Award-Winning Homebrewing with Mike and Stephanie Butler

June 27, 2024

How the Kansas City Bier Meisters Turned a Hobby into a Winning Pastime and Became Members of One of the Homebrew Clubs of the Year

In this Zymurgy Live webinar, American Homebrewers Association (AHA) members Mike and Stephanie Butler take us on a tour through their Kansas City homebrewery—ever pumped wort from your garage to your fermentation room? They have!—and share details about their beer making process. They discuss why they started homebrewing, all the little things that matter in an ever evolving process, and the quest to create the hop forward beer they love at home.

Referenced Links

Event Details

  • Date: June 27, 2024
  • Time: 3:00 PM MT - 4:00 PM MT

This is a member exclusive event. To watch this recording please Log in or Join.

About the Speakers

Mike Butler

Mike Butler

Kansas City Bier Meisters

Mike Butler began homebrewing in 2008 with his wife Stephanie. Together, they started entering a few competitions and won their first medals in 2016. Some of their notable accomplishments include four gold and two silver National Homebrew Competition (NHC) medals, High Plains Homebrewers of the Year in 2019 and 2023, and seven past brewery scale ups with three new ones in the works. They have also achieved Grand Master V in the Master Homebrewer Program (MHP). As part of the Kansas City Bier Meisters (KCBM), they have also won two consecutive NHC Club of the Year (COTY) awards in 2022 and 2023, many High Plains COTY awards, and the first three Circuit of America Club Championships from 2021-2023.

Mike is a past president of the KCBM and led the competition committee for the past four years. Additionally, Mike is a national Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) judge and, with Stephanie, enjoys hosting a seven-week tasting course for prospective judges in the Kansas City area.

The most rewarding aspect of their homebrewing hobby has been the friendships made with fellow brewers and judges across the country by attending various competitions, festivals, and conferences. Their favorite styles to brew are all the hoppy beers and all the malty beers.

Stephanie Butler

Stephanie Butler

Kansas City Bier Meisters

Stephanie Butler began homebrewing in 2008 with her husband Mike. Together, they started entering a few competitions and won their first medals in 2016. Some of their notable accomplishments include four gold and two silver National Homebrew Competition (NHC) medals, High Plains Homebrewers of the Year in 2019 and 2023, and seven past brewery scale ups with three new ones in the works. They have also achieved Grand Master V in the Master Homebrewer Program (MHP). As part of the Kansas City Bier Meisters (KCBM), they have also won two consecutive NHC Club of the Year (COTY) awards in 2022 and 2023, many High Plains COTY awards, and the first three Circuit of America Club Championships from 2021-2023.

Steph currently serves as Midwest representative for the Master Homebrewer Program. She has also been active as hospitality coordinator for the annual KCBM competition. Additionally, Stephanie is a National BJCP judge and, with Mike, enjoys hosting a seven-week tasting course for prospective judges in the Kansas City area.

The most rewarding aspect of their homebrewing hobby has been the friendships made with fellow brewers and judges across the country by attending various competitions, festivals, and conferences. Their favorite styles to brew are all the hoppy beers and all the malty beers.

Julia Herz

Julia Herz, Moderator

American Homebrewers Association, Executive Director

Julia Herz is executive director of the American Homebrewers Association® (AHA)—the nation's largest membership group for homebrewers and hobbyist fermenters.

Julia is a Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Certified beer judge, Advanced Cicerone®, medal-winning homebrewer, and experienced zymurgist who has been making beer, mead, and fermented foods since 1994. Julia is the co-author of Beer Pairing: The Essential Guide from the Pairing Pros (Voyager Press, 2015), the CraftBeer.com Beer & Food Course, and co-host of the Sense of Beer Style Show.