Brewer of the Year (2026)

Click Here for Current Standings

Note: This year’s competition will utilize styles from the 2021 BJCP Guidelines

All MASH members are eligible to compete in MASH’s Brewer of the Year (B.O.T.Y.) competition. (Limit 1 entry per month for each individual or brew team.) At each month’s meeting, a specific style of beer will be judged. Members collect B.O.T.Y. points for finishing first, second or third in this monthly competition and for receiving awards in BJCP-sanctioned external competitions.

Each entrant must supply a minimum of two12 oz. bottles. Contestants are encouraged to provide additional samples to facilitate sharing with the club at large. To maintain anonymity, bottles should be free of any identifying marks.

The number of judges for the BotY evaluation will be capped at a maximum of 5 per session. Whenever possible, the judging panel shall include at least one BJCP certified judge, Cicerone or professional brewer.

Points Awarded for MASH BOTY competitions are currently:

• First Place – 5 points
• Second Place – 4 points
• Third Place – 3 points
• Entering a beer – 1 point.

Points Awarded for external competitions are currently:

• First Place – 5 points
• Second Place – 4 points
• Third Place – 3 points
• Best of Show – Additional 5 points

B.O.T.Y runs from December to November of each year. MASH awards for B.O.T.Y are given out at the Winter Solstice party.

Click on the style name to be directed to the BJCP category description. Good luck to all!

 

Month	Category	First	Second	Third
December	OPEN – BEST OF SHOW	Gary Fuller Wood Aged Specialty Beer	Rafael Dubois Schwarzbier	Dan Smyth Mixed Style Beer
January	DARK EUROPEAN LAGER Munich Dunkel – 8A Schwarzbier – 8B	David Kirsten Munich Dunkel	Roosevelt de los Santos Schwarzbier	Dan Smyth Schwarzbier
February	COCONUT BEER Must contain coconut and specify a description of the beer, identifying either a Base Style or the ingredients, specs, or target character of the beer. A general description of the special nature of the beer can cover all the required items.	Gary Fuller Winter Ale w/ Coconut	Dan Smyth Imperial Toasted Coconut Stout	David Kirsten Foreign Extra Stout w/ Coconut
March	STRONG BELGIAN ALE  Belgian Blond Ale – 25A Saison – 25B Belgian Golden Strong – 25C
April	INTERNATIONAL LAGER International Pale Lager – 2A International Amber Lager – 2B International Dark Lager – 2C
May	AMERICAN IPA – 21A
June	DARK BRITISH BEER Sweet Stout – 16A Oatmeal Stout – 16B Tropical Stout – 16C Foreign Extra Stout – 16D
July	PALE BITTER EUROPEAN BEER German Leichtbier – 5A Kölsch – 5B German Helles – 5C German Pils- 5DC
August	AMBER & BROWN AMERICAN ALE American Amber Ale – 19A California Common – 19B American Brown Ake – 19C
September	MONASTIC ALE Belgian Single – 26A Belgian Dubbel – 26B Belgian Tripel – 26C Belgian Dark Strong – 26D
October	STRONG EUROPEAN BEER Doppelbock – 9A Eisbock – 9B  Baltic Porter – 9C
November	SMOKED BEER Classic Style Smoked Beer – 32A Specialty Smoked Beer – 32B

Past B.O.T.Y. Winners

1996   Scott Ross
1997   Scott Ross
1998   Mark Swenson
1999   F&G (Bob Fischer & Scott Graham)
2000   Joe Berryman
2001   Peter Buschbaum
2002   Denise and Scott Graham
2003   Denise and Scott Graham
2004   Patrick Gibson
2005   Darryl Hickey
2006   Russell Everett
2007   Russell Everett
2008   Denise and Scott Graham
2009   Darryl Hickey
2010   Josh Kritzer
2011   Jon Britton
2012   Dave Kirsten & Bob Billany
2013   Dave Kirsten & Bob Billany
2014   Dave Kirsten & Bob Billany
2015   Matt Waldron
2016   Dave Kirsten & Bob Billany
2017   Geoffrey Shideler
2018   Geoffrey Shideler
2019   Dave Kirsten
2020   Cancelled due to Covid
2021   Gary Fuller
2022   Helena Lucerne Espino
2023   Gary Fuller
2024   David Kirsten
2025   Adam Reynolds