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Valkyries Horn Home Mead Competition

Thanks to all who participated in the Valkyries Horn Home Mead Competition.

There were 375 entries judged and 227 registered participants, judges, and stewards.

Best of Show Winners

Best of Show – Mead

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
1stKevin MeintsmaAlternative Facts And Fake Nudes (#161 Basswood/Rhubarb/Cardamom)M3b3: SWEET Spice/Herb/VegetableMinnesota Home Brewers Association
2ndJohn AllisonKnick Knack WisniakM2d3: SWEET Stone FruitFoam Blowers of Indiana (FBI)
3rdSteve FlettyGuavaM2e2: SEMI-SWEET MelomelSaint Paul Homebrewers Club

Winning Entries

Table 1: Dry Trads (10 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stScott Estlund MHPTouch Of SummerM1A: Dry MeadThe Brü Club
2ndEric MartinSageM1A: Dry MeadKansas City Bier Meisters
3rdNelson Crowle MHPTupeloM1A: Dry MeadIndian Peaks Alers

Table 2: Semi Sweet Trads (30 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stDaniel Kukuk MHPEmberwakeM1B: Semi-Sweet MeadMotor City Mashers
2ndSteve FlettyValenciaM1B: Semi-Sweet MeadSaint Paul Homebrewers Club
3rdBradley ColeBlack Locust TradM1B: Semi-Sweet MeadNordeast Brewers Alliance

Table 3: Sweet Trads (29 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stAmy OlsenSunflowersM1C: Sweet MeadMichigan Mead Coalition
2ndArthur Franke MHPNarobić BigosuM1C: Sweet MeadBergen County Brew Crew
3rdMichael DepozsgayMango TangoM1C: Sweet Mead

Table 4: Cyser - Dry & Semi Sweet (8 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stGeorge TurnerUncle Gibbys ElixirM2a2: SEMI-SWEET CYSER Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers (KGB)
2ndAndy Cox MHPCyser OneM2a2: SEMI-SWEET CYSER Underground Brewers of Connecticut
3rdAustin BrownMitten Malus MagicM2a2: SEMI-SWEET CYSER Brewers Anonymous

Table 5: Cyser - Sweet (4 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stSergio QuevedoThe Nexus Of MalusM2a3: SWEET CYSER
2ndKevin MeintsmaArchitect Of Destruction (#173 Cyser)M2a3: SWEET CYSER Minnesota Home Brewers Association
3rdPeter KnoxIce CyserM2a3: SWEET CYSER

Table 6: Pyment - Dry (10 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stArthur Franke MHPCabernet Blackberry BlossomM2b1: DRY Pyment Bergen County Brew Crew
2ndAndrew MuddDionysus' DelightM2b1: DRY Pyment
3rdJordan WillefordBerserkerM2b1: DRY Pyment The Worts

Table 7: Pyment - Semi Sweet (10 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stMichael HarperMusser's MuscadineM2b2: SEMI-SWEET Pyment
2ndJohn Malaty
Co-Brewer: Richard Furlong		Beetlejuice: Back From The Dead - Live & KickingM2b2: SEMI-SWEET Pyment Hogtown Brewers
3rdSergio QuevedoPearls Of Mystery 1.2M2b2: SEMI-SWEET Pyment

Table 8: Pyment - Sweet (8 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stAndrew MuddTuscan TempestM2b3: SWEET Pyment
2ndPaul JohnsonTuscany PymentM2b3: SWEET Pyment River City Brewers [MN]
3rdNathan SteigmanSalus Tua Secundum Verbum Tuum Tacitum EstM2b3: SWEET Pyment Minnesota Home Brewers Association

Table 9: Berry - Dry & Semi Sweet (19 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stCody Lester MHPTart BlueBerryM2c2: SEMI-SWEET Berry Central Arkansas Fermenters
2ndRyan Vigne MHPVigne Estate - 2025M2c2: SEMI-SWEET Berry Pittsburgh Mead Makers And Homebrewers
3rdDavid Towles MHPRaspberries In Raspberry BlossomM2c2: SEMI-SWEET Berry High Plains Drafters [TX]

