon coast, it’s worth reflecting on Rogue’s indelible mark. They didn’t just brew beer; they bottled rebellion, proving that a small outfit could challenge empires and win. Dead Guy Ale remains a rite of passage for beer novices, a malt-forward reminder of flavor’s triumph over fizz. In pubs from Portland to points unknown, patrons will long clink glasses to Rogue’s memory.
For now, though, the taps run dry. If you’re lucky enough to have a bottle stashed away, crack it open tonight. To Rogue: may your rogue spirit ferment on, wherever the next pour leads.

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The Story of Ken Grossman Brewing and Sierra Nevada Stout

November 15, 2025 by Dow Scoggins

The Story of Ken Grossman Brewing and Sierra Nevada Stout – The Brewery’s First Beer
Ken Grossman, the founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, began his brewing journey as a teenager in the late 1960s, inspired by a neighbor’s father who was an avid homebrewer. By age 14, Grossman was experimenting with homebrewing kits, mixing ingredients in a bucket and hiding his batches from his mother. His fascination with the alchemy of fermentation grew, leading him to open The Home Brew Shop in Chico, California, in 1976, where he sold brewing and winemaking supplies while refining his craft.

In 1978, Grossman, along with Paul Camusi, founded Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, driven by a passion for crafting unique, hop-forward beers at a time when American beer was dominated by mass-market lagers. With limited resources—$50,000 in loans from friends and family—Grossman scoured junkyards and dairy farms for scrap stainless steel and repurposed dairy equipment to build a makeshift brewhouse in a converted warehouse in Chico. His mechanical ingenuity, honed through years of tinkering and studying chemistry and physics at Butte College and Cal State Chico, was critical to this DIY endeavor.

On November 15, 1980, at 5 a.m., Grossman brewed Sierra Nevada’s first test batch: five barrels (150 gallons) of stout. This choice was deliberate. Grossman and Camusi opted for a stout over their already-tested pale ale recipe because they believed the dark, robust style would mask any imperfections in their fledgling brewery’s process. As Grossman explained, “We thought that making a stronger, dark beer would cover some of our sins. We knew we weren’t going to sell it and we figured we had a pretty good shot at making a drinkable stout right off the bat.” They also enjoyed drinking stouts themselves. The brewing process was a 13-hour labor of love, and after one sip, Grossman knew it was a success, giving them the confidence to move forward.

While the stout was not intended for commercial sale, it marked a pivotal moment, proving their hand-built system could produce quality beer. This test batch paved the way for Sierra Nevada’s flagship Pale Ale, brewed shortly after, which would revolutionize American craft beer with its bold use of Cascade hops. The stout, though less celebrated than the Pale Ale, remains part of Sierra Nevada’s early portfolio, with the brewery continuing to produce a classic stout alongside other styles like porter and the seasonal Celebration IPA introduced in 1981.

Grossman’s story of brewing that first stout reflects his relentless curiosity, resourcefulness, and commitment to quality, traits that have defined Sierra Nevada’s rise from a scrappy startup to one of America’s largest craft breweries, producing over 1,000,000 barrels annually .

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2025 National Homebrew Competition Medal Winners

November 13, 2025 by Dow Scoggins

Kansas City, Missouri – Dust off your fermenters and crack open a cold one, because the 2025 National Homebrew Competition by the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) announced the winners in Kansas City, Missouri, leaving a trail of hoppy glory and barley-fueled dreams in its wake. Held from June 26-28 at the iconic Boulevard Brewing Company, this 47th annual bash drew over 10,000 entries from homebrew wizards across the globe, turning the Heartland into a bubbling cauldron of creativity. Picture this: amateur alchemists shipping their liquid gold to first-round showdowns in Tampa, only for the elite suds to hop a flight to KC for the final judging frenzy. From crisp lagers that could make a Bavarian weep to wild-fermented sours that dance on your tongue like a tipsy tango, the competition showcased why homebrewing isn’t just a hobby—it’s a hoppy revolution. And with live-streamed awards that had viewers glued to screens from sea to shining sea, the 2025 NHC proved once again that great beer starts in garages and ends in legends.

