Awards

Since 1987, the Brewers Association has been recognizing individuals who inspire, defend and innovate within the craft brewing industry.

In addition to the individual awards for brewers, the BA also conducts two prestigious national and international brewing competitions.

Brewing Competitions

Great American Beer Festival
World Beer Cup

Individual Awards

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Brewers Association Recognition Award

The Brewers Association Recognition Award is presented each year to an individual or company whose inspiration, enthusiasm and support have contributed to the craft brewing movement

Recipients

• 2024 – John Pinkerton, Moon River Brewing Co.
• 2023 – Jessica and Richard Fierro, Atrevida Beer Co.
• 2022 – Steve Hindy, Brooklyn Brewery
• 2021 – John Mallett, Bell’s Brewery, Inc.
• 2020 – Oscar Wong, Highland Brewing Co.
• 2019 – Kim Jordan, New Belgium Brewing Company
• 2018 – Charles Bamforth, UC Davis
• 2017 – Vinnie & Natalie Cilurzo, Russian River Brewing Co.
• 2016 – Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Brewery
• 2015 – Dave and Diane Alexander, Brickskeller
• 2014 – Teri Fahrendorf, Founder of Pink Boots Society
• 2013 – Art Larrance, Cascade Brewing/Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub
• 2012 – Doug Odell, Wynne Odell and Corkie Odell, Odell Brewing Co.
• 2011 – John McDonald, Boulevard Brewing Co.
• 2010 – Larry Bell, Bell’s Brewery, Inc.
• 2009 – Ken Allen, Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
• 2008 – Dr. Michael Lewis, U.C. Davis
• 2007 – Jack McAuliffe, New Albion Brewing Co.
• 2006 – Chuck Skypeck, Boscos Brewing Co.
• 2005 – Carol Stoudt, Stoudts Brewing Company
• 2004 – Jack Joyce, Rogue Ales
• 2003 – Mary-Anne Gruber, Briess Malting Co.
• 2002 – George Fix, Clemson University
• 2001 – Jim and Bobbie Kennedy, Admiralty Beverage Russell
• 2000 – Ralph Olson and Ralph Woodall, Hopunion CBS, LLC
• 1999 – Bill Owens, American Brewer Magazine
• 1998 – Charles Finkel, Merchant du Vin
• 1997 – Jim Koch and Rhonda Kallman, Boston Beer Co.
• 1996 – Karl Strauss, Karl M. Strauss Consulting
• 1995 – John Hickenlooper and Russell Schehrer, Wynkoop Brewing Co.
• 1994 – Fred Scheer, Frankenmuth Brewery
• 1993 – Jeff Mendel, Institute for Brewing Studies
• 1992 – Paul Shipman, Red Hook Ale Brewery
• 1991 – Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
• 1990 – Bert Grant, Yakima Brewing and Malting
• 1989 – Roger Briess, Briess Malting Co.
• 1988 – Fritz Maytag, Anchor Brewing Co.
• 1987 – Michael Jackson

Nominations

Nominations for the Brewers Association Recognition Award are accepted on a rolling basis by completing this form.

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F.X. Matt Defense of the Craft Brewing Industry Award

This award is named for the late F.X. Matt, president of the F.X. Matt Brewing Co. in Utica, N.Y., from 1980-1989, and a tireless and outspoken champion for the small brewing industry.

Recipients

• 2024 – Eric Orlando, The Zita Group, and the Brewers Guild of New Jersey
• 2023 – Ret. Representative Peter DeFazio
• 2022 – Sam Hendler, Jack’s Abby
• 2021 – Pamela Brulotte, Icicle Brewing Co.
• 2020 – Adam DeBower, Austin Beerworks
• 2019 – Danielle D’Alessandro, Illinois Craft Brewers Guild
• 2018 – Nancy Palmer, Georgia Craft Brewers Guild
• 2017 – Matt McLaughlin, McLaughlin, PC/Mississippi Brewers Guild
• 2016 – Nick Matt, F.X. Matt Brewing Co.
• 2015 – Brook Bristow, South Carolina Brewers Guild
• 2014 – Jester King Brewery, Austin, Texas
• 2013 – David Katleski, New York State Craft Brewers Guild/Empire Brewing Co
• 2012 – Tom McCormick, California Craft Brewers Association
• 2011 – Dan Kopman,St. Louis Brewery/Schlafly Beer
• 2010 – Steve Hindy, The Brooklyn Brewery
• 2009 – Eric Wallace, Left Hand Brewing Company
• 2008 – John Carlson, Colorado Brewers Guild
• 2007 – George Hancock, Pyramid Brewing Co.
• 2006 – Daniel Bradford, past BAA President
• 2005 – Marc Sorini, McDermott Will & Emery
• 2004 – Marc Sorini, BAA Counsel
• 2003 – Jim Parker, Oregon Brewers Guild
• 2002 – Mike McKinney, Texas Wholesalers Association
• 2001 – David Edgar, Past Institute for Brewing Studies Director
• 2000 – Fred Bowman, Portland Brewing Co.

