2026 NHC Awards: Live Winners List

rachel · June 20, 2026, 2:30pm

We’ll update this thread live as winners are announced during the 2026 National Homebrew Competition Awards on June 20, 4:00 p.m. MT.

Watch the livestream of the Awards Ceremony on the NHC website: National Homebrew Competition

Refresh this thread throughout the ceremony for category medalists and Major Award winners. Final results will also be posted on the AHA website after the ceremony.

Table 1: Pale American Beer

First: Jeff Zwetsch, Anaheim, CA, Ace Brewing Society

Second: Rodney Kibzey, Portland, OR, Oregon Brew Crew

Third: Pete Graham, Fishers, IN, Foam Blowers of Indiana, Inc (FBI)

Table 2: Pale European Beer

First: Steven Severn, Santa Ana, CA, Orange County Mash Ups

Second: Ron Barnes, Basehor, KS, Kansas City Bier Meisters

Third: Juan Pablo Salcedo, San Ysidro, CA, Tijuana Homebrew Club

Table 3: Pale Lager

First: Tom Zacher, Murrysville, PA, Three Rivers Underground Brewers (TRUB)

Second: Ian Campbell, Portland, OR, Portland Brewers Collective

Third: Rob Hardisty, Fort Collins, CO, Liquid Poets

Table 4: German Pilsner

First: Russell Berger, Portland, OR, Portland Brewers Collective

Second: Mark Hughey, Gainesville, VA

Third: Larry Bentley, North Plainfield, NJ, Garden State Homebrewers (GSHomebrewers)

Table 5: Pale Malty European Beer

First: Chuck Beckman, Gilbert, AZ, Arizona Society of Homebrewers

Second: Lee Birkett, West Dundee, IL, Midnight Carboys

Third: Bob Teich, Clear Lake, MN, River City Brewers

Table 6: Amber European Beer

First: David Towles, Amarillo, TX, High Plains Drafters [TX]

Second: Kevin Worthen, San Antonio, TX, Bexar Brewers

Third: Steve Ristau, Black Hawk, SD, Ale Riders Homebrew Club

Table 7: Dark European Lager

First: David Towles, Amarillo, TX, High Plains Drafters [TX]

Second: Beth Migalla, Highland Park, IL, North Urban Brewing Society (NUBS)

Third: Chris Kaebisch, Edgerton, WI

Table 8: American Wheat and Blonde

First: Adam Wyss, Alamo, CA, Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

Second: Alex Owen, Stamford, CT

Third: Alex Mullen, San Diego, CA

Table 9: German Wheat and Rye Beer

First: Chuck Redpath, Downers Grove, IL

Second: Eric Boyle, Berkley, MI, Royal Oak Area Homebrew Club

Third: Wuilmer Venegas, Toronto, ON, GTA Brews Homebrew Club

Table 10: Pale British Ale

First: Tim Lambert, Albuquerque, NM, Dukes Of Ale

Second: Jamye & Cody Naramore, Quenemo, KS, Kansas City Bier Meisters

Third: Michael Johnson, Salt Lake City, UT

Table 11: Scottish and Irish Ale

First: Greg Winterburn, Rockaway, NJ

Second: Stephen P Polczynski, Moore, OK, Red Earth Brewers

Third: David Carruthers, Puyallup, WA, Puyallup Brew Crew

Table 12: American Pale Ale

First: Jamye & Cody Naramore, Quenemo, KS, Kansas City Bier Meisters

Second: Tom Leonard, Chandler, AZ, Arizona Society of Homebrewers

Third: Taylor Shastid, Walnut Creek, CA, Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

Table 13: Amber and Brown American Ale

First: Craig Martin, Louisville, KY, Louisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society (LAGERS)

Second: Jeffry Battles, Lemon Grove, CA, QUAFF

Third: Larry Reuter, Akron, OH, Society of Akron Area Zymurgists (SAAZ)

Table 14: Brown British Beer

First: Sebastian Seith, Hinsdale, IL, Brixie’s Brewers

Second: John Luhmann, West Des Moines, IA, Kansas City Bier Meisters

Third: Jeff Ong, Portland, OR, Portland Brewers Collective

Table 15: Irish and British Stout

First: Preston Booth, Easley, SC, South Carolina Upstate Homebrewers Anonymous

Second: Steven Jones, Fort Collins, CO, Liquid Poets

Third: Peter Daniels, Columbus, OH, SODZ

Table 16: American Porter and Stout

First: Trevor McGuire, Concord, CA, Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

Second: Chris Johnson, Maplewood, NJ, Morris Area Society of Homebrewers

Third: Taylor Shastid, Walnut Creek, CA, Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

Table 17: American IPA

First: Weston Wright, Thornton, CO, Indian Peaks Alers

Second: Russell Berger, Portland, OR, Portland Brewers Collective

Third: Metts Potter, Morrow, OH, Bloatarian Brewing League

Table 18: Specialty IPA

First: Jarrett Long, Arlington, TX, Horsemen of the Hopocalypse

Second: Steven Severn, Santa Ana, CA, Orange County Mash Ups

Third: Mark Pennick, Denver, CO, The Brew Crew

Table 19: Hazy IPA

First: David James, Eugene, OR, Cascade Brewers Society

Second: Tom Fontes, Long Beach, CA, Long Beach Homebrewers

Third: Colby Reineke, Minnesota, MN, Minnesota Home Brewers Association

Table 20: Strong American Ale

First: Benjamin Frymark, San Diego, CA, QUAFF

Second: Eli Palma, San Diego, CA, QUAFF

Third: Jeremy Gramkow, Boise, ID, Snake River Brewers

Table 21: Strong European Lager

First: Alex Rezmerski, Louisville, Ky, Louisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society (LAGERS)