Now, let’s raise a pint to the champions who stole the show at the 2025 National Homebrew Competition results! Tyler Miller from Mesa, Arizona, snagged the top honors with his masterful brew, repping the Arizona Society of Homebrewers like a desert cactus guarding a hidden oasis of flavor. Shoutout to the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild for their medal-hauling prowess, proving that Michigan’s mitten knows how to mitt-en the competition. Standouts included Cheyne’s fruit mead that married berries and booze in holy, honeyed matrimony, and the Specialty IPA bronze for “Go Big!”—a name that says it all about going bold with those juicy hops. Whether you’re eyeing the full AHA winners list for recipe inspo or plotting your 2026 entry (because why stop the party?), this event reminds us: the best brews are born from passion, a dash of science, and enough patience to wait out a secondary fermentation. So grab your grains, fire up the kettle, and remember—every pro started as a homebrewer with a dream and a dirty carboy. Cheers to the AHA for keeping the craft alive and the taps flowing!

2025 National Homebrew Competition Medal Winners

Category 1: Pale American Beer – 86 Entries

Place BJCP Cat. Winner Club

1st – Wayne Doucette of Big Lake, MN – River City Brewers

2nd – Cole Kopca of Seattle, WA

3rd – Rodney Kibzey of Portland, OR – Oregon Brew Crew

Category 2: Pale European Beer – 110 Entries

1st – Donald Schneider of Windsor, CO – Weizguys Homebrew Club

2nd – Colby Reineke of Minnesota, MN – Minnesota Home Brewers Association

3rd – Jamye & Cody Naramore of Quenemo, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters

Category 3: Pale Lager – 106 Entries

1st – Jason Bryant of Herndon, VA – Wort Hogs

2nd – Trevor Mcguire of Concord, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

3rd – Bryan Mcbeth of Norwalk, CT

Category 4: German Pilsner – 62 Entries

1st – Wayne Doucette of Big Lake, MN – River City Brewers

2nd – Scott Steenburg of Zionsville, IN – Foam Blowers of Indiana, Inc (FBI)

3rd – Livio De Sanctis of Bra, Piedmont, Italy – Associazione Birraria Cuneese

Category 5: Pale Malty European Beer – 80 Entries

1st – Peter Hand of Issaquah, WA

2nd – Taylor Shastid of Walnut Creek, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

3rd – Sean Bush of Oceanside, CA – Society of Barley Engineers

Category 6: Amber European Beer – 106 Entries

1st – Tyler Miller of Mesa, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers

2nd – Scott Steenburg of Zionsville, IN – Foam Blowers of Indiana, Inc (FBI)

3rd – Lucas Duarte Lima of Santana De Parnaiba, Brazil – AcervA Paulista

Category 7: Dark European Lager – 101 Entries

1st – David Kerr of Point Pleasant, NJ – Ocean County Home Brew Club

2nd – Brian Milleville of Sanborn, NY – Niagara Association of Homebrewers

3rd – Jason Dunn of Corona, CA with Mandy Porter – Inland Empire Brewers

Category 8: American Wheat & Blonde – 63 Entries

1st – Duane Jenness of Worcester, MA – WIZARDS

2nd – John Sullivan / Steve Rodriggs of Thousand Oaks, CA

3rd – Terry Fast of Denver, CO – Lakewood Fermentation Club

Category 9: German Wheat & Rye Beer – 54 Entries

1st – Thomas Atkinson of Poway, CA

2nd – Rodolfo Valladares of Kansas City, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters

3rd – Wuilmer Venegas of Toronto, On, Canada – GTA Brews Homebrew Club

Category 10: Pale British Ale – 81 Entries

1st – Chris Erdos of Escondido, CA

2nd – Tyler Miller of Mesa, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers

3rd – Zachary Miller of Overland Park, KS

Category 11: Scottish & Irish Ale – 57 Entries

1st – Thomas Wichert of Mill Creek, WA

2nd – Stephen Schmitt of Evanston, IL – Evanston Homebrew Club

3rd – Timothy Ribant of Lake Sherwood, MO – River Runners

Category 12: American Pale Ale – 76 Entries

1st – Jamye & Cody Naramore of Quenemo, KS – Kansas City Bier Meisters

2nd – Evan Brill of Louisville, KY – Louisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society (LAGERS)

3rd – Jake Mcqueen of Slc, UT – Lauter Day Brewers

Category 13: Amber & Brown American Ale – 97 Entries

1st – Colby Reineke of Minnesota, MN – Minnesota Home Brewers Association

2nd – Glenn Dittrich of Santa Barbara, CA

3rd – Jim Williamson of Rome, GA – M.A.S.H. Marietta Association of Schoolhouse Homebrewers

Category 14: Brown British Beer – 76 Entries

1st – Mark Drilling of O’Fallon, MO – St Charles County Society of Brewers

2nd – Terry Fast of Denver, CO – Lakewood Fermentation Club

3rd – Paul Domich of Pinole, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

Category 15: Irish & British Stout – 108 Entries

1st – Jamie Moulton of Niwot, CO – The Big Lebrewskis

2nd – Tyler Miller of Mesa, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers

3rd – Jarrett Long of Arlington, TX with Amanda Long – Horsemen of the Hopocalypse

Category 16: American Porter & Stout – 63 Entries

1st – Mike Riddle of Napa, CA with Alex Riddle – HOME

2nd – Miles Garrett of Hammond, LA – Mystic Krewe of Brew

3rd – Adam Wyss of Alamo, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

Category 17: American IPA – 90 Entries

1st – Connor Reed of Denver, CO with Levi Van Weddingen – Altitude Homebrew Club

2nd – Jeffrey Orr of Vancouver, WA – Oregon Brew Crew

3rd – Evan Brill of Louisville, KY – Louisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society (LAGERS)

Category 18: Specialty IPA – 63 Entries

1st – Wayne Doucette of Big Lake, MN River City Brewers

2nd – Zachary Kosslow of Pittsburgh, PA – Three Rivers Alliance of Serious Homebrewers (TRASH)

3rd – Nicholas Mccoy of Sachse, TX with Jeff Poirot – Draft Punk

Category 19: Hazy IPA – 93 Entries

1st – Kit Lindsay of Saint Petersburg, FL – Special Hoperations

2nd – Brian Miller of Laguna Hills, CA – Orange County Mash Ups

3rd – David Bovitz of Lakewood, CO

Category 20: Strong American Ale – 64 Entries

1st – Tyler Hulsebus of Austin, MN

2nd – Steven Severn of Santa Ana, CA – Orange County Mash Ups

3rd – Zachary Belles of Salt Lake City, UT – Lauter Day Brewers

Category 21: Strong European Lager – 62 Entries

1st – Jay Highfill of Overland Park, KS with Ron Barnes

2nd – Jason Dunn of Corona, CA with Mandy Porter – Inland Empire Brewers

3rd – Duane Jenness of Worcester, MA – WIZARDS

Category 22: Strong British Ale – 59 Entries

1st – Joe Skiles of Carol Stream, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain

2nd – Melissa Edmunds of Plymouth, MI – Ann Arbor Brewers Guild

3rd – Tyler Miller of Mesa, AZ Arizona – Society of Homebrewers

Category 23: Imperial Porter & Stout – 83 Entries

1st – Eric Blaine of Maplewood, NJ – Morris Area Society of Homebrewers

2nd – Weston Wright of Thornton, CO – Indian Peaks Alers

3rd – Joel Mcgormley of Zionsville, IN

Category 24: Saison – 67 Entries

1st – Carlo Sesia of Caraglio, Italy – Associazione Birraria Cuneese

2nd – Kevin Davis of Buckley, WA – None, but I’m looking for one!

3rd – Mark Pennick of Denver, CO – The Brew Crew

Category 25: Belgian Ale – 84 Entries

1st – Jeffery Lampman of Morro Bay, CA – San Luis Obispo Brewers (SLOB)

2nd – Brian Milleville of Sanborn, NY – Niagara Association of Homebrewers

3rd – Scott Rauvola of San Diego, CA – QUAFF

Category 26: Strong Belgian Ale – 118 Entries

1st – James Allen of Highlands Ranch, CO – Rock Hoppers Brew Club

2nd – Justin Holman of Weston Lakes, TX – Cider, Homebrew, And Mead Production Specialists (CHAMPS)

3rd – Jim Thompson of Vancouver, WA – Oregon Brew Crew

Category 27: European Sour Ale – 49 Entries

1st – Dan Acheson of Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain

2nd – Kyle Hufford of Santa Barbara, CA

3rd – Timothy Leber of Kent, WA with Norm Kwasinski – Beer Renegades of Everett Washington (BREW)

