Tonya Cornett of 10 Barrel Brewing Discusses the Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing

With the Craft Brewers Conference currently in session, one Oregon brewer is extremely excited to be attending the annual brewing trade show. Tonya Cornett, Brewmaster of Research and Development at 10 Barrel Brewing, will receive the Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing during a special ceremony today in Las Vegas.

Tonya is the now the fifth Oregonian to receive the Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing award. This honor also marks the third consecutive year that an Oregonian has been honored for this brewing award with Ben Edmunds receiving it in 2023 and Karl Ockert in 2022. Back in 2001 John Harris was awarded it and in 1997 John Maier, when the award debuted. Tonya is definitely in some great company!

This award arrives at a time when Tonya continues to push the boundaries in brewing while leading a team of brewers that consistently win brewing awards. She has been brewing professionally for 28 years and it’s quite the honor for her to be recognized for her efforts.

“To think that I even made the list of considerate candidates blows me away,” stated Tonya in a press release. “It is validation of 28 years of persistent hard work in the industry.”

Early on in her career, Tonya established a reputation for innovation for her trailblazing work in developing kettle sour beers. Her contributions to the brewing industry have been plentiful. In 2008, Tonya made history as the first woman to be awarded the title of the World Beer Cup Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year. In 2012 she left Bend Brewing Co. to move across town to 10 Barrel Brewing where she developed the Crush Series of kettle sour beers and the boutique Tiny Haus brand.

So far in her career, she has won a total of 16 medals at the Great American Beer Festival and 12 medals at the World Beer Cup. This doesn’t the awards Tonya has earned at other prestigious award competitions like Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer, Best of Craft Beer, Oregon Beer Awards and more!

Earlier this month, the news broke that Tonya will be this year’s recipient of the Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing. She was contacted by the Brewers Association (BA) a few weeks prior to this announcement.

“I found out in early March, right when we were scrambling to get our beers done for Best of Craft, Oregon Beer Awards and World Beer Cup,” stated Tonya via email to BREWPUBLIC. “It took a couple of weeks for it to sink in.”

This award comes at a time when 10 Barrel Brewing was accepted back into the fold of the BA as the brewery was sold by Anheuser-Busch InBev to Tilray Brands last year. Tilray is not new to craft beer as it had purchased SweetWater Brewing, Alpine Beer, Green Flash Brewing, and Montauk Brewing a few years prior.

When asked about the reaction of her brewery’s new owner, Tonya stated, “Tilray is pretty new to the beer world. Everyone is happy for me!”

As previously mentioned, Tonya joins a great group of Oregon brewers that were past recipients of this award. All five of these brewers have made a lasting impression in the brewing community and to be included in this group is very meaningful!

“I think we all go through our day to day not realizing who is watching,” said Tonya on what the award means to her. “For me the most mind-blowing aspect of this win is it is a peer-based award. The past recipients choose who is nominated and ultimately who receives the award.”

“I watched when these brewers’ won awards and shared their knowledge at CBCs, Master Brewers and recently on a plethora of podcasts. Their example provided me with the drive and knowledge to excel!”

On Tuesday evening, Tonya will deliver a speech that she’s been working on for the past month.

“I have been writing down notes for weeks to try to decide the direction of the speech,” stated Tonya. “I have had a very fortunate career and realized I have a lot of people to thank.”

She may be the only one in attendance from 10 Barrel, but we are sure that her co-workers will be watching somehow. The brewery needed to save its budget for its first venture to the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest that takes place on June 1, 2024 in Paso Robles, California.

“As of now, I am the only one from 10 Barrel attending Craft Brewers Conference,” mentioned Tonya. “I will travel a few days early to judge for the World Beer Cup. We are saving our budget for a brewer’s trip to the Firestone Walker Invitational. It’s our first invite and we are all looking forward to it.”

We congratulate Tonya for her strong dedication and passion to craft beer and being the fifth Oregonian to be awarded the coveted Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing.