The Brewers Association presented the Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Brewing to Greg Noonan of Vermont Pub and Brewery, the Brewers Association Recognition Award to Carol Stoudt of Stoudts Brewing Company and the F.X. Matt Defense of the Small Brewing Industry Award to Marc Sorini of McDermott Will & Emery during the Brewers Association Craft Brewers Conference in Philadelphia.
Carol Stout is no stranger to awards or attention. As the first woman to start up her own brewery, she garnered attention right off the bat. “As a brewer of excellent and award winning products, and as one of the brewing community’s most active members, she has continued to be a focus of attention and admiration ever since,” said Steve Bradt, head brewer at Free State Brewing Co. in Kansas.
About Noonan, Bradt said: “There are probably few brewers in the craft brewing industry and even fewer home brewers who haven’t read one of Greg Noonan’s books or articles on beer and brewing. Through his writing and his work with other aspiring brewers, Greg has been a selfless contributor to the advancement of the craft and the industry for the last two decades.”
The Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Brewing was first given in 1997 to honor Russell Schehrer, who died in 1996 at 38 years old, for his contributions to the brewing industry.