Bunged! – A Brief Description and History of the OBC Bung Awards
by Scott Sanders – January, 2008 (updated Dec, 2015)
I got Bunged! Actually, I have been Bunged twice, over the years, a fact I share with considerable pride. But what does it mean to be Bunged? Since the first Bungs were awarded, the Oregon Brew Crew has attempted to acknowledge, honor, and occasionally, share a laugh with many members and craft beer industry personalities. And, over time, the annual awards have evolved in various ways, to the point that it seems appropriate to offer a review of what the awards are intended to recognize, as well as a list of previous winners.
Golden Bung – This award is intended to honor a craft beer or homebrewing industry personality for efforts to promote or support the trade from a commercial perspective.
Red Bung – Also known as the “Beer Lover’s Award”, this recognizes the recipient’s unbridled passion for good beer, and distinguishes their efforts to share that enthusiasm with others.
Silver Bung – “Member of the Year” This is awarded to the winner of the Oregon Brew Crew’s annual "Karma Points" competition. Members accumulate points for various volunteering efforts that help in general club activities. A few examples are; helping at meetings, bringing food to meetings, writing content for our monthly newsletter, helping with food at out meetings and events, volunteering at our various festival booths, taking on special projects as requested by the board of directors, etc.
Merle Gilmore Memorial Bung – (Orange Bung), this acknowledges exemplary volunteer service to the club. This award was renamed in honor of the 2006 recipient, who has since passed away.
Jim Kennedy Entrepreneurial Bung – (Purple Bung) Jim Kennedy was a long time supporter of the club, and went to extraordinary efforts to promote the understanding and appreciation of good beer as an owner and manager of local beer distribution firms. This Bung honors that same spirit in the owners and/or managers of local craft beer related enterprises.
Pulp Bung – (Black Bung) This award expresses our appreciation for the efforts to promote craft beer appreciation and education through the printed word.
Organic Bung – (Green Bung) In recognition of efforts to promote planet friendly brewers.
Special Bung Awards – Over the years, several Bungs have been presented for special recognition of specific events or circumstances. These range from the Green Bung for Worst Homebrew of the Year, a tongue in cheek award which has only been awarded twice, (and then, only in jest,) to the "Above & Beyond" Bung which was awarded to F.H.S in 2016.
The board of directors would like to offer hearty congratulations to all winners. They are all worthy additions to the following list of distinguished Bung-ee’s.
Bungs throughout history
2015 Silver Bung Member of the Year Eric Hinson OBC Cup Charles Macaluso & Rodney Kibzey A stunning tie with 704 points each! Golden Bung Dave Vodhen & 13 Virtues Brewing Red Bung Tracy Hensley Merle Gilmore Memorial Orange Bung Brian Haslip Jim Kennedy Entrepreneurial Purple Bung Portland Craft Beer Festival Pulp Bung Brian Yaeger Organic Green Bung Clean Water Services
| Year | Bung Award | Recipient | Comment |
| 1992 | Gold | Charles Finkel | Owner of Merchant du Vin and Pike Brewing |
| Red | Fred Eckhardt | Dean of American Beer Writers | |
| Green – Worst Beer of the Year | Fritz Gordon | Really weird fermentation | |
| 1993 | Gold | John deBenedetti | Propietor of F.H. Steinbarts |
| Red | McMenamin Brothers | Promoting the Neighborhood Pub | |
| Green – Worst Beer of the Year | Don Foster | Pale Ale w/ Koji | |
| Crystal – Wash the Damn Glasses | Tom Thompson | Washed the club’s glassware after every meeting or event for years | |
| Belgian | Jim Kennedy | Introduced us to the amazing beers of Belgium | |
| 1994 | Gold | Sam Salmageo | Proprietor of The Stuffed Sandwich, San Gabriel, California, an early purveyor of imported and craft beers |
| Red | Don Foster | Longtime member. Was a resident of Salem. | |
