2025 Saskatoon Headhunters Brewing Competition
Awards
Judges
Aaron Brown, Wil Buell, Matt Chevrier, Mike Chowns, Kevin Collins, Scott Downey, Christopher Eskiw, Mark Heise, Tyrone Keep, Aaron Krywicki, Steven Machtaler, Steven Maier, Travis Mushanski, Fina Nelson, Greg Paterson, Chris Tower
Judges - Best of Show
Mike Chowns, Kevin Collins, Mark Heise, Travis Mushanski, Greg Paterson
Stewards
Amanda Brown, Jerry Cossette, Ted Engel, Chandler Janzen, Andy Korvemaker, Billy Walker, Travis Wiens
Staff
Aaron Brown, Amanda Brown, Andy Korvemaker
By the Numbers
197 Entries
53 Entrants
16 Judges
7 Stewards
3 Staff
73 Placing Entries
Table 1: Pale American Beer
7 entries
Judges: Steven Machtaler, Travis Mushanski, Chris Tower
1st
Daniel Molinski
Winnipeg Brew Bombers
Over The Hill (1A: American Light Lager)
2nd
Chad Kling
VanBrewers
Cluster Hops Alas (27A6: Pre-Prohibition Lager)
3rd
Andrew Ford
GTA Brews
4 (2A: International Pale Lager)
Table 2: Pale Bitter European Beer
11 entries
Judges: Kevin Collins, Steven Machtaler, Fina Nelson, Greg Paterson
1st
John Post
Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
Giuseppe's Pils (34B: Mixed-Style Beer)
2nd
Blaine Kehl
Edmonton Homebrewers Guild
Eins Neun (5D: German Pils)
3rd
Jim Cavill
Ottawa's Homebrew Society
More Sheep Than People (LSX5: New Zealand Pilsner)
Table 3: Pale Malty European Beer
7 entries
Judges: Mike Chowns, Kevin Collins
1st
Wuilmer Venegas
GTA Brews
LBS (4A: Munich Helles)
2nd
James Osborne
Helles Of A Ride (4A: Munich Helles)
3rd
Sean O'Donnell
Ottawa's Homebrew Society
These Pretzels Are Making Me Thirsty (4B: Festbier)
HM
Blaine Kehl
Edmonton Homebrewers Guild
Festzeit (4B: Festbier)
Table 4: Amber European Beer
10 entries
Judges: Mike Chowns, Greg Paterson
1st
Carsten Weitemeyer
GTA Brews
Kleiner Kommissar Anton (7A: Vienna Lager)
2nd
Sean O'Donnell
Ottawa's Homebrew Society
Lost In Germany (6C: Dunkels Bock)
3rd
Chad Kling
VanBrewers
Belsnickel Bock (6C: Dunkels Bock)
Table 5: Dark European Lager
5 entries
Judges: Wil Buell, Christopher Eskiw
1st
Keigan Ewing
True Grist
Use The Schwarz (8B: Schwarzbier)
2nd
Shane Schlesinger
GTA Brews
May The Schwarz Bier With You (8B: Schwarzbier)
Table 6: American Blonde
6 entries
Judges: Scott Downey, Aaron Krywicki
1st
James Osborne
The Iron Road (18A: Blonde Ale)
2nd
Shane Schlesinger
GTA Brews
Big Day! (18A: Blonde Ale)
3rd
David Fournier
Ottawa's Homebrew Society
Chickens And Bees (18A: Blonde Ale)
Table 7: German Wheat Beer
9 entries
Judges: Christopher Eskiw, Greg Paterson
1st
Matt McNair
Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
The Decline (10C: Weizenbock)
2nd
Gerald Gunn & Mark Murray
Ale & Lager Enthusiasts...
Gose To Hefe (10A: Weissbier)
3rd
Wuilmer Venegas
GTA Brews
La Margara (10A: Weissbier)
Table 8: British, Scottish & Irish Ale
12 entries
Judges: Kevin Collins, Christopher Eskiw, Tyrone Keep, Steven Machtaler
1st
Shane Schlesinger
GTA Brews
Irish Red (15A: Irish Red Ale)
2nd
John Ruyter
Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
King For A Day (12A: British Golden Ale)
3rd
Wuilmer Venegas
GTA Brews
Coco Viejo (14C: Scottish Export)
HM
Colin Green
GTA Brews
JOHNNY DAVIDSON (14A: Scottish Light)
Table 9: American Pale Ale
8 entries
Judges: Christopher Eskiw, Greg Paterson
1st
Aaron Krywicki & Ty Keep
Saskatoon Headhunters Brewing...