Table 10: Berry - Sweet (14 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stNicholas LaurLittle RabbitM2c3: SWEET Berry
2ndLance TenorBlack Thorn BloodM2c3: SWEET Berry
3rdNicholas LaurThree NornsM2c3: SWEET Berry

Table 11: Stone Fruit - Semi Sweet (14 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stBill Boyer MHPTim The Enchanter 2025M2d2: SEMI-SWEET Stone Fruit North Georgia Malt Monkeys
2ndJordan WillefordPeachy Keen B2M2d2: SEMI-SWEET Stone Fruit The Worts
3rdRyan Vigne MHPKilled In A DreamM2d2: SEMI-SWEET Stone Fruit Pittsburgh Mead Makers And Homebrewers

Table 12: Stone Fruit - Sweet (6 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stJohn AllisonKnick Knack WisniakM2d3: SWEET Stone Fruit Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI)
2ndKevin MeintsmaTrumper Tantrums (#198 Chokecherry Rose')M2d3: SWEET Stone Fruit Minnesota Home Brewers Association
3rdDaniel Kukuk MHPLeelanau CrimsonM2d3: SWEET Stone Fruit Motor City Mashers

Table 13: Melomel - Dry (5 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stKevin MeintsmaReturn To The Fruiture! (#132 Multiberry + Merlot)M2e1: DRY Melomel Minnesota Home Brewers Association
2ndMelissa Greenfield MHPRaspberry NebbioloM2e1: DRY Melomel QUAFF
3rdKelly PhillipsTrain Track SpecialM2e1: DRY Melomel

Table 14: Melomel - Semi Sweet (20 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stSteve FlettyGuavaM2e2: SEMI-SWEET Melomel Saint Paul Homebrewers Club
2ndBrian WrightBob Ross KnowsM2e2: SEMI-SWEET Melomel
3rdRyan Vigne MHPIsland GlowM2e2: SEMI-SWEET Melomel Pittsburgh Mead Makers And Homebrewers

Table 15: Melomel - Sweet (19 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stSergio QuevedoPearls Of DeceitM2e3: SWEET Melomel
2ndPaul JohnsonI Had The Pear Dream AgainM2e3: SWEET Melomel River City Brewers [MN]
3rdBrian WrightBlack AppleM2e3: SWEET Melomel

Table 16: Fruit & Spice - Dry & Semi Sweet (29 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stBrian McCrickard MHPCrimson ZestM3a2: SEMI-SWEET Fruit and Spice Seven City Brewers
2ndAmy OlsenIspahanM3a2: SEMI-SWEET Fruit and Spice Michigan Mead Coalition
3rdNicholas LaurScarletM3a2: SEMI-SWEET Fruit and Spice

Table 17: Fruit & Spice - Sweet (38 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stThomas CarterFlames Of BreldurM3a3: SWEET Fruit and Spice
2ndMichael HarperRosemary's BabyM3a3: SWEET Fruit and Spice
3rdMichael HarperHappy New Year!M3a3: SWEET Fruit and Spice

Table 18: S/H/V - Dry & Semi Sweet (13 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stDaniel Kukuk MHPKung Pao KahunaM3b2: SEMI-SWEET Spice/Herb/Vegetable Motor City Mashers
2ndGian Sari"53 Minutes To Do So As I Please..."M3b2: SEMI-SWEET Spice/Herb/Vegetable Garden State Homebrewers
3rdDavid Towles MHPHibiscus Ginger Spiced MeadM3b2: SEMI-SWEET Spice/Herb/Vegetable High Plains Drafters [TX]