| 1995 | Gold | Dave Logsdon | Owner of Wyeast Laboratories |
| Red | John Maier | Brewmast for Rogue Ales. Craft Brewing Pioneer. | |
| Silver | Tom Irwin | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Blue – Special Recognition | Ponzi’s | In appreciation of early pioneering efforts in craft brewing. | |
| 1996 | Gold | Ralph Olson | President of Hop Union, USA |
| Red | Tom Calkins | Proprietor of Burlingame Market (incredible beer selection) | |
| Silver | Rob Radtke | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| 1997 | Gold | Stephen Mallery | Owner and Publisher of Brewing Techniques magazine |
| Red | John Harris | Pioneer brewer for McMenamins, Deschutes, and Full Sail | |
| Silver | Noel Blake | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Pulp | William Abernathy | Willamette Week beer column. | |
| Bone Bung | Hair of the Dog Brewing | Special relationship and assistance to the club. | |
| 1998 | Gold | No record/Not awarded | |
| Red | No record/Not awarded | ||
| Silver | Tom Irwin | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| 1999 | Gold | Rob Widmer | Recognizing Collaborator development efforts |
| Red | Mark Daeshel | ||
| Silver | Curt Hausam | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Orange | Bob Farrell | Service to OBC | |
| Pulp | Peter Kim | Print, fold, and mail the OBC newsletter for an incredible price. | |
| Blue – Special Contribution to OBC | Bob McCracken | Posthumously awarded. | |
| 2000 | Gold | Rob & Kurt Widmer | Dedication to quality and support of the OBC and Collaborator |
| Red | Don Younger | Proprietor of Horse Brass | |
| Silver | Curt Hausam | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Orange | Scott Sanders | Service to OBC | |
| Pulp | John Foyston | Oregonian Beer Writer | |
| E-Bung | Michael Rasmussen | Hosts oregonbrewcrew.com gratis. | |
| 2001 | Gold | Jim Kennedy | Extraordinary efforts to promote imported and craft beer |
| Gold | Chris Irwin | Extraordinary organization and hard work managing volunteers at the Oregon Brewer’s Festival | |
| Red | Noel Blake | Wordsmith extraordinair | |
| Silver | Mitch Scheele | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Orange | Linda Norton | Service to OBC | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Rick Carpenter and Chris Joseph | Portland and Seattle International Beer Festival | |
| Pulp | Lisa Morrison | The Beer Goddess | |
| Rubber Meets the Road | Phil Braun | For special effort as organizer and emcee for bus trips | |
| 2002 | Gold | Dave Wills | Proprietor of FreshHops |
| Red | Matt Maples | Proprietor of Liquid Solutions | |
| Silver | Mitch Scheele | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Orange | Trevor Millund | Service to OBC | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Steve Woolard | Spring Beer and Wine Festival | |
| Mash Paddle w/ Walkie Talkie and Tap Handle | Preston Weesner | Assistance and liason to OBC at local festivals | |
| E-Bung | Dan Schultz | For work on the website | |
| 2003 | Gold | Jim Parker | Former director of AHA, beer style author, former director of Oregon Brewer’s Guild, local Publican |
| Red | No record/Not awarded | ||
| Silver | Mitch Scheele | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Orange | Mark Wilson | Service to OBC | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Laurelwood Brewing | Awesome beers, great pub, excellent support of and cooperation with OBC | |
| Shutterbug Bung | Bob Brewer | For taking and sharing photos of OBC events | |
| 2004 | Gold | Ike Manchester | Brewer for Widmer and Collaborator |
| Red | Stuart Hicks | For spreading the word about where and when good beer is pouring. | |
| Silver | Todd Enlund | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Orange | Bob Farrell | Service to OBC | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | No record/Not awarded | ||
| Pulp | Abram Goldman-Armstrong | Northwest Beer News regular column, often mentionaing the OBC | |