Category 28: Fruit Beer – 70 Entries

1st – Kyle Kiely of Saint Louis, MO – Cider, Homebrew, And Mead Production Specialists (CHAMPS)

2nd – Jordan Reed of Martinez, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

3rd – Dan Acheson of Winfield, IL – Urban Knaves of Grain

Category 29: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer – 59 Entries

1st – Mario Natera of Ocala, FL

2nd – Mark Drilling of O’Fallon, MO – St Charles County Society of Brewers

3rd – Joseph Dussling of Westlake, OH – Brewly Homebrew Club

Category 30: Specialty & Seasonal Spiced Beer – 34 Entries

1st – Matt Moreno of Park Ridge, IL

2nd – Tyler Miller of Mesa, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers

3rd – William Lindel of Winston Salem, NC

Category 31: Smoke-Flavored Beer – 68 Entries

1st – Cynthia Lindner of Patchogue, NY – Brewers East End Revival (BEER)

2nd – Chris Wilburn of Heathsville, Va

3rd – Larry Reuter of Akron, OH with Donna – Society of Akron Area Zymurgists (SAAZ)

Category 32: Wood-Aged Beer – 68 Entries

1st – Ward Walkup Iv of Lincoln, MA – Yeastside Brewers

2nd – Joel Mcgormley of Zionsville, IN

3rd – Joel Mcgormley of Zionsville, IN

Category 33: American Wild Ale – 45 Entries

1st – Philip Lafleur of Loveland, CO – Weizguys Homebrew Club

2nd – Theresa Wilks of San Diego, CA with Billy Lambert

3rd – Kevin Olson of Raymore, MO – ZZ Hops

Category 34: Specialty Beer – 84 Entries

1st – Harry Peck of Garfield, NJ

2nd – Scott Nieradka of Portland, OR – Portland Brewers Collective

3rd – Shamus O’Leary of Brier, WA

Category 35: Traditional Mead – 45 Entries

1st – John Bell of Poway, CA – Quaff

2nd – Daniel Kukuk of Grosse Pointe, MI – Motor City Mashers

3rd – Steve Fletty of Falcon Heights, MN – Saint Paul Homebrewers Club

Category 36: Fruit Mead – 74 Entries

1st – Cheyne Harvey of Mesa, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers

2nd – Philip Lafleur of Loveland, CO – Weizguys Homebrew Club

3rd – Steve Fletty of Falcon Heights, MN – Saint Paul Homebrewers Club

Category 37: Spice Mead – 49 Entries

1st – Ryan Fowler of San Diego, CA

2nd – Susan Jimenez of Prescott Valley, AZ – Arizona Society of Homebrewers

3rd – Roger Taylor of Northridge, CA – Maltose Falcons

Category 38: Specialty Mead – 51 Entries

1st – Doug Brown of San Diego, CA with Alexandria Horn QUAFF

2nd – Ryan Vigne of Ellwood City, PA – Pittsburgh Mead Makers And Homebrewers

3rd – Nathan Steigman of Saint Paul, MN Minnesota Home Brewers Association

Category 39: Standard Cider & Perry – 60 Entries

1st – James Werner of New Berlin, WI – Beer Barons of Milwaukee

2nd – Heith Heitkamp of Bayport, MN

3rd – Nelson Crowle of Foxfield, CO – Indian Peaks Alers

Category 40: Specialty Cider & Perry – 82 Entries

1st – Kevin Olson of Raymore, MO – ZZ Hops

2nd – Hirendu Vaishnav of Alamo, CA – Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