Nominations

Nominations are open to individuals who have given aid and support to the causes of small, independent brewers, and by doing so have supported the Brewers Association’s goal of vigorously defending the craft beer industry.

Nominations for the F.X. Matt Defense of the Craft Brewing Industry Award are accepted on a rolling basis by completing this form.

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Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing

Russell Schehrer was a founding partner and the original head brewer at Denver’s Wynkoop Brewing Company. He passed away in 1996 at the age of 38. While he will always be fondly remembered for his special charm and sense of humor that knew no boundaries, the Brewers Association continues to honor Russell for his contributions to the brewing industry. Besides helping establish the first brewpub in Colorado, he was the first (or one of the first) microbrewers to produce mead, doppel alt, cream stout, and chili beer.

Recipients

• 2024 – Tonya Cornett, 10 Barrel Brewing Co.
• 2023 – Ben Edmunds, Breakside Brewery
• 2022 – Karl Ockert, Karl Ockert Brewing Services
• 2021 – Steven Pauwels, Boulevard Brewing Co.
• 2020 – Brendan McGivney, Odell Brewing Co.
• 2019 – Lauren Woods Limbach, New Belgium Brewing Company
• 2018 – Tomme Arthur, Port Brewing Co./The Lost Abbey
• 2017 – Will Meyers, Cambridge Brewing Co.
• 2016 – Jason Perkins, Allagash Brewing Co.
• 2015 – Steve Dresler, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
• 2014 – Mitch Steele, Stone Brewering Company
• 2013 – Peter Bouckaert, New Belgium Brewing Co.
• 2012 – James Ottolini, St. Louis Brewery, Inc.
• 2011 – Jennifer Talley, Squatters Pub Brewery/Salt Lake Brewing Co.
• 2010 – Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
• 2009 – Steve Parkes, American Brewers Guild
• 2008 – Vinnie Cilurzo, Russian River Brewing Company
• 2007 – Matt Brynildson, Firestone Walker Brewing Company
• 2006 – Dan Carey, New Glarus Brewing Company
• 2005 – Greg Noonan, Vermont Pub and Brewery
• 2004 – Dick Cantwell, Elysian Brewing Company
• 2003 – Phil Markowski, Southampton Publick House
• 2002 – John Mallett, Kalamazoo Brewing Co.
• 2001 – John Harris, Full Sail Brewing Co.
• 2000 – Mark Carpenter, Anchor Brewing Co.
• 1999 – Fal Allen, Pike Brewing; Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
• 1998 – Garrett Oliver, The Brooklyn Brewery
• 1997 – John Maier, Oregon Brewing Co./Rogue Ales

Nominations

Nominations for the Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing Award are accepted on a rolling basis by completing this form.

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Mentor of the Year

The Brewers Association recognizes a volunteer mentor for their outstanding mentorship and for demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to championing those who experience barriers to access and advancement in their professional journeys.

Recipients

• 2024 – Laura Lodge, Customized Craft Beer Programs, LLC
• 2023 – Julie Rhodes, Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions
• 2022 – Annette May, Schoolcraft College Brewing and Distillation Technology, and Ramon Tamayo, Magnolia Brewing Co.

Nominations for the Mentor of the Year Award are submitted directly by participants of the Brewers Association Mentorship Program.

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Brewers Association Craft Beer Wholesaler of the Year

The Brewers Association (BA) formerly presented the Craft Beer Wholesaler of the Year Award. The award recognized an American beer distributor who went above and beyond in their efforts to actively market, sell, and promote beer from small and independent brewers.

Recipients

2017

Elite Brands of Colorado – Denver, CO

2016

Odom Corporation – Coeur d’Alene, ID

From 2007 through 2014, the Brewers Association partnered with the National Beer Wholesalers Association to present the Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award, Achievement Award and Recognition Award. The history of those award recipients is below:

2014

Winner – J.J. Taylor Distributing Florida, Inc. – FL

Achievement – Windy City Distributing, LLC – IL

Recognition – Maletis Beverage – OR

2013

Winner – DeCrescente Distributing Company – NY

Achievement – Central States Beverage Company – MO

Recognition – Mussetter Beverage – CA

2012

Winner – Brown Distributing Company – FL

Achievement – DeCrescente Distributing Company – NY

Recognition – Tryon Distributing – NC

2011

Winner – Powers Distributing Company – MI

Achievement – J.J. Taylor Distributing – FL

Recognition – Gretz Beer Company – PA

2010

Winner – Imperial Beverage – MI

Achievement – Andrews Distributing – TX

Recognition – L. Knife & Son – MA

2009

Winner – Origlio Beverage – PA

Achievement – National Distributing Company of New Mexico – NM

Recognition – Muller, Inc. – PA

2008

Winner – Click Wholesale Distributing – WA

Achievement – Premium Distributors of Washington, D.C., LLC – DC

Recognition – Little Guy Distributing – AZ

2007

Winner – Monarch Beverage Company – IN

Achievement – Louis Glunz, Inc. – IL

Recognition – Cavalier Distributing Co. – OH