Table 19: S/H/V - Sweet (18 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stKevin MeintsmaAlternative Facts And Fake Nudes (#161 Basswood/Rhubarb/Cardamom)M3b3: SWEET Spice/Herb/Vegetable Minnesota Home Brewers Association
2ndBen AaronQi'mameadM3b3: SWEET Spice/Herb/Vegetable Minnesota Home Brewers Association
3rdGraeme LambertFlagshipM3b3: SWEET Spice/Herb/Vegetable

Table 20: Braggot (10 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stDavid Towles MHPSweet N' SourM4A: BraggotHigh Plains Drafters [TX]
2ndJohn JacobBase Camp IPA BraggotM4A: BraggotHellgate Homebrewers
3rdBenji HowardThe Gilded DualM4A: BraggotMASH Fort Wayne Homebrew Club

Table 21: Historical (12 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stAlex BruchReturn Of The MeadM4B: Historical Mead
2ndKevin Meintsma
Co-Brewer: Josh Holbrook & Adam Bystrom		Euphoria (#159 BA Multiflora Trojniak)M4B: Historical Mead Minnesota Home Brewers Association
3rdRyan Vigne MHPTrój Jeży BoiM4B: Historical Mead Pittsburgh Mead Makers And Homebrewers

Table 22: Experimental - Dry & Semi Sweet (17 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stDaniel Kukuk MHPOdin's OrchardM4c2: SEMI-SWEET Experimental Motor City Mashers
2ndAustin BrownThe MorríganM4c2: SEMI-SWEET Experimental Brewers Anonymous
3rdRyan Vigne MHPThe Dogs Of War Have Come For BloodM4c2: SEMI-SWEET Experimental Pittsburgh Mead Makers And Homebrewers

Table 23: Experimental - Sweet (26 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stMichael Rensing MHPBunt BeesM4c3: SWEET Experimental Cider, Homebrew, And Mead Production Specialists (CHAMPS)
2ndJeremy OlsenBarrel 2.0M4c3: SWEET Experimental Saint Paul Homebrewers Club
3rdSergio QuevedoPort Of Fragaria 2.0M4c3: SWEET Experimental

Table 24: Pie Meads (6 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stAmy OlsenGerman Chocolate PieMPMP1: Pie Mead Michigan Mead Coalition
2ndNicholas PhanKey Lime PieMPMP1: Pie Mead
3rdDaniel Kukuk MHPPie Of The AbyssMPMP1: Pie Mead Motor City Mashers
Launch Awards Presentation

Past Winners

Judging Sessions

Pre-Judging Shakedown
2026/03/07 1:00 PM, CST.

Friday 9:30 am
2026/03/20 9:30 AM, CDT.

Friday 11:00 am
2026/03/20 11:00 AM, CDT.

Friday 1:30 pm
2026/03/20 1:30 PM, CDT.

Friday 3:00 pm (Reserve Capacity)
2026/03/20 3:00 PM, CDT.

Saturday 9:30 am
2026/03/21 9:30 AM, CDT.

Saturday 11:00 am
2026/03/21 11:00 AM, CDT.

Saturday 1:30 pm
2026/03/21 1:30 PM, CDT.

Saturday BOS (Amateur and Commercial)
2026/03/21 3:00 PM, CDT.

Account Registration Closed

Account registrations accepted 2025/12/19 5:00 PM, CST through 2026/03/07 1:00 PM, CST.

Registrations for judges or stewards accepted 2025/12/01 12:00 PM, CST through 2026/03/21 3:00 PM, CDT.

Entry Registration Closed

The competition paid entry limit has been reached.

Entry Drop-Off Closed

Entry bottles accepted at drop-off locations 2026/01/16 12:00 PM, CST — 2026/02/27 3:00 PM, CST.

Please pay attention to the notes provided for each drop-off location. There could be earlier deadlines for some drop-off locations listed, particular hours when entries are accepted, certain individuals to leave your entries with, etc. All entrants are responsible for reading the information provided by the organizers for each drop-off location.

Entry Shipping Closed

Entry bottles accepted at the shipping location 2026/01/16 12:00 PM, CST — 2026/02/27 3:00 PM, CST.