The Nebraska Shootout

Welcome to the Nebraska Shootout

“Nebraska’s Inter-Club Homebrew Contest”

The Shootout is the annual homebrew contest between all of the homebrewing clubs and beer-brewing social organizations within the great state of Nebraska.

Its purpose is to further the reputation of homebrewing in Nebraska by fostering innovation, consistency and creativity in our beer; educate brewers of beer styles that may otherwise be overlooked or unappreciated; offer education and experience, participating within a BJCP-style judging process; and promote brewing the absolutely best-tasting beer that you can!

2025 Shootout Information

The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 19, 2025, at White Elm Brewing Co., Lincoln, Nebraska, from noon to 4 p.m. We have already heard a bit of excitement around it, including the David City’s Brick Street Brew Club, Omaha’s Homebrewers Local 402s, and some interest from the UNL Big Red Brew Crew. Here is the list with more info to come real soon!

• American Light Lager = 1A
• European Lager = All of 2, 3, 4, 5 (except 5B), 6, 7A, 8, 9 (except 9C because lager yeast not required)
• IPA = 12C, All of 21, 22A
• Wheat (clean ferments/no-sours) = 1D, All of 10, 24A, 27 Piwo Grodziskie
• Fruit Beer (clean ferments/no-sours) = All 29, X3
• Specialty Category = All mead categories M1 through M4
• Best Damn Beer

Go here for more specifics on the BJCP styles. You can access the Shootout’s Facebook page by clicking here.

Shootout History

To the best of our recollection, the Shootout began in 2001 as the “Nebraska Inter-Club Competition,” and was rechristened as the “Nebraska Shootout” in 2002. In its early stages, the Shootout was a contest held between members of the Omahops and Lincoln Lagers homebrew clubs. With a little digging, we have managed to locate – we think! – all of the previous judging results.

The contest went dormant after the 2006 judging took place but was revived in 2010 after a four-year hiatus. Upon its return, homebrew clubs scattered across the state began sharing in our competitive conquests.

The Shootout is a roaming competition, typically organized and hosted by a different club each year, but the Lincoln Lagers Homebrew Club is pleased to provide this webspace to assist in documenting our victories and defeats for reference in later years.

For archival information on the Nebraska Shootout, click here!

Participating Clubs

For more information about joining a club, please contact any of the following organizations:

• Bellevue/Omaha – South Omaha Brewers – facebook.com/groups/southomahabrewers/
• David City – Brick Street Brewers – contact Tom P. for information.
• Norfolk – Elkhorn Valley Society of Brewers – facebook.com
• Grand Island – Island Band of Brewers (IBOB) facebook.com
• Kearney – Kearney Area Brewers – www.kearneyareabrewers.com
• Lincoln – Lincoln Lagers Homebrew Club – www.lincolnlagers.com
• Omaha – Omahops
• Omaha – Brauer Unterstutzvungs Verein (German-American Society) – facebook.com/BUVUnderground/
• Omaha – Local 402 Homebrewers Union – www.local402brewers.org
• Omaha – Railroaders Brew Club – facebook.com/groups/rrbc1/
• Omaha – Greater Omaha Homebrewers Anonymous

To find additional information on homebrew clubs in the state of Nebraska, you can also visit the AHA website.

Any homebrew club in Nebraska is invited to participate in the Nebraska Shootout. To sign up, contact the representative on the “Next Nebraska Shootout” page.

Kudos / Credits

Tremendous thanks go to Lash C. (Lincoln Lagers), Duane M. (Omahops), and Jason McL. (Lincoln Lagers & Nebraska Beer Blog), for locating and contributing the past judging results to this project. We also owe thanks to Kim T. (Lincoln Lagers) for maintaining the Shootout website and to the Lincoln Lagers Homebrew Club for donating their hosting and bandwidth.

Recent Update: 04.26.25 K!M T.