3rd – Jeffrey Carlson of Grand Rapids, MI – PrimeTime Brewers

Major Awards

Samuel Adams Ninkasi Award

Tyler Miller

Mesa, AZ

Arizona Society of Homebrewers

Samuel Adams – Gambrinus Club Award

Ann Arbor Brewers Guild

Ann Arbor, MI

Homebrew Club of the Year Award

Arizona Society of Homebrewers

Tempe, AZ

Homebrewer of the Year Award

Wayne Doucette

Big Lake, MN

River City Brewers

Meadmaker of the Year Award

Doug Brown with Alexandria Horn

San Diego, CA

QUAFF

Cidermaker of the Year Award

James Werner

New Berlin, WI

Beer Barons of Milwaukee

About the American Homebrewers Association:
The American Homebrewers Association (AHA), the nation’s leading advocate for homebrewing enthusiasts, continues to champion the art and science of crafting beer at home with unmatched passion and resources. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, the AHA boasts over 40,000 members who share a love for turning grains, hops, water, and yeast into liquid masterpieces. From beginner-friendly guides and online forums buzzing with recipe swaps to the world-renowned National Homebrew Competition—now in its 47th year—the AHA empowers brewers of all levels to experiment, innovate, and elevate their craft. With educational webinars, exclusive discounts on brewing gear, and a vibrant community that spans garages to grandmasters, the AHA isn’t just an organization; it’s the heartbeat of the homebrewing revolution, proving that great beer begins with curiosity and a carboy.

As the craft beer movement surges forward, the American Homebrewers Association remains the go-to authority for fostering creativity, safety, and camaraderie in homebrewing. Members gain access to Homebrew Con, the ultimate annual gathering of suds-savvy souls, plus a digital library packed with pro tips, style guidelines, and troubleshooting hacks to turn potential boil-overs into brag-worthy brews. The AHA also advocates for sensible homebrewing laws nationwide, ensuring that every backyard brewer can legally pursue their pint-sized dreams. Whether you’re perfecting a hazy IPA, diving into sour beers, or bottling your first batch of mead, the AHA provides the tools, knowledge, and community support to make every brew day a victory. Join today at homebrewersassociation.org and discover why millions of bubbles later, the AHA is still the yeast that keeps the homebrewing spirit rising.

Fun Beer Facts, Breweries and More: Click Here

2025 Missouri Beer Cup Medal Winners: BKS Artisan Ales & Boulevard Take Top Honors in Inaugural Competition

November 12, 2025 by Dow Scoggins

The inaugural Missouri Beer Cup crowned the Show-Me State’s top craft brews in a landmark competition exclusively for Missouri breweries. With 181 entries judged across 36 categories by certified experts, standouts like BKS Artisan Ales (Small Brewery of the Year) and Boulevard Brewing Company (Large Brewery of the Year) showcased the state’s thriving beer scene. From crisp Kansas City Bier Co. Pilsners to hazy BKS IPAs and tart Springfield sours, the medals highlight Missouri’s diverse, high-quality craft beer landscape—perfect for locals and travelers hunting their next favorite pint.

Missouri Beer Cup Medal Winners and Breweries of the Year
American Amber or Red / Vienna
Gold: Vienna Lager – Narrow Gauge Brewing Co., Florissant
Silver: Big Head Red – East Forty Brewing, Blue Springs
Bronze: Rooftop Red Lager – Border Brewing Co., Kansas City

American and German Dark Beers
Gold: Winterbock – Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City
Silver: I’ll Bee Bock – Bee’s Knees Brewing Co, LLC, Versailles
Bronze: Munich Dunkel – The Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Beer, St. Louis

American and German Light Lagers
Gold: Cerveza Royale – Stockyards Brewing Co., Kansas City
Silver: Let’s Go Lager – Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City
Bronze: City Wide Light – 4 Hands Brewing Co., St. Louis

American and German Pilsners
Gold: Pure Pils – Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City
Silver: Pivo Project New Zealand Style Pilsner – BKS Artisan Ales, Kansas City
Bronze: Italian Pilsner – Springfield Brewing Co., Springfield

American Cream Ale
Gold: River Cream Ale – River Bluff Brewing, St. Joseph & Kansas City
Silver: Cream Ale – Public House Brewing Co., Rolla
Bronze: Boulevard Light – Boulevard Brewing Co., Kansas City

American-Style India Pale Ale
Gold: Never Say IPA – Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City
Silver: Right Track IPA – East Forty Brewing, Blue Springs
Bronze: Incarnation – 4 Hands Brewing Co., St. Louis

American-Style Lager
Gold: Union Lager – River Bluff Brewing, St. Joseph & Kansas City
Silver: Little Birds – Blue Jay Brewing Co., St. Louis
Bronze: BSB – POG Brewing Co., Cleveland

American-Style Märzen / Oktoberfest
Gold: Mayhem Marzen – Springfield Brewing Co., Springfield
Silver: Oktoberfest – Good News Brewing Co., O’Fallon
Bronze: Oktoberfest – East Forty Brewing, Blue Springs

