2025 Minnesota State Fair Homebrew Competition

Awards

Sponsors

Judges

Jason Berg, Al Boyce, Corbyn Burley, Stephen Cook, Aric Daul, Paul Dienhart, James Ellingson, Steve Fletty, Eric Foster, Ben Gansemer, Joe Gerteis, Jacob Hartmann, James Henjum, Doug Hoverson, Jon Hunter, Sean Kampshoff, John Longballa, Josh Mahoney, Marc Makarem, Cameron Marcott, Mark McDonald, Kevin Meintsma, Rob O'Brien, Jay Perry, Steve Piatz, Jennifer Ray-Jones, Tim Roets, Neil Schlegel, Garrick Van Buren, Ken Wentworth

Judges - Best of Show

Jason Berg, Al Boyce, James Ellingson, Joe Gerteis, Jon Hunter, John Longballa, Marc Makarem, Kevin Meintsma, Steve Piatz

Stewards

Christa Ahrens, Jeremy Beer, Tyler Capek, Eric Dorphy, Wayne Doucette, Heith Heitkamp, Chioke Jones, Aaron Rossow

Staff

Ben Aaron, Christa Ahrens, Al Boyce, Eric Dorphy, Matthew Johnson, Dave Matson, Kevin Meintsma, Michael Root, Christopher Skottegard

Organizer

Matt Cramer

By the Numbers

316 Entries 84 Entrants

30 Judges 8 Stewards 9 Staff

98 Placing Entries

Table 1: Traditional Mead

8 entries

Judges: James Ellingson, Steve Fletty (Head Judge)

Table 2: Fruit Meads

7 entries

Judges: Joe Gerteis (Head Judge), Garrick Van Buren

Table 3: Berry Mead

9 entries

Judges: Jay Perry, Steve Piatz (Head Judge)

Table 4: Stone Fruit/Melomel Meads

6 entries

Judges: Steve Fletty, Mark McDonald

Table 5: Spiced Mead

9 entries

Judges: James Ellingson, Joe Gerteis (Head Judge)

Table 6: Specialty Mead

7 entries

Judges: Kevin Meintsma, Steve Piatz

Table 7: Standard Cider and Perry

7 entries

Judges: James Ellingson, Cameron Marcott

Table 8: Specialty Cider and Perry

11 entries

Judges: Joe Gerteis, Doug Hoverson, Josh Mahoney (Head Judge), Jay Perry

Table 9: Standard American Beer - Lagers

8 entries

Judges: Jacob Hartmann (Head Judge), Jon Hunter

Table 10: Standard American Beer - Cream Ales/Wheat Beers

12 entries

Judges: Jason Berg, Aric Daul, Rob O'Brien, Garrick Van Buren (Head Judge)

Table 11: Pale Malty European Lager

9 entries

Judges: Al Boyce (Head Judge), Ben Gansemer

Table 12: European Beers - Pale/Amber/Dark

11 entries

Judges: Jason Berg (Head Judge), Neil Schlegel

Table 13: Strong European Beer

6 entries

Judges: Eric Foster (Head Judge), Rob O'Brien

Table 14: German Wheat Beer

11 entries

Judges: Stephen Cook, Eric Foster (Head Judge), John Longballa, Rob O'Brien

Table 15: British Bitter/Brown Beer

12 entries

Judges: Corbyn Burley, Matt Cramer, Kevin Meintsma, Steve Piatz (Head Judge)

Table 16: Scottish and Irish Ale

5 entries

Judges: Jon Hunter (Head Judge), Rob O'Brien

Table 17: Dark/Strong British Beer

9 entries

Judges: Kevin Meintsma (Head Judge), Tim Roets

Table 18: Pale American Ale

13 entries

Judges: James Henjum (Head Judge), Jay Perry, Jennifer Ray-Jones, Ken Wentworth

Table 19: Amber and Brown American Beer

7 entries

Judges: Doug Hoverson (Head Judge), Cameron Marcott

Table 20: American Porter and Stout

8 entries

Judges: Joe Gerteis, Doug Hoverson

Table 21: English/American IPA

9 entries

Judges: Paul Dienhart, John Longballa (Head Judge)

Table 22: Specialty IPA

7 entries

Judges: Jason Berg (Head Judge), Cameron Marcott

Table 23: Hazy IPA/Strong American Ale

19 entries

Judges: Ben Gansemer, James Henjum, Doug Hoverson (Head Judge), Garrick Van Buren

Table 24: International/Czech Lager

9 entries

Judges: James Henjum, John Longballa (Head Judge)

Table 25: Belgian Ales

17 entries

Judges: Corbyn Burley, James Henjum, John Longballa (Head Judge), Jay Perry

Table 26: Monastic Ale

16 entries

Judges: Jason Berg (Head Judge), Aric Daul, Sean Kampshoff, Mark McDonald

Table 27: Historical Beer

5 entries

Judges: Ben Gansemer, Sean Kampshoff (Head Judge)

Table 28: Sour & Wild Ales

8 entries

Judges: Corbyn Burley, Joe Gerteis (Head Judge)

Table 29: Fruit Beer

12 entries

Judges: Ben Gansemer, Kevin Meintsma, Tim Roets, Garrick Van Buren (Head Judge)

Table 30: Spiced Beer

16 entries

Judges: Jacob Hartmann, Jon Hunter, Josh Mahoney, Steve Piatz (Head Judge)

Table 31: Alternative Fermentables Beer

5 entries

Judges: Aric Daul, Kevin Meintsma (Head Judge)

Table 32: Wood & Smoked Beer

10 entries

Judges: Al Boyce (Head Judge), Neil Schlegel

Table 33: Specialty Beer

8 entries

Judges: Al Boyce (Head Judge), Marc Makarem

Best of Show

Beer

Judges: Jason Berg, Al Boyce, James Ellingson, Joe Gerteis, Jon Hunter, John Longballa, Marc Makarem, Kevin Meintsma, Steve Piatz

Best of Show

Cider

Judges: Jason Berg, Al Boyce, James Ellingson, Joe Gerteis, Jon Hunter, John Longballa, Marc Makarem, Kevin Meintsma, Steve Piatz

Best of Show

Mead

Judges: Jason Berg, Al Boyce, James Ellingson, Joe Gerteis, Jon Hunter, John Longballa, Marc Makarem, Kevin Meintsma, Steve Piatz

2025 MINN-KASI Award Winner

84 Participating Brewers [Scoring Methodology]

Thank You

Congratulations to All Medal Winners