Photo © Brewers Association’

Ever since 1987 the Brewers Association has been recognizing individuals who inspire, defend, and innovate within the craft brewing industry.

“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.”

And this year’s winners couldn’t be more deserving…

FX Matt Defense of the Industry Award

Jamie Floyd

This award is named for the late FX. Matt of FX Matt Brewing Co. and 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

Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing

 Todd Mott

This award is presented in honor of Wynkoop Brewing Company’s 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 each year to an individual or company 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.

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