February 27, 2025
In this American Homebrewers Association (AHA) exclusive Zymurgy Live, we interview Randy Daniels and Kc McKinney, the dynamic duo crowned Homebrewers of the Year at the 2024 National Homebrew Competition. These brewing virtuosos share their inspiring journey, creative process, and the secrets behind their award-winning brew.
Randy Daniels is a Beer Judge Certification Program judge and the current president of the Iowa Brewers Union. Randy was the 2023 gold medal winner of the Great American Beer Festival® Pro-Am competition.
Kc McKinney started homebrewing with Randy Daniels in 2020 as a co-brewer. After entering a few competitions they decided to brew as a team for the 2022 competition year. Kc is a former vice president and events coordinator for the Iowa Brewers Union (IBU) and is currently co-coordinating the IBU's yearly competition, The IBU Open.
John Hawkins has been brewing beer for almost 20 years and currently serves as the president of his local homebrew club—Dayton Region Amateur Fermentation Technologists (DRAFT)—in Dayton, Ohio. He loves reading beer books and, as a newly certified BJCP judge, he loves talking about beer with beer people. When he isn't running his kids to sporting events, going for a Sunday morning hike, or playing with his miniature dachshund Frankie, he is definitely daydreaming about the next beer he's going to brew.
