Best of the Bay 2026
Thanks to all who participated in the Best of the Bay 2026.
There were 196 entries judged and 102 registered participants, judges, and stewards.
Past Winners
View past winners:
Best of Show Winners
Best of Show – Beer
| Place | Brewer | Entry Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Steve Ferguson | Way Heavy | 17C: Wee Heavy | West Sound Brewers |
| 2nd | Paul Damm | Damm American Stout | 20B: American Stout | Upper Palmetto Zymurgy Society |
| 3rd | Kyle Durham | Good Friends and A Bottle of Pils | 5D: German Pils |
Winning Entries
Cider (5 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Bill Boyer | Black Is Beautiful - Cider | C2B: Cider with Other Fruit | Woodstock Malt Monkeys |
| 2nd | Matthew Williamson | Raistlin's Cider | C2E: Cider with Herbs/Spices | Bakersfield Organization Of Brewers |
| 3rd | Matthew Williamson | Dragonheart | C2B: Cider with Other Fruit | Bakersfield Organization Of Brewers |
Dark European Lager (9 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kyle Durham | Critical Darkness | 8B: Schwarzbier | |
| 2nd | Andrew Southwick | This'll Cure Yer Covid | 9B: Eisbock | Bellingham Homebrewers Guild |
| 3rd | Nic Templeton | Singing Revolution | 9C: Baltic Porter |
Sour Ale (7 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Andrew Southwick | She's My Cherry Pie | 23F: Fruit Lambic | Bellingham Homebrewers Guild |
| 2nd | Tristan McCoy Co-Brewer: Kyle Jung & John Hocking | Fat Spyro Mode | 23F: Fruit Lambic | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
| 3rd | Garreth Wippel | La Biere de Peche | 23F: Fruit Lambic | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
American and International Lagers (9 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kris Haskins | I Want My Hat Back! | 27A6: Kentucky Common | Cascade Brewers Guild |
| 2nd | Steven Ouzts Co-Brewer: Zach Zanassi | ¡sodo Mojo! | 1A: American Light Lager | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
| 3rd | Kris Haskins | Younglang | 2B: International Amber Lager | Cascade Brewers Guild |
Smoked and Wood Beer (7 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paul Karcher Co-Brewer: Chuck Labiszak | McGreggors | 33B: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer | Beer Barons of Milwaukee |
| 2nd | Deborah Prichard | John Miller's das Boot | 6B: Rauchbier | Red Earth Brewers |
| 3rd | Ted Trowbridge | Saazampan | 27A2: Piwo Grodziskie |
Imperial Stout (8 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Alan Burdick | Michelle | 20C: Imperial Stout | West Sound Brewers |
| 2nd | Josh Holliday | No Pout Stout | 20C: Imperial Stout | Yakima Valley Hop Heads |
| 3rd | Matthew Hibbs | Burning Gravy | 20C: Imperial Stout | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
Stout (7 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paul Damm | Damm American Stout | 20B: American Stout | Upper Palmetto Zymurgy Society |
| 2nd | Megan Davis | Sweet Stout | 16A: Sweet Stout | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
| 3rd | Justin Revelstoke | A Sharp Cat To the Face To Help You Start the Day. | 16A: Sweet Stout | Bellingham Homebrewers Guild |
Fruit Beer (8 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Garreth Wippel | Tropitonic | 29C: Specialty Fruit Beer | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
| 2nd | Paul Damm | Damm Mango Pils | 29A: Fruit Beer | Upper Palmetto Zymurgy Society |
| 3rd | Ben Sookying | Big Stick | PRX4: Catharina Sour | Crown of the Valley Brewing Society |
| HM | Bill Boyer | Shot In the Dark - Cherry | 29A: Fruit Beer | Woodstock Malt Monkeys |
American Wild Ale (9 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jason Mantello | The Right Device | 28A: Brett Beer | Bellingham Homebrewers Guild |
| 2nd | David Sleipness | Ssss Sour | 28B: Mixed Fermentation Sour Beer | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
| 3rd | Cory Geerdts | Brett Saison | 28A: Brett Beer | Bellingham Homebrewers Guild |
Blonde and American Wheat Ale (12 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Robert Rothschiller | Tight But Loose | 1D: American Wheat Beer | |
| 2nd | Ryan Wallace | Dude Bruh Summer Ale | 18A: Blonde Ale | |
| 3rd | Daniel Calzaretta | Rage'n Wheat | 1D: American Wheat Beer |
American Pale Ale (10 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Peter Hand | Hand Pale Ale | 18B: American Pale Ale | |
| 2nd | Matt Yoakum | Pale Ale | 18B: American Pale Ale | Bellingham Homebrewers Guild |
| 3rd | Phillip Saurer | Talus Pale Ale | 18B: American Pale Ale | West Sound Brewers |
