Current and Past Winners
Winners of the Chinook Cup are chosen based on the judged criteria of blind samples. Samples are scored for their aroma, brewer’s value, and lab metrics relative to the standard.
2024 First Place Winner, Top Hop Hops
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2024 Chinook Cup presented at Michigan’s Great Beer State Conference & Trade Show
The 2024 Chinook Cup Winners
- Top Hop Hops
- Bells Brewery Estate Hopyard
- Hop Head Farms
The 2024 Expert Judges include:
- John Mallet from Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- Jeremy Kosmicki from Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- Jason Vrosh from Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- Alec Mull from Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Andy Farrell from Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Brian Confer, Head brewer at Storm Cloud Brewing
- Chris Schneff from Storm Cloud Brewing
- Josh Mayich, Founder at Island Hop Company
Read the Promote Michigan article Seventh Annual Michigan Chinook Cup Awarded at the 2024 Michigan’s Great Beer State Conference & Trade Show
The 2023 Chinook Cup Winners
- Dog Star Hops
- Top Hops Farm
- Bells Brewery Estate Hopyard
The 2023 Expert Judges include:
- Alec Mull from Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- Jeremy Kosmicki from Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- Adam Schmitt from Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- Jason Vrosh from Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- John Mallet from Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Andy Farrell from Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Paul Bashaw from Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Derek Stepanski from Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Louwrens Wildschut from Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- John Stewart from Perrin Brewing Company [Comstock Park]
- Jeff Shehan from Rockford Brewing Company [Rockford]
The 2022 Chinook Cup Winners
- Dog Star Hops
- Elk River Hops
- Top Hops Farm
The 2022 Wild Card division Winners
- Pure Mitten Hops (Paradigm)
- Taylor Hops (Michigan Copper)
- Two Track Farms (Mackinac)
The 2022 Expert Judges include:
- Alec Mull from Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- Jeremy Kosmicki from Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- Jason Vrosh from Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- Andy Farrell from Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Paul Bashaw from Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Derek Zomonski Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Dakota Amrit-Wall from North Center Brewing Company [Northville]
The 2021 Chinook Cup was cancelled due to COVID
If you survived the year you are considered a winner, minus the trophy!2020 Chinook Cup Winners announced at the MI Brewer’s Guild Convention
The 2020 Chinook Cup Winners
- MI Local Hops
- Egypt Valley Hopyards
- Hop Head Farms
The 2020 Wild Card division Winners
- High Five Hops (Challenger)
- Mr. Wizard's Hops (Amallia)
- Two Track Farms (Gemini)
The 2020 Expert Judges include:
- Alec Mull, Vice President of Brewing Operations at Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- Jeremy Kosmicki, Head Brewer at Founders Brewing Company [Grand Rapids]
- Jon Boer, Head Pub Brewer at New Holland Brewing Co
- Justin Koziel, Brewer at Beards Brewery [Petosky]
- Chris O'Neill, Co-Owner at One Well Brewing [Kalamazoo]
- Trevor Klimek, Brewer at One Well Brewing [Kalamazoo]
- Paul Hammond, Assistant General Manager at One Well Brewing [Kalamazoo]
- Scott Fieitas, Brewmaster at Latitude 42 Brewing Co [Portage]
- Paul Bashaw, Hop Procurement at Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Andy Farrell, Brewing Innovation Manager at Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Lou Wildschut, at Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
- Danny Warner, Brewing Manager at Bell's Brewery [Kalamazoo]
2019 Chinook Cup held at the Great Lakes Hop & Barley Conference
The 2019 Chinook Cup Winners
- Top Hops Farm
- Egypt Valley Hopyards
- High Five Hop Farm
The 2019 Wild Card division Winners
- Two Track Farms (Traverse 1)
- Dr. Hops (Comet)
- Strasburg Farms (Mystique)
The 2019 Expert Judges include:
- Alec Mull, Vice President of Brewing Operations at Founders Brewing Company
- Chris Swersey, Supply Chain Specialist at the Brewers Association
- Scott Stuhr, Founder at Brewer at Silver Spruce Brewing Company
- Liam Tiernan, Brewer at Townies Brewery
- Josh Mayich, Founder at Island Hop Company
2018 Chinook Cup presented at Great Lakes Hop & Barley Conference
The 2018 Chinook Cup Winners
- Top Hops Farm
- MI Local Hops
- Green Heron Hops
The 2018 Wild Card division Winners
- Dog Star Hops (Crystal)
- Cedar Hop Farm (Sorachi Ace)
- High Five Hop Farm (Challenger)
The 2018 Expert Judges include:
- John Mallet, Director of Operations at Bell’s Brewery
- Alec Mull, Vice President of Brewing Operations at Founders Brewing Company
- Jeremy Kosmicki, Head Brewer at Founders Brewing Company
- Bryan Wiggs, Head of Brewery Operations at Dark Horse Brewery
- Andy Farrell, Brewing Innovation Manager at Bell's Brewery
- Brian Confer, Head brewer at Storm Cloud Brewing
- Brandt Austin, Brewer at Austin Brothers Beer Company
- Jason Perkins, Brewmaster at Allagash Brewing, special guest judge who has also judged the HQG Cascade Cup.
Read MSU Extension's article Second Annual Chinook Cup Awarded
2017 Chinook Cup presented at the HGM 1st Quarter meeting
The 2017 Chinook Cup Winners
- MI Local Hops
- Empire Hop Farms
- Top Hops Farm
The 2017 Wild Card division Winners
- Mr. Wizard's Hops (Neo 1)
- Strasburg Farms (Mystique)
The 2017 Expert Judges include:
- John Mallet, Director of Operations at Bell’s Brewery
- Alec Mull, Vice President of Brewing Operations at Founders Brewing Company
- Jeremy Kosmicki, Head Brewer at Founders Brewing Company
- John Stewart, Director of Brewing Operations at Perrin Brewing Co
- Dianne Gooding, Vice President and 6th generation grower at Gooding Farms in Idaho
Read MSU Extension's article Inaugural Michigan Chinook Cup awarded