The American Homebrewers Association® (AHA) — the national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the hobby of homebrewing — announced the winners of the 2023 National Homebrew Competition (NHC) during its annual Homebrew Con™ conference in San Diego. 120 medals in 40 categories were awarded for the most outstanding homemade beer, mead, and cider. Six major awards recognizing overall brewing excellence were also presented.
The 2023 competition received 4,335 entries from 1,708 homebrewers across 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 13 countries.
“The impressive quality of entries from this year's winners demonstrated immense dedication, innovation, and skill in the art of homebrewing. These creations captivated the taste buds of the judges, showcased a diverse range of flavors, and set the standard for excellence in fermentation,” said Chris Williams, competition director. “Congratulations to the 2023 National Homebrew Competition winners!”
The winners of the most-entered categories were:
Category 3: Pilsner
GOLD: Jared Aumen | Ann Arbor, MI | Ann Arbor Brewers Guild | German Pils
SILVER: Robby Narquis | Richland, WA | New Zealand Pilsner
BRONZE: Gregory Rinehardt | Abingdon, VA | Stooges Brew Club | New Zealand Pilsner
Category 18: Hazy IPA
GOLD: Jon Dieter | Concord, OH | Brewly Homebrew Club| Hazy IPA
SILVER: Peter Cooke | Bridgewater, NJ | Garden State (GS) Homebrewers | Hazy IPA
BRONZE: David Howell | Springfield, MO | Them Beer Knobbers | Hazy IPA
Category 26: European Sour Ale
GOLD: Jeff Bair | Kansas City, MO | Lambic
SILVER: Joshua Cotton | Brooklyn, NY | New York City Homebrewers Guild | Berliner Weisse
BRONZE: Kevin Wojdak | Elk Grove Village, IL | Urban Knaves of Grain Homebrew Club
Category 14: Irish & British Stout
GOLD: Chris Hunter | Martinsville, IN | Artesian Homebrewers | Sweet Stout
SILVER: Richard Shoff | Baldwinsville, NY | Irish Stout
BRONZE: Christopher Johnson | San Diego, CA | QUAFF | Irish Extra Stout
In addition to category style awards, six major awards recognizing overall brewing excellence were presented.
Homebrewer of the Year Award - Sponsored by Muntons
Recognizes the best-of-show beer judged from all gold medal winners in all beer categories.
John Heasley | Portland, OR | The Brewing Network
Cidermaker of the Year Award - Sponsored by Woodchuck Hard Cider
Recognizes the best-of-show cider judged from all gold medal winners in the cider categories.
James Werner | New Berlin, WI | Beer Barons of Milwaukee
Meadmaker of the Year Award - Sponsored by Redstone Meadery
Recognizes the best-of-show mead judged from all gold medal winners in the mead categories.
Shane Kammerer | Shawnee, KS | Kansas City Bier Meisters
Samuel Adams Ninkasi Award - Sponsored by Samuel Adams
Recognizes the entrant who accumulates the most points in the final round of competition.
Richard Shoff | Baldwinsville, NY
Gambrinus Club Award - Sponsored by Fermentis
Recognizes the club garnering the most final round points per total club entries.
New York City Homebrewers Guild | New York, NY
Homebrew Club of the Year Award - Sponsored by Briess Malt & Ingredients Co.
Awarded to the club accumulating the most total points in all categories of beer, mead, and cider in the final round of competition.
Kansas City Bier Meisters | Kansas City, KS
A complete list of winners of the 2023 National Homebrew Competition can be found here.
Photo: © Brewers Associaton
The 2023 competition received 4,335 entries from 1,708 homebrewers across 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 13 countries.
“The impressive quality of entries from this year's winners demonstrated immense dedication, innovation, and skill in the art of homebrewing. These creations captivated the taste buds of the judges, showcased a diverse range of flavors, and set the standard for excellence in fermentation,” said Chris Williams, competition director. “Congratulations to the 2023 National Homebrew Competition winners!”
The winners of the most-entered categories were:
Category 3: Pilsner
GOLD: Jared Aumen | Ann Arbor, MI | Ann Arbor Brewers Guild | German Pils
SILVER: Robby Narquis | Richland, WA | New Zealand Pilsner
BRONZE: Gregory Rinehardt | Abingdon, VA | Stooges Brew Club | New Zealand Pilsner
Category 18: Hazy IPA
GOLD: Jon Dieter | Concord, OH | Brewly Homebrew Club| Hazy IPA
SILVER: Peter Cooke | Bridgewater, NJ | Garden State (GS) Homebrewers | Hazy IPA
BRONZE: David Howell | Springfield, MO | Them Beer Knobbers | Hazy IPA
Category 26: European Sour Ale
GOLD: Jeff Bair | Kansas City, MO | Lambic
SILVER: Joshua Cotton | Brooklyn, NY | New York City Homebrewers Guild | Berliner Weisse
BRONZE: Kevin Wojdak | Elk Grove Village, IL | Urban Knaves of Grain Homebrew Club
Category 14: Irish & British Stout
GOLD: Chris Hunter | Martinsville, IN | Artesian Homebrewers | Sweet Stout
SILVER: Richard Shoff | Baldwinsville, NY | Irish Stout
BRONZE: Christopher Johnson | San Diego, CA | QUAFF | Irish Extra Stout
In addition to category style awards, six major awards recognizing overall brewing excellence were presented.
Homebrewer of the Year Award - Sponsored by Muntons
Recognizes the best-of-show beer judged from all gold medal winners in all beer categories.
John Heasley | Portland, OR | The Brewing Network
Cidermaker of the Year Award - Sponsored by Woodchuck Hard Cider
Recognizes the best-of-show cider judged from all gold medal winners in the cider categories.
James Werner | New Berlin, WI | Beer Barons of Milwaukee
Meadmaker of the Year Award - Sponsored by Redstone Meadery
Recognizes the best-of-show mead judged from all gold medal winners in the mead categories.
Shane Kammerer | Shawnee, KS | Kansas City Bier Meisters
Samuel Adams Ninkasi Award - Sponsored by Samuel Adams
Recognizes the entrant who accumulates the most points in the final round of competition.
Richard Shoff | Baldwinsville, NY
Gambrinus Club Award - Sponsored by Fermentis
Recognizes the club garnering the most final round points per total club entries.
New York City Homebrewers Guild | New York, NY
Homebrew Club of the Year Award - Sponsored by Briess Malt & Ingredients Co.
Awarded to the club accumulating the most total points in all categories of beer, mead, and cider in the final round of competition.
Kansas City Bier Meisters | Kansas City, KS
A complete list of winners of the 2023 National Homebrew Competition can be found here.
Photo: © Brewers Associaton