American-Style Pale Ale
Gold: Strata Fresh Hop – Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia
Silver: Lucent Galaxies Pale Ale – Transparent Brewing Co., Grandview
Bronze: The Colony APA – Bee’s Knees Brewing Co, LLC, Versailles

American-Style Sour Ale
Gold: Margarita-Style Squeeze – Springfield Brewing Co., Springfield
Silver: Nudie Suit – Stockyards Brewing Co., Kansas City
Bronze: Phases of the Moon – Volume One – 4 Hands Brewing Co., St. Louis

Belgian-Style Ale
Gold: Lingering Effect – Wire Road Brewing Co., Battlefield
Silver: Sandy Dunes – River Bluff Brewing, St. Joseph & Kansas City
Bronze: Untethered Rage – Third Wheel Brewing, St. Peters

Bohemian-Style Pilsener
Gold: Pivo Project Bohemian Style Pilsner – BKS Artisan Ales, Kansas City
Silver: FloMO Pils – Narrow Gauge Brewing Co., Florissant
Bronze: Czech Pils – Good News Brewing Co., O’Fallon

Chocolate or Pumpkin Beers
Gold: Chocolate Stout – Boulevard Brewing Co., Kansas City
Silver: Pumpkin Ale – The Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Beer, St. Louis
Bronze: Chocolate Milk Stout – 4 Hands Brewing Co., St. Louis

Coffee-Flavored Beer
Gold: The Devil’s Invention – 4 Hands Brewing Co., St. Louis
Silver: Hazelnut Coffee Milk Stout – Good News Brewing Co., O’Fallon
Bronze: Coffee Stout – The Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Beer, St. Louis

English-Style Dark Mild Ale
Gold: Rockhill & Locust – BKS Artisan Ales, Kansas City
Silver: Mamoot – Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia
Bronze: Ale for Uncles, Daddies and Baddies – Diametric Brewing Co, Lee’s Summit

English-Style Ales – Other
Gold: Atlantic – Narrow Gauge Brewing Co., Florissant
Silver: Pale Ale – Boulevard Brewing Co., Kansas City
Bronze: OG Bob American Brown Ale – Tie & Timber Beer Co, Springfield

French and Belgian-Style Saison
Gold: Tank 7 – Boulevard Brewing Co., Kansas City
Silver: Grand Champ – Wire Road Brewing Co., Battlefield
Bronze: Belle Bottoms Saison – Stockyards Brewing Co., Kansas City

Fruit Beer
Gold: Lima Fresca – Border Brewing Co., Kansas City
Silver: A Fistful of Island Vibes – East Forty Brewing, Blue Springs
Bronze: Strawberry Blonde Ale – Border Brewing Co., Kansas City

Fruit Wheat Ale or Lager
Gold: Honored Society – The Goat Brewing Co, Lee’s Summit
Bronze (Tie): Peachy Pipe Dream – 4 Hands Brewing Co., St. Louis
Bronze (Tie): Freshly Squeezed Blueberry Lemonade Wheat – Fringe Beerworks, Lee’s Summit

German Oktoberfest / Wiesen / Märzen
Gold: Fest Friends – Friendship Brewing Co., Wentzville
Silver: ArrowRed Lager – Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City
Bronze: Festbier – Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City

German-Style Kölsch
Gold: Kickstand Kölsch Style Ale – Transparent Brewing Co., Grandview
Silver: Inspiration – Lost Art Taproom, Knob Noster

German-Style Wheat
Gold: Weizenbock – Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City
Silver: Hazy Hive Hefe – Bee’s Knees Brewing Co, LLC, Versailles
Bronze: Okay! – Blue Jay Brewing Co., St. Louis

Herbs / Spice / Chili Beer
Gold: Poblano Pils – Hold Fast Brewing, Springfield
Silver: Jack Blast Pumpkin Spice – Tie & Timber Beer Co, Springfield
Bronze: At Last – Third Wheel Brewing, St. Peters

Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
Gold: Double Current – West Coast Style Double IPA – BKS Artisan Ales, Kansas City
Silver: Space Camper – Boulevard Brewing Co., Kansas City
Bronze: High Thread Count Double IPA – Transparent Brewing Co., Grandview

