Brewers Association Announces 2026 Industry Award Winners

Jamie Floyd, Tod Mott, and Dr. Tom Shellhammer celebrated as craft brewing leaders 
 
Boulder, Colorado (April 7, 2026) — The Brewers Association (BA), the not-for-profit trade association representing small and independent American brewers, has announced the recipients of its 2026 Industry Awards. Since 1987, the annual honors have recognized individuals whose leadership, innovation, and service have made a lasting impact on the craft brewing community. Jamie Floyd, Tod Mott, and Dr. Tom Shellhammer will be officially honored during ceremonies at the Craft Brewers Conference®(CBC®) April 20-22 in Philadelphia, PA. 
 
“Each of this year’s award recipients has made a profound and lasting impact on the craft brewing community,” said Bart Watson, president and CEO of the Brewers Association. “From advancing brewing science and quality, to shaping iconic beers and advocating for independent brewers, Jamie Floyd, Tod Mott, and Dr. Tom Shellhammer represent the very best of our industry. We are proud to recognize their contributions and celebrate their careers.” 
 
 
2026 Industry Award Recipients  
FX Matt Defense of the Industry Award: Jamie Floyd 
 
This award, named for the late F.X. Matt of F.X. Matt Brewing Co., is presented to an individual or company for their contributions and efforts in championing the small brewing industry.   
 
Jamie Floyd, founding brewer of Ninkasi Brewing Co. and Great Frontier Beverages in Eugene, Oregon, is recognized for his longstanding leadership and advocacy for independent brewers. 

Floyd has spent more than 30 years in professional brewing and 23 years on the Oregon Brewers Guild board of directors, including eight years as president. He remains co-chair of the guild’s legislative action committee and serves on the Brewers Association Technical Committee as co-chair of the Quality Community. He is also a former president and member of the Hop Quality Group executive team. 
 
A Certified Cicerone and Master Cicerone examiner, Floyd has judged the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and homebrew competitions. He is a member of the American Society of Brewing Chemists and the Master Brewers Association of the Americas. He also supports industry education and philanthropy through the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation, Eugene Beer Week, and the Sasquatch Brewfest fundraiser, while continuing to contribute across brewing, innovation, and business operations at Ninkasi. 
 
Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing: Tod Mott 
 This award is presented in honor of Wynkoop Brewing Company’s founding partner, Russell Schehrer, to an individual or company for their innovative contributions to the brewing industry.   
 
Tod Mott is honored for a career defined by innovation, creativity, and influence on American craft brewing. 
 
Mott began brewing in the mid-1980s after receiving a homebrew kit and entered the industry in 1990 as an apprentice at Catamount Brewery. In 1991, he joined Mass Bay Brewing Co., now Harpoon Brewery, where he developed Harpoon IPA in 1993, the brewery’s flagship beer. 
 
He later led brewing operations at Commonwealth Brewing, Back Bay Brewing, and Portsmouth Brewery. At Portsmouth, his imperial stout “Kate the Great” gained national attention in 2007 and became one of the first beers to inspire large release-day lines. In 2014, Mott co-founded Tributary Brewing Co. with his wife, Galen, where he continued to brew a wide range of styles and mentor brewers. 
 
After 35 years in craft brewing and helping to guide the company through industry challenges and the pandemic, Mott and his wife transferred ownership to their son in 2026. He will retire later this year. 
 
Brewers Association Recognition Award: Dr. Tom Shellhammer 
This award is presented to an individual, company, or group whose inspiration, enthusiasm, and support have contributed to the craft brewing movement.   
 
Dr. Tom Shellhammer, Nor’Wester Professor of Fermentation Science at Oregon State University, is recognized for his contributions to brewing science, education, and industry collaboration. 
 
For more than two decades, Shellhammer’s research has advanced the understanding of hop chemistry, beer flavor, and quality. His work integrates analytical chemistry and sensory science to address practical challenges faced by brewers and hop growers, improving consistency and product quality. 
 
Through his teaching at Oregon State University and numerous industry courses and workshops, Shellhammer has trained and mentored generations of brewers. He is widely known for translating complex scientific concepts into practical knowledge for industry application. 
 
His collaborations with breweries, hop growers, and suppliers have strengthened the connection between research and brewing practice, helping elevate quality standards across the global brewing community. 
 

 
About the Brewers Association Industry Awards 

The Brewers Association Industry Awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the craft brewing community through leadership, innovation and service. Award recipients are nominated by their peers. 
Past award winners and more information about the awards can be found at: https://www.brewersassociation.org/programs/industry-awards/ 
 

About the Brewers Association 

The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade organization representing more than 9,300 small and independent American brewers, their beverages, and the community of craft beer enthusiasts. The BA champions the independent craft brewer seal—a trusted symbol that helps consumers identify beer brewed by small and independent producers. 
 
The BA organizes some of the industry’s most influential events, including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference™ & BrewExpo America®, and American Craft Beer Week®. It also publishes The New Brewer® and through Brewers Publications®, remains the country’s leading publisher of brewing literature. 
Beer lovers can explore the world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and follow the BA on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.   
 
 
The Brewers Association is an opportunity equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 13672 and the Secretary of Labor’s rules, regulations, and appropriate orders.     

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