Pomona Punch (18B: American Pale Ale)
2nd
Wesley D'haene
Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
Convolved (18B: American Pale Ale)
3rd
Brent Burgoyne
Island Brewers Union
Brown Dog Pale Ale (18B: American Pale Ale)
Table 10: American & British Brown Beer
12 entries
Judges: Wil Buell, Aaron Krywicki, Fina Nelson, Chris Tower
1st
Wuilmer Venegas
GTA Brews
Lana Brown (13B: British Brown Ale)
2nd
Adam Bass
Brown Town (13B: British Brown Ale)
3rd
Casey Szott
Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
Rogue (19C: American Brown Ale)
Table 11: Porter & Stout
14 entries
Judges: Mark Heise, Steven Machtaler, Travis Mushanski, Fina Nelson
1st
Brent Burgoyne
Island Brewers Union
Brown Dog Oatmeal Stout (16B: Oatmeal Stout)
2nd
Tyrone Keep & Aaron Krywicki
Saskatoon Headhunters Brewing...
Small Town Brown (20A: American Porter)
3rd
Bernard Trevor
Edmonton Homebrewers Guild
Anchors Aweigh (20A: American Porter)
HM
Andrew Ford
GTA Brews
LIVE Extra (27A7: Pre-Prohibition Porter)
Table 12: American IPA
7 entries
Judges: Aaron Krywicki, Fina Nelson
1st
Brooks Wegner
Saskatoon Headhunters Brewing...
IPA 46 (21A: American IPA)
2nd
Brent Burgoyne
Island Brewers Union
Brown Dog IPA (21A: American IPA)
3rd
James Osborne
Sunset Express (21A: American IPA)
Table 13: Specialty & Hazy IPA
10 entries
Judges: Wil Buell, Matt Chevrier, Tyrone Keep, Steven Machtaler
1st
James Osborne
Red Over Red (21B4: Red IPA)
2nd
Andrew Ford
GTA Brews
C.M.S.C. 2.5 (21C: Hazy IPA)
3rd
Andrew Ford
GTA Brews
C.M.S.C. 2.5 (21B6: White IPA)
Table 14: Strong Beer
7 entries
Judges: Aaron Krywicki, Fina Nelson
1st
Chad Kling
VanBrewers
Things I Could Not See (17C: Wee Heavy)
2nd
Colin Green
GTA Brews
Doppel Bob (9A: Doppelbock)
3rd
Colin Green
GTA Brews
Tiny Baltic Fists (9C: Baltic Porter)
HM
Greig Frostad
American Strong Ale (22B: American Strong Ale)
Table 15: Saison & Witbier
8 entries
Judges: Mark Heise, Greg Paterson
1st
Brian Marmoreo
Kothoga (24A: Witbier)
2nd
Ryan Preston
Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
Speltcaster V3 (25B: Saison)
3rd
Gerald Gunn & Mark Murray
Ale & Lager Enthusiasts...
F&T Belle Saison (25B: Saison)
Table 16: Belgian Ale
15 entries
Judges: Wil Buell, Mike Chowns, Kevin Collins, Aaron Krywicki
1st
Patrick Paugh
Island Brewers Union
The Quadfather (26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale)
2nd
Greg Paterson
Saskatoon Headhunters Brewing...
Belgian Dark Strong (26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale)
3rd
Scott Sterling
True Grist
Sneep (26C: Belgian Tripel)
HM
Wuilmer Venegas
GTA Brews
First Belgian In A While (25C: Belgian Golden Strong Ale)
Table 17: Sour and Wild Ale
7 entries
Judges: Mark Heise, Travis Mushanski
1st
Ryan Preston
Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
Stygian Sunset V1 (28A: Brett Beer)
2nd
Brian Marmoreo
Nosfuratu (28C: Wild Specialty Beer)
3rd
Matt McNair
Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
Blood Meridian (23F: Fruit Lambic)
Table 18: Fruit Beer
10 entries
Judges: Aaron Brown, Kevin Collins
1st
Keigan Ewing
True Grist
Pucker Factor 11 (LSX4: Catharina Sour)
2nd
Steve Shaw
Winnipeg Brew Bombers
The Juice Loosener (29A: Fruit Beer)
3rd
Ted Engel
Saskatoon Headhunters Brewing...
