Brixtoberfest 2026

Awards

Judges

Dan Acheson, Brent Anderson, Lawrence Behmer, David Cooke, Curt Czapski, Dennis Dale, Kevin Drees, Derek England, David Fetty, Zach Fritts, Jennifer Gimmell, John Guilfoil, Daniel Hayosh, Tom Hayosh, Michael Helzer, Paul Isaacson, Jim Johnston, Bruce Kapraun, Mike Kimble, Chris Knight, Chuck Koch, Roger Masson, Steve McKenna, Bill Murphy, Philip Nyman, Brad Pausha, Aaron Pigors, Brad Ramsey, Doug Reynertson, Danny Sack, Parker Schubert, Calvin Seith, Sebastian Seith, Joe Skiles, Eileen Uchima, Mike Uchima, Mark Westmeyer, Jeff Whelpley, Kevin Wojdak, Eric Wood, Mica Zaragoza

Stewards

Eileen Chicvara, Michael Chinderle, Robert Donahue, Bob Mann, John McGuire, Kevin McGuire, Alex Murfey, Chris Nalbone, Mark Noe, Darrell Proksa, Frank Sheridan, Dennis Smock

Staff

David Dayhoff, David Fetty, Ken Hohl, Megan Sawa

By the Numbers

238 Entries 80 Entrants

41 Judges 12 Stewards 4 Staff

60 Placing Entries

Table 1: American Beer

14 entries

Judges: Bill Murphy, Joe Skiles, Kevin Wojdak, Mica Zaragoza

1st

Stephen Schmitt

Evanston Homebrew Club

Americana (1B: American Lager)

2nd

Kenneth McChord

Brewers Anonymous

Hungersite Lager (27A6: Pre-Prohibition Lager)

3rd

Josh Shenton

Clavicle Cream Ale (1C: Cream Ale)

Table 2: International Pale Lagers

9 entries

Judges: David Fetty, Eric Wood

1st

Ross Stuart

Arizona Society of Homebrewers

International Pale Lager (2A: International Pale Lager)

2nd

Stephen Schmitt

Evanston Homebrew Club

El Superclásico (2A: International Pale Lager)

3rd

Derek England

Club Wort

I'm Made Of Corn, Larry, What Are You Made Of? (2A: International Pale Lager)

Table 3: Amber Lagers

12 entries

Judges: Dan Acheson, Philip Nyman, Calvin Seith, Joe Skiles

1st

Brian Stephens

Keepers of Craft

Herbstfestfreudengemeinschaftsmärzen (6A: Märzen)

2nd

Gillian Muller Greyz

Evanston Homebrew Club

Long Little Doggy (2B: International Amber Lager)

3rd

Mike Ring

Oak Park Homebrewers

Life On Mars(En) (6A: Märzen)

Table 4: Pale Malty European Lager

12 entries

Judges: Dennis Dale, Tom Hayosh, Paul Isaacson, Mike Kimble, Chuck Koch

1st

Dan Acheson

Urban Knaves of Grain

Keller Pils (27A1: Kellerbier)

2nd

Jason Jecmen

Das Bigfoots Boot (4B: Festbier)

3rd

Matthew Kunesh & Ray Johansson

Brixie's Brewers

Munich Helles (4A: Munich Helles)

Table 5: Pale European Beer

12 entries

Judges: Lawrence Behmer, Dennis Dale, Tom Hayosh, Doug Reynertson, Eric Wood

1st

Ross Stuart

Arizona Society of Homebrewers

Czech Pale Lager (3A: Czech Pale Lager)

2nd

Brad Pausha

Square Kegs

Just Breathe (5B: Kölsch)

3rd

Joe Skiles

Urban Knaves of Grain

Du Hasst (5B: Kölsch)

Table 6: Strong Beer

13 entries

Judges: Roger Masson, Steve McKenna, Calvin Seith, Joe Skiles

1st

Aaron Pigors

Illiana Beer Rackers Union...

