In this panel, winners of the 2025 Great American Beer Festival® (GABF®) Brewer of the Year (BOTY) award meet with an experienced GABF judge to divulge tips and tricks on how they won. From entry counts and category decisions, to recipe formulation, cellar operations, and packaging strategies, the winners offer insights into how to increase your chances of success in competitions and how to help make better beer in general.

Learning Objectives:

• Hear multiple perspectives on entry and category strategy for major beer competitions
• Go behind the scenes at the competition through the eyes of both brewers and judges
• Discuss how to design and modify award-winning beer recipe
• Gain cellar and packaging tips and tricks for success at competitions