| E-Bung | Alan Hord | Developed a competition software application with web interface | |
| 2005 | Gold | Brian Butenschoen | Former OBC President, Collaborator Brewer, Oregon Brewer’s Guild Director |
| Red | Max Tieger | For his dedication, effort, and success at Tuck’s Brewery, which he gladly shares with the club. | |
| Silver | Mitch Scheele | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Orange | Todd Enlund | Service to OBC | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Preston Weesner | Holiday Ale Festival | |
| Pulp | Dave Dronkowski | Portland Tribune and www.guestontap.com | |
| Festival Bung | Rainie & Scott Sanders | Volunteer work at Oregon Brewer’s Festival and Spring Beer and Wine Fest | |
| 2006 | Gold | Greg Higgins | Promoting beer as an element of fine dining |
| Red | Tom Field | Proprietor of Rose and Raindrop | |
| Silver | Mitch Scheele | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Orange | Merle Gilmore | Service to OBC | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Matt Hottenroth and Molly McMillion | Concordia Ale House | |
| E-Bung | Dan Schultz | continued work on the website | |
| Great Experimental Paddle | Trevor Millund | Development and management of OBC collaborative brewing experiments | |
| Flaming | Bob Farrell | For inciting “interesting” dialog on the listserve | |
| 2007 | Gold | Michael Jackson | Posthumously awarded. |
| Red | Jamie Floyd | Owner/Brewer of Ninkasi Brewing | |
| Silver | Homebrewer of the Year | ||
| Merle Gilmore Memorial – Service to OBC | Bill Schneller | Organizing and managing BJCP Education Program | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Carl Singmaster | Proprietor of Belmont Station | |
| Pulp | Megan Flynn | Publisher of Beer Northwest | |
| Celluloid Bung | Beth Harrington | Producer/Writer of Beervana, a documentary for OPB Oregon Experience series | |
| Organic Bung | North American Organic Beer Festival | For efforts to encourage organic brewing. | |
| 2008 | Gold | John Harris | McMenamins, Deschutes, Full Sail Brewing |
| Red | Karl Ockert | Bridgeport Brewing | |
| Silver | Oliver Manuel | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Merle Gilmore Memorial – Service to OBC | Jenn McPoland and Yvette Uber | Always there, doing the unglamorous back-channel work | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Geoff Phillips | Owner of Bailey’s Taproom | |
| Pulp | Alan Moen | Editor/Publisher of Northwest Brewing News | |
| Organic Bung | Hopworks Urban Brewery | Green Brewing efforts extraordinaire | |
| 2009 | Gold | Russ Menegat | Green Dragon / Rogue Brewery |
| Red | Michel Brown | F.H. Steinbart Co. | |
| Silver | Bill Schneller | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Merle Gilmore Memorial – Service to OBC | John Heasley | Always there, doing the unglamorous back-channel work | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Sarah Pederson | Owner of Saraveza | |
| Pulp | Angelo De Ieso II | Brewpublic.com | |
| 2010 | Gold | Chris Crabb | |
| Red | Randy Plew | Plew's Brews | |
| Merle Gilmore Memorial – Service to OBC | Oliver Manuel | Service to OBC | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Alex Ganum | Upright Brewing | |
| Pulp | Jeff Alworth | Beervana | |
| Sour Bung | Ron Gansberg | Cascade Barrel House | |
| 2011 | OBC Cup | Mark Easton | Brewing dominance! |
| Gold | Art Larrance | Raccoon Lodge/Cascade Barrel House | |
| Red | Bill Schneller | ||
| Silver | Bill Schneller | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Merle Gilmore Memorial – Service to OBC | Ted Assur | Service to OBC | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Jesse McCann | Apex Bar | |
| Legislative Bung | Sen. Floyd Prozanski, Chris Hummert, Denny Conn, Greg Bolt, & Ted Hausotter | For contributing to the re-legalization of homebrew to be transported and shared freely amongst friends and like-minded individuals. | |
