The High Plains Brewer is an award given to an individual brewer from Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, or Minnesota who demonstrates outstanding and consistent brewing skills.
The award recipient is chosen based on performance in several regional competitions. Qualifying events are listed below. To be eligible, a brewer must belong to a club located in one of the aforementioned states. Points will be awarded as follows: 5 for 1st, 3 for 2nd, and 1 for a 3rd place finish in a qualifying competition. A brewer can only receive points for the highest-scoring beer per category.
High Plains Club-of-the-Year. All clubs from the above-mentioned states are eligible. Brewer’s points from those clubs are summed to produce the club points. Clubs whose members amass the most points, as defined above, will receive the Steven H. Ford traveling trophy
Qualifying Competitions Clubs hosting Qualifying events are required to notify the High Plains program administrator when and where their competition will be held, as well as the name and contact information of the competition coordinator. The competition coordinator is also responsible for ensuring their club remits the $25 trophy fee to the High Plain program administrator. See Competition reporting requirements.
Questions and comments should be directed to [email protected].
High Plains Competitions 2024:
| Club | Competition |
| Kansas City Bier Meisters | KCBM (February) |
| Iowa Brewers Union | IBU Open (February) |
| Red Earth Brewers | Spring Brew Off (May) |
| ZZ Hops | Dogg Dayzz (September) |
| Lincoln Lagers | Sower’s Cup (October) |
| Prairie Home Companions | Hoppy Halloween (October) |
| Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers | FOAM Cup (November) |
| St. Louis Brews | Happy Holidays (December) |
Previous Brewer of the Year Winners:
| Year | High Plains Brewer of the Year Award |
| 2023 | Mike & Stephanie Butler (KCBM) |
| 2022 | Eric Martin (KCBM) |
| 2021 | Jamye & Cody Naramore (KCBM) |
| 2020 | Jamye & Cody Naramore (KCBM) |
| 2019 | Mike & Stephanie Butler (KCBM) |
| 2018 | David Thompson (FOAM) |
| 2017 | Marshall Van Tuyl (MoM) |
| 2016 | Andrew Laidlaw & David Schumacher (MoM) |
| 2015 | Tim Thomssen (Lagers) |
| 2014 | Tim Thomssen (Lagers) |
| 2013 | Tim Thomssen (Lagers) |
| 2012 | Steve Cook (KCBM) |
| 2011 | Dave & Michele Darity (FOAM) |
| 2010 | John Fowler & Amy Satterlund (KCBM) |
| 2009 | Mark Tanner |
| 2008 | Mark Tanner |
| 2007 | Ed Vandegrift |
| 2006 | Al Boyce |
| 2005 | Kris England and the Pete |
Previous Club of the Year Winners:
| Year | High Plains Club of the Year |
| 2023 | Kansas City Bier Meisters |
| 2022 | Kansas City Bier Meisters |
| 2021 | Kansas City Bier Meisters |
| 2020 | Kansas City Bier Meisters |
| 2019 | Kansas City Bier Meisters |
| 2018 | Kansas City Bier Meisters |
| 2017 | Missouri Mashers |
| 2016 | Kansas City Bier Meisters |
| 2015 | Lincoln Lagers |
| 2014 | Lincoln Lagers |
| 2013 | Kansas City Bier Meisters |
| 2012 | Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers |
| 2011 | Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers |
| 2010 | St Paul Homebrewers Club |
| 2009 | Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers |
| 2008 | St Paul Homebrewers Club |
| 2007 | St Paul Homebrewers Club |
| 2006 | St Paul Homebrewers Club |
| 2005 | St Paul Homebrewers Club |