Irish-Style Red Ale
Gold: Captain Red Beard – Lost Art Taproom, Knob Noster
Silver: Mullanphy’s – Narrow Gauge Brewing Co., Florissant
Bronze: Irish Red Ale – Turkey Creek Brewery, Hollister

Juicy or Hazy Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
Gold: Repetitions on Citra – BKS Artisan Ales, Kansas City
Silver: Clouds – BKS Artisan Ales, Kansas City
Bronze: OJ Run – Narrow Gauge Brewing Co., Florissant

Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale or Hazy Pale Ales
Gold: Citra & Mosaic – BKS Artisan Ales, Kansas City
Silver: Counterculture – BKS Artisan Ales, Kansas City
Bronze: Juicy Brewski – Tie & Timber Beer Co, Springfield

Light American Wheat or Blonde Ale
Gold: Robin’s Song – River Bluff Brewing, St. Joseph & Kansas City
Silver: Electric Nectar – Bee’s Knees Brewing Co, LLC, Versailles
Bronze: Unfiltered Wheat Beer – Boulevard Brewing Co., Kansas City

Munich-Style Helles or Dortmunder
Gold: Helles Gamed – Narrow Gauge Brewing Co., Florissant
Silver: Helles Lager – Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City
Bronze: Helles – Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia

Other Hop Forward Beers
Gold: Space Camper Chillbreak IPA – Boulevard Brewing Co., Kansas City
Silver: Crisp IPA – The Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Beer, St. Louis
Bronze: Dope Flannel Rye IPA – Tie & Timber Beer Co, Springfield

Porters
Gold: Old Town Porter – Narrow Gauge Brewing Co., Florissant
Silver: Second Breakfast Porter – East Forty Brewing, Blue Springs
Bronze: Dark Matter – Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia

Stouts
Gold: Sidetrack Stout – Tie & Timber Beer Co, Springfield
Silver: Sweat Bee Stout – Bee’s Knees Brewing Co, LLC, Versailles
Bronze: Revelation Stout – Public House Brewing Co., Rolla

Stouts – Adjunct
Gold: Madam X Milk Stout with Coffee – Fringe Beerworks, Lee’s Summit
Silver: Cheer Up Charlie – Third Wheel Brewing, St. Peters
Bronze: Peanut Butter & Stout – Narrow Gauge Brewing Co., Florissant

West Coast-Style India Pale Ale
Gold: Colors in Your Mind – BKS Artisan Ales, Kansas City
Silver: West Bottoms IPA – Stockyards Brewing Co., Kansas City
Bronze: Snapper – Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia

Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers
Gold: Where Angels Fear to Tread – East Forty Brewing, Blue Springs
Silver: Bourbon Barrel Quad – Boulevard Brewing Co., Kansas City
Bronze: What Barrels? Barrel Aged Barleywine Ale – Transparent Brewing Co., Grandview

Other Than Beer
Gold: Space Camper Zero Gravity – Boulevard Brewing Co., Kansas City
Silver: Farmstand Cider – Springfield Brewing Co., Springfield
Bronze: Cantaloupe and Acai Hard Seltzer – Diametric Brewing Co, Lee’s Summit

Missouri Brewery of the Year – Under 1,000 Barrels:
BKS Artisan Ales, Kansas City

Missouri Brewery of the Year – Over 1,000 Barrels
Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City

The Missouri Craft Brewers Guild
The Missouri Craft Brewers Guild is the statewide nonprofit trade association dedicated to protecting, promoting, and advancing Missouri’s independent craft breweries. Through legislative advocacy, educational programs, and industry-wide networking, the Guild ensures that small and independent brewers have a unified voice at the Capitol and the resources to thrive in a competitive market. By fostering collaboration over competition, the organization strengthens the economic impact of craft beer—now supporting thousands of jobs and contributing millions to local communities across the Show-Me State.

In addition to policy work, the Guild hosts signature events like the annual Missouri Craft Brewers Conference and the newly launched Missouri Beer Cup, the state’s only professional beer competition run by and for Missouri breweries. These initiatives celebrate innovation, elevate quality standards, and connect consumers with the stories behind every pint. Whether through marketing campaigns, technical workshops, or guild-exclusive benefits, the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild remains committed to growing a vibrant, sustainable craft beer culture that puts Missouri on the national map.