Tonya Cornett, brewmaster at 10 Barrel Brewing in Bend, Oregon, is to be this year’s recipient of the Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing.
The Brewer’s Association announced this year’s Industry Awards on April 2, and a ceremony is scheduled for April 23 during the Craft Brewers Conference in Las Vegas. Besides Cornett, other honorees include:
- John Pinkerton of Moon River Brewing in Savannah, Georgia
- Laura Lodge of Customized Craft Beer Programs
- Eric Orlando of the Zita Group and Brewers Guild of New Jersey
The Schehrer Award recognizes Cornett’s innovative contributions to the brewing industry. After starting her career in the 1990s at breweries in Colorado and Indiana, Cornett studied at the World Brewing Academy run by Siebel and Doemens. Upon graduation in 2002, she became brewmaster at Bend Brewing, and six years later was the first woman to be named World Beer Cup Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year. She became the R&D brewmaster at 10 Barrel in 2012. Over the years, she has won a combined 28 medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.