Congratulations to all the historical Red Mrozek Award recipients.  Larry “Red” was Tim Herzog’s original partner in starting up Flying Bison Brewing Company, and he tragically lost his life in a 1997 motorcycle accident before Flying Bison opened its doors.  That same year, the Western New York Homebrew Competition (later called “Amber Waves of Grain”) was born and since then the winner of the Strong Ales category receives a special award in Red’s honor.

We’ve compiled this list from the records we were able to find.  For additions or corrections, please contact John Crossett <jpcrossett@gmail.com> or Tim Belczak <tbelczak@niagarabrewers.org>.

• 1998: David Chudy
• 1999: Ed D’Anna
• 2000: Paul Jackson
• 2002: Keith Curtachio
• 2003: Ed D’Anna
• 2004: Dan Cassetta
• 2005: Paul Dyster
• 2011: Shawn Kerr
• 2012: Kyle Costello
• 2013: Rob Sells
• 2014: Tim Belczak
• 2015: Rob Sells
• 2016: Tim Belczak
• 2017: Brian Richards
• 2018: Greg Bogan
• 2019: John Crossett
• 2020: Sean Wall
• 2021: Dominque Burshnick & Donald Burshnick
• 2022: John Crossett
• 2023: Evan Brill
• 2024: Tim Collins

Congratulations to all the historical Best of Show (Cider/Mead) winners.  We’ve compiled this list from the records we were able to find.  For additions or corrections, please contact John Crossett <jpcrossett@gmail.com> or Tim Belczak <tbelczak@niagarabrewers.org>.

2004

• 1st BOS: Kevin Flood & Mick Barnes, NEW ENGLAND STYLE CIDER
• 2nd BOS: Ed D’Anna, OTHER FRUIT MELOMEL

2005

• 1st BOS: Todd Snyder, OTHER SPECIALTY CIDER OR PERRY
• 2nd BOS: Ed Moore, SWEET MEAD
• 3rd BOS: Brian O’Malley, CYSER
• Honorable Mention: Keith Bailey, METHEGLIN

2006

• 1st BOS: Keith Curtachio, OTHER FRUIT MELOMEL
• 2nd BOS: Ric Cunningham, OPEN CATEGORY MEAD
• 3rd BOS: Todd Snyder, OTHER SPECIALTY CIDER OR PERRY

2009

• 1st BOS: Jake & Tom Ocque, SWEET MEAD
• 2nd BOS: Dan Gestwick, NEW ENGLAND CIDER
• 3rd BOS: Joseph Schneider, COMMON CIDER

2010

• 1st BOS: Ric Cunningham, OTHER SPECIALTY CIDER OR PERRY
• 2nd BOS: Dan Gestwick, OTHER FRUIT MELOMEL
• 3rd BOS: Thomas Ocque, COMMON CIDER

2011

• 1st BOS: Mary Lee, OTHER FRUIT MELOMEL
• 2nd BOS: Brian Salapek, DRY MEAD
• 3rd BOS: Michael Passino, FRUIT CIDER

2013

• 1st BOS: Doug Brainard, BRAGGOT
• 2nd BOS: Patricia Marshall, PYMENT
• 3rd BOS: Timothy Collins, OTHER SPECIALTY CIDER OR PERRY
• Honorable Mention: David Johnson, COMMON CIDER

2014

• 1st BOS: Timothy Collins, OTHER FRUIT MELOMEL
• 2nd BOS: David Biun, FRUIT CIDER
• 3rd BOS: Timothy Collins, SWEET MEAD

2015

• 1st BOS: Robert Hilferding, COMMON CIDER
• 2nd BOS: Mark Zambron, METHEGLIN
• 3rd BOS: Tim Collins, SEMI-SWEET MEAD

2017

• 1st BOS: Dan Gestwick, NEW ENGLAND CIDER
• 2nd BOS: Robert Schweizer, FRUIT & SPICE MEAD
• 3rd BOS: Robert Schweizer, MELOMEL

2018

• 1st BOS: Timothy Collins; TRADITIONAL MEAD
• 2nd BOS: Robert Schweizer, FLAVORED MEAD
• 3rd BOS: John DePaolo; FRUIT SPECIFIC CIDER & PERRY
• Honorable Mention: Neal Steward, COMMON CIDER & PERRY