Arthur, King Of Camelot (17D: English Barley Wine)

2nd

Steve Ristau

Ale Riders Homebrew Club

Heavy Kettle (17C: Wee Heavy)

3rd

Gillian Muller Greyz

Evanston Homebrew Club

Weird Sisters (17C: Wee Heavy)

Table 7: Pilsners

14 entries

Judges: Michael Helzer, Paul Isaacson, Sebastian Seith, Joe Skiles

1st

Ross Stuart

Arizona Society of Homebrewers

Italian Pils (34B: Mixed-Style Beer)

2nd

Zach Fritts

Club Wort

Son Of Nothing (5D: German Pils)

3rd

Eric Rodriguez

Brewers Anonymous

Crooked Logs Make Straight Fires (5D: German Pils)

Table 8: Stouts & Porters

12 entries

Judges: Zach Fritts, John Guilfoil, Bruce Kapraun, Doug Reynertson, Danny Sack

1st

Robert Cisar

Homebrewers Local 402

Lucky Luciano (27A7: Pre-Prohibition Porter)

2nd

Alex & Patrick Williams

Kansas City Bier Meisters

Chocolate Thunder (16B: Oatmeal Stout)

3rd

Robert Parks

Oak Park Homebrewers

Robostout (20B: American Stout)

Table 9: American & Specialty IPA

12 entries

Judges: Dan Acheson, Jim Johnston, Mike Kimble, Chuck Koch, Sebastian Seith

1st

Colby Reineke

Minnesota Home Brewers Association

Dokkaebi Wishes (21B: Specialty IPA)

2nd

Erik Doughty & Riti Kanthan

Monmouth County Homebrewers...

Air Trombone (21A: American IPA)

3rd

Joe Skiles

Urban Knaves of Grain

Make IPA Clear Again (21A: American IPA)

Table 10: Hazy & Double IPA

10 entries

Judges: Lawrence Behmer, Daniel Hayosh, Jim Johnston, Brad Ramsey, Sebastian Seith

1st

Erik Doughty & Riti Kanthan

Monmouth County Homebrewers...

Little Boss (21C: Hazy IPA)

2nd

Eric Rodriguez

Brewers Anonymous

Cloudy With A Chance Of Beer (21C: Hazy IPA)

3rd

Metts Potter

Bloatarian Brewing League

Even More Citra! (22A: Double IPA)

Table 11: Belgian Ales

17 entries

Judges: David Cooke, Paul Isaacson, Roger Masson, Doug Reynertson, Sebastian Seith, Eileen Uchima, Mike Uchima

1st

Alex & Patrick Williams

Kansas City Bier Meisters

Sometimes B Sides Are The Best Songs (24A: Witbier)

2nd

Joshua Gallardo

Au Fil De La Fox (51A: Custom Style 51 (28C Wild Specialty Beer))

3rd

Larry Leinberger

Beer Barons of Milwaukee

Beezer St. Pierre (25B: Saison)

Table 12: Monastic & Golden Strong Ales

13 entries

Judges: Zach Fritts, Brad Ramsey, Danny Sack, Parker Schubert, Mark Westmeyer

1st

Stephen Schmitt

Evanston Homebrew Club

Tripel (26C: Belgian Tripel)

2nd

Joe Skiles

Urban Knaves of Grain

Devil Made Me Do It (25C: Belgian Golden Strong Ale)

3rd

Brent Anderson

Urban Knaves of Grain

Dubbel Dribble (26B: Belgian Dubbel)

Table 13: Wood & Smoke Beers

9 entries

Judges: David Fetty, Bruce Kapraun, Bill Murphy, Philip Nyman

1st

Brent Anderson

Urban Knaves of Grain

Keep Calm And Cellar On (33B: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer)

2nd

Calder Neely

Evanston Homebrew Club

AQ 500 (32A: Classic Style Smoked Beer)

3rd

Steve Ristau

Ale Riders Homebrew Club

Black Perle Porter (33B: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer)

Table 14: British, Scottish and Irish Beer

17 entries

Judges: Jennifer Gimmell, Chris Knight, Chuck Koch, Steve McKenna, Doug Reynertson, Mike Uchima, Jeff Whelpley

1st

Sebastian Seith

Brixie's Brewers

This Extract Kit Said It Was A Marzen (13B: British Brown Ale)

2nd

Darrell Proksa

Urban Knaves of Grain

` (11B: Best Bitter)

3rd

Metts Potter

Bloatarian Brewing League

Wobbling Giant (11A: Ordinary Bitter)

Table 15: Wheat & Rye Beers

8 entries

Judges: Kevin Drees, David Fetty

1st

Dan Acheson

Urban Knaves of Grain

The Wise Ram (10C: Weizenbock)

2nd

Jason Callicoat

German Hefeweizen (10A: Weissbier)

3rd

Jeff Whelpley

C.H.A.O.S. Brew Club

Some Are More Equal Than Others (27A8: Roggenbier)