Backyard Kitchen Sink Belgian Raspberry Stout (29A: Fruit Beer)
HM
Adrien Giddings
GTA Brews
Temptation Sensation (LSX4: Catharina Sour)
Table 19: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
8 entries
Judges: Kevin Collins, Greg Paterson
1st
David Fournier
Ottawa's Homebrew Society
It Was ME! I Touched Your Drumset! (30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer)
2nd
Matt McNair
Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
Krampus' Quaff (30C: Winter Seasonal Beer)
3rd
Wesley D'haene
Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
I Think I'm Kinda Over Drum Sets (30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer)
HM
Kyle Kellam
GTA Brews
64° 55' N, 23° 15' W (Grundarfjörður) (30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer)
Table 20: Specialty Beer
9 entries
Judges: Aaron Krywicki, Greg Paterson
1st
Aaron Brown
Saskatoon Headhunters Brewing...
Hello Darkness My Old Friend (33A: Wood-Aged Beer)
2nd
Kyle Kellam
GTA Brews
Hunting Trip (27A: Historical Beer)
3rd
Andrew Ford
GTA Brews
Krapow Kah-Rona (34C: Experimental Beer)
HM
Fina Nelson & Christopher Eskiw
Saskatoon Headhunters Brewing...
Immortal Ale (32B: Specialty Smoked Beer)
Table 21: Cider
4 entries
Judges: Wil Buell, Aaron Krywicki
1st
Alex Benjamin
Redic Trials
Mcintosh (C1A: Common Cider)
2nd
Alex Benjamin
Redic Trials
White Peach Lime (C3A: Fruit Cider)
3rd
Daniel Molinski
Winnipeg Brew Bombers
Pie Hard With A Vengeance (C3B: Spiced Cider)
Table 22: Mead
11 entries
Judges: Wil Buell, Kevin Collins, Tyrone Keep, Steven Maier
1st
Kristopher Banner
Edmonton Homebrewers Guild
Blushing Bee (M2B: Pyment)
2nd
Travis Mushanski
Ale & Lager Enthusiasts...
Oh Yeahhh! (M4C: Experimental Mead)
3rd
Kristopher Banner
Edmonton Homebrewers Guild
Golden Mane (M1B: Semi-Sweet Mead)
Best of Show
Beer
Judges: Mike Chowns, Kevin Collins, Mark Heise, Travis Mushanski, Greg Paterson
1st
Aaron Krywicki & Ty Keep
Saskatoon Headhunters Brewing...
Pomona Punch (18B: American Pale Ale)
2nd
Patrick Paugh
Island Brewers Union
The Quadfather (26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale)
3rd
Keigan Ewing
True Grist
Use The Schwarz (8B: Schwarzbier)
HM
Chad Kling
VanBrewers
Things I Could Not See (17C: Wee Heavy)
Best Club
13 Participating Clubs [Scoring Methodology]
| Place | Club | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | HM | Score |
|---|
| 1st | GTA Brews | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 28.1500000 |
| 2nd | Cowtown Yeast Wranglers | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 20.1000000 |
| 3rd | Saskatoon Headhunters Brewing Club | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17.0700000 |
| 4th | Island Brewers Union | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11.0500000 |
| 5th | Ottawa's Homebrew Society | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8.0500000 |
| 6th | True Grist | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8.0400000 |
| 7th | Edmonton Homebrewers Guild | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7.0400000 |
| 8th | VanBrewers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6.0300000 |
| Winnipeg Brew Bombers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6.0300000 |
| 10th | Ale & Lager Enthusiasts of Saskatchewan | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5.0300000 |
| 11th | Redic Trials | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.0200000 |
Scoring Methodology
Each placing entry is given the following points:
- 1st Place: 3
- 2nd Place: 2
- 3rd Place: 1
The following tie-breakers have been applied, in order of priority:
- The highest total number of first, second, and third places.
Thank You
Congratulations to All Medal Winners