2019

• 1st BOS: Phil Boulanger; NEW WORLD CIDER
• 2nd BOS: Tim Collins, SEMI SWEET MEAD
• 3rd BOS: Jeffrey Kochems & Gary Kochems, CIDER W/ HERBS/SPICES

2020

• 1st BOS: Timothy Collins; Spiced, Historical & Experimental Mead
• 2nd BOS: Timothy Collins; Fruit Mead
• 3rd BOS: Timothy Collins; Traditional Mead

2021

• 1st BOS: Benjamin Gilmore & Danae Gilmore; Semi-Sweet Mead
• 2nd BOS: John Crossett & ABCZ Makers; New World Cider
• 3rd BOS: Stephen Wilson; Cyser

2022

• 1st BOS: Ben Gilmore & Danae Gilmore; Stone Fruit Mead
• 2nd BOS: Timothy Collins; Fruit and Spice Mead
• 3rd BOS: Bill Boyer; New World Cider

2023

• 1st BOS: Bill Boyer; Quest For The Holy Grail 2023 ; M2B: Pyment; North Georgia Malt Monkeys
• 2nd BOS: Bill Boyer; Brother Maynard 2023; M4C: Experimental Mead; North Georgia Malt Monkeys
• 3rd BOS: Kyle Ducharme; Greensboro; M2E: Melomel; Green Mountain Mashers

2024

• 1st BOS: Mark Zambron; Bear Market Bochet; M4C: Experimental Mead Niagara Association of Homebrewers
• 2nd BOS: Brian Milleville; Bubba’s New World Cider; C1A: New World Cider Niagara Association of Homebrewers
• 3rd BOS: Mark Zambron; Hey Buckwheat!; M1C: Sweet Mead Niagara Association of Homebrewers

Congratulations to all the historical Best of Show (Beer) winners.  We’ve compiled this list from the records we were able to find.  For additions or corrections, please contact John Crossett <jpcrossett@gmail.com> or Tim Belczak <tbelczak@niagarabrewers.org>.

1997

• 1st BOS:  Gordon Diffenderfer, Classic Style Herb & Spice
• 2nd BOS:  David E. Purcell, India Pale Ale

1998

• 1st BOS: Dave Chudy

1999

• 1st BOS: Keith Curtachio

2000

• 1st BOS: Paul Jackson

2001

• 1st BOS: Thomas R. Heftka, Export 80/-

2002

• 1st BOS: Dan Gestwik

2003

• 1st BOS: Dan Cassetta

2004

• 1st BOS: Erv Brese, Gueuze Style Ale
• 2nd BOS: Manny Holl, Northern German Pilsner
• 3rd BOS: Ray Lewis, Munich Dunkel

2005

• 1st BOS: Manny Holl, Munich Helles
• 2nd BOS: Randall Contreras, American IPA
• 3rd BOS: Kevin Flood & Mick Barnes, Old Ale

2006

• 1st BOS: Gerald & Mark Berdysiak, American Amber Ale
• 2nd BOS: Joseph Schneider, American IPA
• 3rd BOS: Manny Holl BOS: Munich Helles

2008

• 1st BOS: Timothy Collins, Belgian Tripel
• 2nd BOS: Scott Ofslager, Wood-Aged Beer
• 3rd BOS: Thomas Ocque, Dry Stout
• 1st Honorable Mention: Jeff Farrar & Andy Feyl, California Common Beer
• 2nd Honorable Mention: Rodney Kibzey, Weizenbock

2009

• 1st BOS: Todd Dirrigl, Strong Bitter/English Pale Ale
• 2nd BOS: Terry Felton, Wood-Aged Beer
• 3rd BOS: Todd Snyder, Dortmunder Export
• Honorable Mention:  Kyle Costello, Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer

2010

• 1st BOS: Michael Reda, Munich Helles
• 2nd BOS: Ray Krystofik, Duesseldorf Altbier
• 3rd BOS: Bob Watkins, Imperial IPA
• 1st Honorable Mention: Jeff Murbach, Specialty Beer
• 2nd Honorable Mention: Marty Hanscomb, American Brown Ale

2011

• 1st BOS: Dan Cassetta, Baltic Porter
• 2nd BOS: Kyle Costello, Wood-Aged Beer
• 3rd BOS: Patrick McGrath, Schwarzbier

2012

• 1st BOS: Dan Cassetta
• 2nd BOS: Timothy Collins, Imperial Stout

2013

• 1st BOS: Timothy Collins, Imperial Stout
• 2nd BOS: Timothy Collins, Dopplebock
• 3rd BOS: Josh Sled, Fruit Beer

