Spirit of Free Beer 2026

Best of Show 

Place, Brewer, Entry Name, Style, Club

 1st, Matthew Pyle, Recycled Yeast, 19A: American Amber Ale, BURP

 2nd, Sean Keegan, El Cogui Nocturna, 16C: Tropical Stout, FOAM

 3rd, Joseph Schneider, Peach Musky Hunter, 29A: Fruit Beer,

 HM, Bill Ridgely
Co-Brewer: Wendy Aaronson, Mann Overboard, 27A4: London Brown Ale, BURP

Bill Moe Award

The Bill Moe Award is given for the best extract-based beer. Entries do not have to be completely extract based. However, at least 50% of the fermentables must be based on malt extract

1st, Joe Klem, A Chill Day, 18B: American Pale Ale, GRIST

Winning Entries

Standard American Beer (4 entries)

1st, Bob Rouse MHP, Genny's Not Here, 1C: Cream Ale, BURP

 2nd, Emily Michelsen
Howard Michelsen, Winterbaby Wheat, 1D: American Wheat Beer, BURP

 3rd, Ben Gaylord MHP, Tight Lines Lager, 1B: American Lager,

Pale Malty European Lager (9 entries)

1st, Ben Gaylord MHP, Somewhere Between Heaven and Helles, 4A: Munich Helles,

 2nd, Jeanie Osburn, Boxing Day Brew, 4A: Munich Helles, BURP

 3rd, Ryan McGeeney, RPM Mexican Lager, 2A: International Pale Lager,

Czech Lager (9 entries)

1st, Bob Rouse MHP, Ganz Wien, 3C: Czech Amber Lager, BURP

 2nd, Robert Stevens, RoAnne Cerne, 3D: Czech Dark Lager, BURP

 3rd, Gregory Sanial MHP, Decoction Concoction, 3B: Czech Premium Pale Lager, PrimeTime Brewers

Pale Bitter European Beer (8 entries)

1st, Jeffrey Rocker MHP, Derrick's Dort, 5C: German Helles Exportbier,

 2nd, Cole Christian MHP
Co-Brewer: Paulette Palacios, Barke Barke Pils, 5D: German Pils, DC Homebrewers

 3rd, Robert Schodorf MHP, Koenigshalle Leichtbier, 5A: German Leichtbier, Birmingham Brewmasters

Amber European Beer (11 entries)

1st, Ryan Reddinger, Oliphant Amber Lager, 7A: Vienna Lager,

 2nd, Kyle Ernsberger MHP, V, 7A: Vienna Lager, CHAMPS

 3rd, Bill Ridgely
Co-Brewer: Wendy Aaronson, Festivus Restivus, 6A: Märzen, BURP

Dark & Strong European Beer (4 entries)

1st, Christopher Chervin, Hoppy Baltic Porter, 9C: Baltic Porter, DC Homebrewers

 2nd, David Galich MHP
Co-Brewer: Michael Amati, PDunkel, 8A: Munich Dunkel, Chicken City Ale Raisers

 3rd, Richard Horvitz, Going Baltistic, 9C: Baltic Porter, GRIST

Pale British Beer (11 entries)

1st, Bill Ridgely
Co-Brewer: Wendy Aaronson, Raccoon Redux, 11C: Strong Bitter, BURP

 2nd, Omar Al-Nidawi MHP, Bitter, 11B: Best Bitter, DC Homebrewers

 3rd, Edward Bielaus
Co-Brewer: Boris Barrere, Natash's Best Bitter, 11B: Best Bitter, BURP

Scottish Ale & Irish Beer (8 entries)

1st, Jeff Adamson, Right on Red, 15A: Irish Red Ale,

 2nd, Bryan Smith
Co-Brewer: Andrew Fowler, Cap in the Mash, 15A: Irish Red Ale, BURP

 3rd, Joe D'Auria MHP, Scott's Heavy and he knows it, 14B: Scottish Heavy, MASH HOLES

Brown Ales (9 entries)

1st, Bill Ridgely
Co-Brewer: Wendy Aaronson, Mann Overboard, 27A4: London Brown Ale, BURP