| 2012 | OBC Cup | Josh Huerta | Brewing dominance! Also, the first member to score the ultimate OBC hat-trick. Winner of the: OBC Cup, Silver Bung, and Merle Gilmore Memorial Awards. |
| Silver Bung | Josh Huerta | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Merle Gilmore Memorial – Service to OBC | Josh Huerta | Service to OBC | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Portland U-Brew and Pub | ||
| Pulp Bung | Mark Martin | ||
| Celluloid Bung | Allison Grayson | ||
| Rubber Meets the Road Bung | Warren Johnson | For organizing and coordinating OBC bus trips. | |
| 2013 | OBC Cup | Chuck Macaluso | Brewing dominance! |
| Gold Bung | Chris & Jay Jennings | Brew Brothers | |
| Red Bung | Jeremy Frey | F.H. Steinbart Co. | |
| Silver Bung | Jason Barker | Homebrewer of the Year | |
| Merle Gilmore Memorial | Brian Haslip | Service to OBC | |
| Jim Kennedy Memorial – Entrepeneurial | Crosby Hop Farm | ||
| Pulp | Ginger Johnson | ||
| SMaSHed Bung | Tim Brinson | For organizing and maintaining the Single Malt and Single Hop project | |
| 2014 | Pulp Bung | Ginger Johnson | |
| View-Finder Bung | Hopstories | For producing our video | |
| Merle Gilmore Memorial Orange Bung | Dan May | ||
| Merle Gilmore Memorial Orange Bung | Michele Lish | ||
| Jim Kennedy Memorial Purple Bung | Abram Goldman-Armstrong | ||
| Red Bung | Randy Scorby | ||
| "I don't brew but…" Bung | Jeannie Bauer | ||
| Silver Bung Member of the Year | Brian Haslip | ||
| OBC Cup | Chuck Macaluso | ||
| 2015 | Silver Bung Member of the Year | Eric Hinson | |
| OBC Cup | Charles Macaluso & Rodney Kibzey | A stunning tie with 704 points each! | |
| Golden Bung | Dave Vodhen & 13 Virtues Brewing | ||
| Red Bung | Tracy Hensley | ||
| Merle Gilmore Memorial Orange Bung | Brian Haslip | ||
| Jim Kennedy Entrepreneurial Purple Bung | Portland Craft Beer Festival | ||
| Pulp Bung | Brian Yaeger | ||
| Organic Green Bung | Clean Water Services | ||
| 2016 | Golden Bung | Portland Brewing | |
| Red Bung | Trevor Rogers, De Garde Brewing | ||
| Merle Gilmore Memorial Orange Bung | Imperial Organic Yeast | ||
| Jim Kennedy Entrepreneurial Purple Bung | Lisa Morrison, Belmont Station | ||
| OBC Cup | Charles Macaluso | Four-Peat! Who will take him down? | |
| Silver Bung Member of the Year | Charles Macaluso | ||
| Pulp Bung | Oregon Beer Growler | ||
| Organic Green Bung | Clean Water Services, Carollo, Black & Veatch, EVOQUA | Shared Award for Pure Water Brew commitment. | |
| Above and Beyond Bung | F.H.Steinbart Co. | Special award for unmitigated support to OBC and it' members! | |
| Jolly Green Giant Bung | Mark Poling | Special award for Pure Water Brew coordination and he's 6'11" | |
| 2017 | Golden Bung | Ben Edmunds | Breakside |
| Merle Gilmore Memorial Orange Bung | Michele Lish | ||
| Red Bung | Alan Taylor | Pints/Zoiglhaus | |
| Jim Kennedy Entrepreneurial Purple Bung | Growlerwerks | ||
| OBC Cup | Charles Macaluso | ||
| Silver Bung Member of the Year | Charles Macaluso | ||
| Pulp Bung | Jeff Alworth | ||
| Organic Green Bung | Imperial Yeast | ||
| Collaborator Bung | Rob Widmer | Honoring 20 years of the Collaborator Program | |
| 2018 | Golden Bung | Zak Schroerlucke | Crosby Hop Farm |
| Red Bung | Nicole Kasten Beer Connections | ||
| Silver Bung Member of the Year | Charles Macaluso | ||
| Orange Bung (Merle Gilmore Memorial Bung) | Torri Hansmann | ||
| Purple Bung (Jim Kennedy Entrepreneurial Bung) | Brandon, Chris, and Rodney from Cask Aid | ||
| Pulp Bung | Holly Amlin | PDXbeergirl | |
| Green Bung | Mecca Grade Estate Malt | salmon safe, rotational crop schedule, local focus, water saving irrigation techniques | |
| Centennial Bung | F H Steinbart | 100 years of continuous operation in the PNW | |
| Pioneer Bung | Alan Sprints | Hair of the Dog | |
| 2019 | Golden Bung | Imperial Yeast | |
| Red Bung | Jim Thompson | ||
| Member of the Year | Chuck Macaluso | ||
| Orange Bung - Merle Gilmore Memorial Bung | Scott Nieredka | ||
| Purple Bung - Jim Kennedy Entrepreneurial Bung | Chris Rhodes | ||
| Pulp Bung | Ezra Johnson-Greenough |