2014

• 1st BOS: Michael Winter
• 2nd BOS: Mark Zambron, Northern English Brown Ale
• 3rd BOS: Terry Felton, Belgian Specialty Ale
• Honorable Mention: Alex Placito & Eric Stellrecht, American Pale Ale

2015

• 1st BOS: Robert Pilon, Belgian Blonde Ale
• 2nd BOS: Thomas Ocque, Imperial IPA
• 3rd BOS: Scott Kroon, American Wheat/Rye
• Honorable Mention: Ian Howard, Strong Scotch Ale

2016

• 1st BOS: Rob Sells, Specialty Beer
• 2nd BOS: John Crossett, Scottish Ales
• 3rd BOS: Andy Urban, American Stout
• Honorable Mention: Adam Kugler, Specialty IPA

2017

• 1st BOS: Kevin DiTondo, Kolsch
• 2nd BOS: Kevin DiTondo, Munich Dunkel
• 3rd BOS: Tim Belczak, Festbier

2018

• 1st BOS: Craig Sherwood; Specialty Beer
• 2nd BOS: David Williams; Fruit Beer
• 3rd BOS: Michael Florez; Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer

2019

• 1st BOS: Mark Zambron; Gueuze
• 2nd BOS: Mark Zambron; Eisbock
• 3rd BOS: Rob Sells; Imperial Stout
• Honorable Mention: Michael Kanick; American Porter

2020

• 1st BOS: Daniel Hamm-Johnson; Fruit Beer
• 2nd BOS: Rick Felser; Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer
• 3rd BOS: Ken DeMarree; Light Belgian Strong Ale

2021

• 1st BOS: John Crossett; Irish Extra Stout
• 2nd BOS: Mark Scibilia; Black IPA
• 3rd BOS: Leonard Modelewski; Piwo Grodziskie
• Honorable Mention: Rob Sells; Belgian Dark Strong Ale

2022

• 1st BOS: Brian Marmoreo; Flanders Red Ale
• 2nd BOS: Brian Milleville; Trappist Single
• 3rd BOS: Andrew Urban; Wee Heavy

2023

• 1st BOS: Mark Scibilia; Smoke From The Malter, Fire In Disguise; 32A: Classic Style Smoked Beer
  Niagara Association of Homebrewers
• 2nd BOS: Bill Serowski; Thunder Snow Porter; 13C: English Porter
• 3rd BOS: Brian Milleville; Trappist Single V2; 26A: Belgian Single; Niagara Association of Homebrewers

2024

• 1st BOS: Brian Milleville; Creamy Blend; 1C: Cream Ale; Niagara Association of Homebrewers
• 2nd BOS: Sam Tischler, Bob Charboneau; Black Button Beast; 33A: Wood-Aged Beer; Upstate NY Homebrewers Assn
• 3rd BOS: Bob Charboneau, Deron Weet ;Jack And Joe’s Sour Cherry 2; 28C: Wild Specialty Beer Upstate NY Homebrewers Assn
• Honorable Mention: Brian Milleville; Kelly’s Sour (She Is The Best!); 29A: Fruit Beer Niagara Association of Homebrewers

Thanks to all who entered and everyone who volunteered. Our 21st year was another outstanding success!

Congratulations to all the winners who took home some amazing prizes thanks to our generous sponsors:

• 12 Gates Brewing Company
• 42 North Brewing Company
• American Homebrewers Association
• Amherst Pizza And Ale House
• Becker Farms
• Big Ditch Brewing Company
• Blichmann Engineering
• Briess Malt & Ingredients Co.
• Buffalo Brew Pub
• Certo Brothers Distributing
• Cherry Bank Farm
• Community Beer Works
• Consumer’s Beverages
• Custom Brewcrafters
• Crazy Jake’s
• Ellicottville Brewing Company
• Five Star Chemicals & Supplies
• Flying Bison Brewing Company
• Freshops
• GAEL Brewing Company
• Hop Union
• Irish Carbonic
• KegWorks
• Lyonsmith Brewing
• New York Beer Project
• Niagara Craft Spirits
• Niagara Malt
• Niagara Tradition Homebrew Supply
• Norwesco
• Pearl Street Grill And Brewery
• Pizza Plant
• Sierra Nevada
• Southern Tier Brewing Company
• Spike Brewing
• The Brewing Network
• White Labs
• Wyeast