 2nd, Edward Bielaus
Co-Brewer: Boris Barrere, Sorrows of Empire British Brown Ale, 13B: British Brown Ale, BURP

 3rd, Theodore Casser MHP, Nebbish, 13A: Dark Mild,

Stout (19 entries)

1st, Sean Keegan, El Cogui Nocturna, 16C: Tropical Stout, FOAM

 2nd, Brian Donegan, Stouty McStout Face, 16B: Oatmeal Stout, Seven City Brewers

 3rd, Richard Sizemore, Oat of the Darkness, 16B: Oatmeal Stout, BURP

Porter (5 entries)

1st, Bill Ridgely
Co-Brewer: Wendy Aaronson, Poppelton Porter, 13C: English Porter, BURP

 2nd, Cole Christian MHP
Co-Brewer: Paulette Palacios, Porter Alfredson, 13C: English Porter, DC Homebrewers

 3rd, Jeanie Osburn, HBD, Boone, 20A: American Porter, BURP

American Pale & Amber Ale (10 entries)

1st, Matthew Pyle, Recycled Yeast, 19A: American Amber Ale, BURP

 2nd, Paulette Palacios MHP, Quark's KRUSH, 18B: American Pale Ale, DC Homebrewers

 3rd, Joe Klem, A Chill Day, 18B: American Pale Ale, GRIST

IPA (10 entries)

1st, Ryan McGeeney, RPM Hazy IPA, 21C: Hazy IPA,

 2nd, Robert Stevens, RoAnne Session IPA, 21B: Specialty IPA, BURP

 3rd, Ryan McGeeney, RPM Rye IPA, 21B5: Rye IPA,

Strong, Smoked, & Wood-Aged Beer (9 entries)

1st, Bill Ridgely
Co-Brewer: Grodfathers Ed Bielaus & Greg Leifer, Great Grodfather #1, 27A5: Piwo Grodziskie, BURP

 2nd, Kyle Ernsberger MHP, Weee, 17C: Wee Heavy, CHAMPS

 3rd, David Galich MHP, Burton Alley, 17A1: Burton Ale, Chicken City Ale Raisers

German Wheat & Belgian Ale (14 entries)

1st, Jeanie Osburn, Too Many Chores!, 10A: Weissbier, BURP

 2nd, Emily Michelsen
Co-Brewer: Howard Michelsen, New Moon Rising, 24A: Witbier, BURP

 3rd, Robert Schodorf MHP, Looney Blue, 24A: Witbier, Birmingham Brewmasters

Monastic Ale (6 entries)

1st, Bill Ridgely
Co-Brewer: Wendy Aaronson, Dubbel Trubbel, 26B: Belgian Dubbel, BURP

 2nd, Adam Wojciechowicz
Co-Brewer: Teddy & Elly Wojciechowicz, The Boys Are At It Again, 26A: Belgian Single,

 3rd, Jeanie Osburn, Snowy Blonde, 26A: Belgian Single, BURP

Fruit Beer & Sour/Wild Ale (4 entries)

1st, Joseph Schneider, Peach Musky Hunter, 29A: Fruit Beer,

 2nd, James Bixby
Co-Brewer: Lily Bixby, Pickle Brine, 28C: Wild Specialty Beer, Progress Ale Works

 3rd, James Bixby, OHHHH YEAHHH, 28C: Wild Specialty Beer, Progress Ale Works

Spiced Beer (5 entries)

1st, Mike Caiola, Mexican Hot Chocolate, 30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer, BADASS

 2nd, Doug Galloway, Lost in the Darkness, 30D: Specialty Spice Beer, BURP

 3rd, Peter Saunders, A Mint Red Thing, 30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer,

Specialty Beer (8 entries)

1st, Richard Sizemore, Dragon's Rye Weizenbock, 34B: Mixed-Style Beer, BURP

 2nd, Jim Schmalbach, POM, 31B: Alternative Sugar Beer, Keystone Hops

 3rd, Nathan James MHP, Final Boss Vibes, 34A: Commercial Specialty Beer, BADASS