Table 16: Fruit Beer

13 entries

Judges: Jennifer Gimmell, John Guilfoil, Daniel Hayosh, Paul Isaacson, Brad Pausha

1st

Michael Wulff

INSTABHility

Maeve (LSX4: Catharina Sour)

2nd

Gillian Muller Greyz

Evanston Homebrew Club

Sunshine And Lollipups (29C: Specialty Fruit Beer)

3rd

Dan Acheson

Urban Knaves of Grain

Inspired By New Glarus (52A: Custom Style 52 (28C Wild Specialty Beer))

Table 17: American Pale and Blonde Ales

14 entries

Judges: Curt Czapski, Derek England, Calvin Seith, Eileen Uchima, Mica Zaragoza

1st

Alex & Patrick Williams

Kansas City Bier Meisters

Leaky Keg Ale (18B: American Pale Ale)

2nd

Nicholas Benoit

Ariana Blonde (18A: Blonde Ale)

3rd

Ross Stuart

Arizona Society of Homebrewers

APA (18B: American Pale Ale)

Table 18: Golden, Amber & Brown Ales

9 entries

Judges: Aaron Pigors, Eric Wood

1st

David Traugott

Association of Bloomington-Normal...

Black Top Brown (19C: American Brown Ale)

2nd

Gregory Sanial

PrimeTime Brewers

Amber Waves Of Grain (19A: American Amber Ale)

3rd

Sebastian Seith & Calvin Seith

Brixie's Brewers

How Long Before They Call This Historical (19B: California Common)

Table 19: Amber & Dark Beer

11 entries

Judges: David Fetty, Jennifer Gimmell, Bill Murphy, Brad Pausha, Eric Wood

1st

Ross Stuart

Arizona Society of Homebrewers

CDL (3D: Czech Dark Lager)

2nd

Lawrence Behmer

C.H.A.O.S. Brew Club

Dunkel Punch (8A: Munich Dunkel)

3rd

Tim Devitt

Urban Knaves of Grain

Danube Gold (7A: Vienna Lager)

Table 20: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer

7 entries

Judges: Parker Schubert, Mark Westmeyer

1st

Dan Acheson

Urban Knaves of Grain

Heather (30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer)

2nd

John Guilfoil

Club Wort

Asian Wit (30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer)

3rd

Jeff Whelpley

C.H.A.O.S. Brew Club

Cold Lakes With Dark Bottoms (30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer)

Best of Show

Beer

1st

Michael Wulff

INSTABHility

Maeve (LSX4: Catharina Sour)

2nd

Alex & Patrick Williams

Kansas City Bier Meisters

Leaky Keg Ale (18B: American Pale Ale)

3rd

Ross Stuart

Arizona Society of Homebrewers

Czech Pale Lager (3A: Czech Pale Lager)

Best Brewer

80 Participating Brewers [Scoring Methodology]

Place	Brewer	1st	2nd	3rd	Score	Club
1st	Ross Stuart	4	0	2	20.0600000	Arizona Society of Homebrewers
2nd	Dan Acheson	3	0	1	14.0400000	Urban Knaves of Grain
	Alex & Patrick Williams	2	2	0	14.0400000	Kansas City Bier Meisters

Best Club

33 Participating Clubs [Scoring Methodology]

Place	Club	1st	2nd	3rd	Score
1st	Urban Knaves of Grain	4	2	5	32.1100000
2nd	Evanston Homebrew Club	2	4	1	22.0700000
3rd	Arizona Society of Homebrewers	4	0	2	20.0600000

Brixtoberfest 2026

Awards

Sponsors

Judges

Stewards

Staff

By the Numbers

Table 1: American Beer

Table 2: International Pale Lagers

Table 3: Amber Lagers

Table 4: Pale Malty European Lager

Table 5: Pale European Beer

Table 6: Strong Beer

Table 7: Pilsners

Table 8: Stouts & Porters

Table 9: American & Specialty IPA

Table 10: Hazy & Double IPA

Table 11: Belgian Ales

Table 12: Monastic & Golden Strong Ales

Table 13: Wood & Smoke Beers

Table 14: British, Scottish and Irish Beer

Table 15: Wheat & Rye Beers

Table 16: Fruit Beer

Table 17: American Pale and Blonde Ales

Table 18: Golden, Amber & Brown Ales

Table 19: Amber & Dark Beer

Table 20: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer

Best of Show

Beer

Best Brewer

Best Club

Scoring Methodology

Thank You

Congratulations to All Medal Winners