Second: Karl Wayne King, Colleyville, TX, Cap and Hare Homebrew Club

Third: Brady Smith, Westfield, IN, Foam Blowers of Indiana, Inc (FBI)

Table 22: Strong British Ale

First: Tony Hamric, Leland, NC, Wort City Brewers

Second: Mark Unick, Wentzville, MO, St Charles County Society of Brewers

Third: Andy Co x, Wilton, CT, Underground Brewers of Connecticut

Table 23: Imperial Porter and Stout

First: Joe Formanek, Bolingbrook, IL, Urban Knaves of Grain

Second: Gerad Miller, Dayton, OH, Dayton Regional Amateur Fermentation Technologists

Third: David Zwach, Manassas, VA, Downright Obsessed Homebrewers (DOH)

Table 24: Saison

First: Mark Pennick, Denver, CO, The Brew Crew

Second: Magnus Vasilis, Gothenburg, Sweden, Hembryggning Halleluja!

Third: Bradford Berger, Pioneertown, CA, Mojave Desert Brewers Guild

Table 25: Belgian Ale

First: James Allen, Highlands Ranch, CO, Rock Hoppers Brew Club

Second: Michael Johnson, Salt Lake City, UT

Third: Pete Graham, Fishers, IN, Foam Blowers of Indiana, Inc (FBI)

Table 26: Strong Belgian Ale

First: Nicholas B. Griner, Ayer, MA, Merrimack Valley Homebrew Club

Second: Kevin Kiernan, Washington, DC, DC Homebrewers

Third: Guillermo Velasco, Tijuana, BC, Tijuana Homebrew Club

Table 27: European Sour Ale

First: Dan Acheson, Winfield, IL, Urban Knaves of Grain

Second: Kris Gould, Hamilton Township, NJ, ALEiens Homebrew Club

Third: Ian Campbell, Portland, OR, Portland Brewers Collective

Table 28: Fruit Beer

First: Josh Willard, Ocala, FL, Brick City Brewers

Second: Andy Scherzinger, Berthoud, CO, Weizguys Homebrew Club

Third: Eric Boyle, Berkley, MI, Royal Oak Area Homebrew Club

Table 29: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer

First: Steve Powell, Sioux Falls, SD, Big Sioux Brewing Society

Second: Andres Teene, Fort Collins, CO, Liquid Poets

Third: Art Kim, Highland, IN, Illiana Beer Rackers Union (IBRU)

Table 30: Specialty and Seasonal Spiced Beer

First: Douglas Mandic, Denver, CO, Aurora City Brew Club

Second: Eli Palma, San Diego, CA, QUAFF

Third: Steven Jones, Fort Collins, CO, Liquid Poets

Table 31: Smoke-Flavored Beer

First: Russell Berger, Portland, OR, Portland Brewers Collective

Second: Barry Forrest, Dallas, TX, Horsemen of the Hopocalypse

Third: Matthew Johnsen, Castle Rock, CO, Rock Hoppers Brew Club

Table 32: Wood-Aged Beer

First: Wesley Kulcak, El Campo, TX, Bay Area Mashtronauts

Second: Doug Brown, San Diego, CA, QUAFF

Third: Robbie Proctor, Pleasant Hill, CA, Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

Table 33: American Wild Ale

First: Paul Pitre, Eunice, LA, Redstick Brewmasters

Second: Shaun Huggins, Universal City, TX, San Antonio Cerveceros

Third: Kyle Hufford, Santa Barbara, CA

Table 34: Specialty Beer

First: Kenneth Troy Traynham, Spring Hill, FL, Pour Decisions Home Brew Club

Second: Dan Acheson, Winfield, IL, Urban Knaves of Grain

Third: Ben Jankowski, Oyster Bay, NY

Table 35: Traditional Mead

First: Kevin Wagner, Stilwell, KS, Kansas City Bier Meisters

Second: Shane Kammerer, Shawnee, KS, Kansas City Bier Meisters

Third: Dan Acheson, Winfield, IL, Urban Knaves of Grain

Table 36: Fruit Mead

First: Allen Martin, Gilbert, AZ, Arizona Society of Homebrewers

Second: Kyle Ducharme, Saint Albans, VT, Green Mountain Mashers

Third: Dan Acheson, Winfield, IL, Urban Knaves of Grain

Table 37: Spice Mead

First: Dan Acheson, Winfield, IL, Urban Knaves of Grain

Second: Austin Brown, Sterling Heights, MI, Brewers Anonymous

Third: Kyle Ducharme, Saint Albans, VT, Green Mountain Mashers

Table 38: Specialty Mead

First: Kyle Ducharme, Saint Albans, VT, Green Mountain Mashers

Second: Kyle Ducharme, Saint Albans, VT, Green Mountain Mashers

Third: Jarrett Long, Arlington, TX, Horsemen of the Hopocalypse

Table 39: Traditional Cider and Perry

First: Jeffrey Carlson, Grand Rapids, MI, PrimeTime Brewers