Kansas City, Mo. | June 28, 2025 – The American Homebrewers Association® (AHA)—the national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the hobby of homebrewing—announced the winners of the 2025 National Homebrew Competition (NHC) during an awards ceremony at Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City, Mo. 120 medals in 40 categories were awarded for the most outstanding homemade beer, mead, and cider. Nine awards recognizing outstanding contributions to homebrewing were also presented.
The NHC is the world’s largest stage for amateur homebrewers to showcase their skills, creativity, and passion for home fermentation. The 2025 competition received 2,974 entries from 1,086 AHA members across 48 states, Washington, D.C., and 7 countries. In total, more than 169,000 entries have been evaluated since the inaugural AHA National Homebrew Competition in 1979 in Boulder, Colo.
First Round entries were judged in seven cities (Chicago, Ill., Indianapolis, Ind., Longmont, Colo., New York, N.Y., San Diego, Calif., Seattle, Wash. and Tampa, Fla.) in March and April and the Final Round, led by local organizing leaders Kansas City Bier Meisters, was judged June 26-27 in Kansas City, Mo.
MOST-ENTERED STYLE CATEGORIES
The winners of the most-entered categories were (Name | Location | Homebrew Club | BJCP Subcategory):
Category 26: Strong Belgian Ale (118 entries)
- GOLD: James Allen | Highlands Ranch, Colo. | Rock Hoppers Brew Club | 26C
- SILVER: Justin Holman | Weston Lakes, Texas | Cider, Homebrew, and Mead Production Specialists (CHAMPS) | 26D
- BRONZE: Jim Thompson | Vancouver, Wash. | Oregon Brew Crew | 26C
Category 2: Pale European Beer (110 entries)
- GOLD: Donald Schneider | Windsor, Colo. | Weizguys Homebrew Club | 5A
- SILVER: Colby Reineke | Minnesota | Minnesota Home Brewers Association | 27A1
- BRONZE: Jayme & Cody Naramore | Quenemo, Kan. | Kansas City Bier Meisters | 2A
Category 15: Irish & British Stout (108 entries)
- GOLD: Jamie Moulton | Niwot, Colo | The Big Lebrewskis | 16D
- SILVER: Tyler Miller | Mesa, Ariz. | Arizona Society of Homebrewers | 16B
- BRONZE: Jarrett Long & Amanda Long | Arlington, Texas | Horsemen of the Hopocalypse | 16D
A complete list of winners of the 2025 National Homebrew Competition can be found here.
MAJOR AWARDS
In addition to category style awards, six major awards recognizing overall brewing excellence were presented.
Homebrewer of the Year Award
- Recognizes the best-of-show beer judged from all gold medal winners in all beer categories.
- Wayne Doucette | Big Lake, Minn.
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, Wis.
Meadmaker of the Year Award
- Recognizes the best-of-show mead judged from all gold medal winners in the mead categories.
- Doug Brown & Alexandria Horn | San Diego, Calif.
Samuel Adams Ninkasi Award – Sponsored by Samuel Adams: Brewing the American Dream
- Recognizes the entrant who accumulates the most points in the final round of competition.
- Tyler Miller | Mesa, Ariz.
Gambrinus Club Award
- Recognizes the club garnering the most final round points per total club entries.
- Ann Arbor Brewers Guild | Ann Arbor, Mich.
Homebrew Club of the Year Award – Sponsored by Trip’s Beer Trips
- Awarded to the club accumulating the most total points in all categories of beer, mead, and cider in the final round of competition.
- Arizona Society of Homebrewers
“Our expert lineup of judges was captivated by a diverse range of flavors and styles from this year’s winners,” said Chris Williams, competition director. “Each year we are impressed by the dedication, innovation, and skill AHA members bring to this competition on both as brewers and as judges. Congratulations to the 2025 winners!”
View previous award winners here.
ANNUAL RECOGNITION AWARDS
The AHA also recognized people and organizations that inspire, defend, and innovate within the homebrewing community:
Homebrew Shop of the Year Award – Sponsored by RahrBSG
- Awarded to homebrew supply shops on the merits of community support, education, customer service and engagement, promotion of homebrewing, and responsible business practices.
- Keystone Homebrew Supply | Souderton, Pa.
American Homebrewers Association Recognition Award
- Awarded for outstanding service to the community of homebrewers.
- Roxanne Westendorf | Cincinnati, Ohio
- Read more about Roxanne’s contributions to the homebrewing community.
Member Deal of the Year Award
- Awarded to the most popular AHA Member Deal based on votes from AHA members.
- Perennial Artisan Ales | St. Louis, Mo.
“The National Homebrew Competition is the world’s largest and longest running homebrew competition that celebrates thousands of entrants, Beer Judge Certification Program judges, stewards and volunteer organizers. What an epic display of brewing, passion, art, science, sensory evaluation and community. Stay tuned to brew and enter in 2026,” said Julia Herz, AHA executive director.
The 2025 National Homebrew Competition was made possible in part by the generous support of sponsors. A special thank you to First Round judging sites and organizers, City Barrel Brewing Co. for receiving Final Round entries, and to Boulevard Brewing Co. for hosting Final Round judging and the awards ceremony.
Editor’s note: Photos for media use are available upon request.
Contact: Julia Herz; ed@homebrewersassociation.org
About the American Homebrewers Association:
The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of more than 20,000 homebrewers. The AHA organizes events including the National Homebrew Competition, Big Brew for National Homebrew Day, and Learn to Homebrew Day. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy®, the longest-running magazine for homebrewers. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association®, whose Brewers Publications® division is the leading publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers. Beer lovers, fermentation fans, and anyone interested in making their own homemade beer are invited to learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org. Follow the AHA on Instagram and Facebook.
The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.
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