Czech Lager (9 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Matt Torjusen | Czech Mørk | 3D: Czech Dark Lager | |
| 2nd | Jim Dunlap | Jd Pils | 3B: Czech Premium Pale Lager | Cascade Brewers Guild |
| 3rd | Daniel Calzaretta | Czech Dreams | 3B: Czech Premium Pale Lager |
German Pilsner (9 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kyle Durham | Good Friends and A Bottle of Pils | 5D: German Pils | |
| 2nd | Paul Damm | Damm German Pils | 5D: German Pils | Upper Palmetto Zymurgy Society |
| 3rd | Jim Dunlap | Borderland Pils | 5D: German Pils | Cascade Brewers Guild |
Pale European Lager (9 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paul Damm | Damm Munich Helles | 4A: Munich Helles | Upper Palmetto Zymurgy Society |
| 2nd | Casey Faulkner Co-Brewer: Derek Zanto | Kolsch | 5B: Kolsch | |
| 3rd | Brandon Huston | G.O.A.T. Bier | 4A: Munich Helles | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
Amber European Lager (6 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Dave Frombach | Vienna Lager | 7A: Vienna Lager | West Sound Brewers |
| 2nd | Steven Ouzts Co-Brewer: Zach Zanassi | Oktcovidfest | 6A: Marzen | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
| 3rd | Doug Burghart | Bock In Black | 6C: Dunkels Bock | Bellingham Homebrewers Guild |
Strong Ale (6 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Steve Ferguson | Way Heavy | 17C: Wee Heavy | West Sound Brewers |
| 2nd | Tim Frommer | The Tories Are Killing Britain | 17D: English Barleywine | Cascade Brewers Guild |
| 3rd | Matthew Hibbs | Wee Gravy | 17C: Wee Heavy | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
British Isles Beer (5 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Rob Baysden | British Golden Ale | 12A: British Golden Ale | West Sound Brewers |
| 2nd | Tony Ochsner | Talli the Timid | 13A: Dark Mild | Cascade Brewers Guild |
| 3rd | Enid Lints | English Porter | 13C: English Porter | West Sound Brewers |
Strong Belgian and Trappist Ale (7 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Steve Ferguson | Sdubbel | 26B: Belgian Dubbel | West Sound Brewers |
| 2nd | Kelvin Keown Co-Brewer: Kevin G | Blond Fraise | 25B: Saison | |
| 3rd | Steve Hartman | In Absentia | 25B: Saison | Cascade Brewers Guild |
| HM | Joseph Bak-Coleman | Mellifera | 25B: Saison |
German and Belgian Ales (7 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Steve Ferguson | Belpal | 24B: Belgian Pale Ale | West Sound Brewers |
| 2nd | Kelli Taylor | Sykkylven Sunshine | 24C: Biere de Garde | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
| 3rd | Dustin Striplin | Heffelump | 10A: Weissbier | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
American and Double IPA (11 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Cory Geerdts | IPA | 21A: American IPA | Bellingham Homebrewers Guild |
| 2nd | Aaron Davis | Muse IPA | 21A: American IPA | Browns Point Homebrew Club |
| 3rd | Kris Haskins | Ray of Sunshine | 22A: Double IPA | Cascade Brewers Guild |
Specialty IPA (13 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Daniel Calzaretta | Now You're Just Ranting | 21B7: New England IPA | |
| 2nd | McLean Johnson | Hazy Daisy | 21B7: New England IPA | |
| 3rd | Justin Revelstoke | Beerly Beloved, Saccharification Rest In Peace. Mashes To Mashes, Must To Must. When Your Cask Becomes A Casket, When Gas Leaks From Your Gasket, What 'o What 'o What To Brew, When Brewing For A Funeral of Two; Woe Unto This Dirge of A Dark B | 21B2: Black IPA | Bellingham Homebrewers Guild |
Spiced Beer (10 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Dave Frombach | Imperial Dreams | 30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer | West Sound Brewers |
| 2nd | Tony Ochsner | Spruced Up Saison | 30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer | Cascade Brewers Guild |
| 3rd | Trevor Alcorn Co-Brewer: Jeffrey Alcorn | Wenceslaus Winter Ale | 30C: Winter Seasonal Beer |
American Brown and Porter (5 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Cory Geerdts | American Porter | 20A: American Porter | Bellingham Homebrewers Guild |
| 2nd | Ryan Wallace | Woolley Jack | 20A: American Porter | |
| 3rd | Alan Burdick | The Skier | 20A: American Porter | West Sound Brewers |
American Amber Beer (8 entries)
| Place | Brewer | Name | Style | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Andrew Southwick | Californication | 19B: California Common | Bellingham Homebrewers Guild |
| 2nd | Robert Rothschiller | Monkey See Monkey do | 19A: American Amber Ale | |
| 3rd | Jim Dunlap | Tracey's Special Brew | 19A: American Amber Ale | Cascade Brewers Guild |