James Krell of West Seneca, NY takes home the 2026 Best in Show Home Brew title for his Red IPA, Wish You Were Here. Brewed with German and Red X malt, the beer delivers a rich malt character balanced by floral hop notes and a smooth finish.

Krell began homebrewing 11 years ago after receiving a brewing kit from his brother for his 40th birthday. An active competitor in the Erie County Fair Home Brew Competition, he earned a silver medal in 2025 for his Maibock and received an honorable mention in 2024 for a German Altbier.

The winning recipe is a refined version of a beer Krell previously entered in a competition benefiting leukemia and lymphoma research, a cause that holds special meaning following the loss of his mother to leukemia. Through careful adjustments and lessons learned from earlier batches, he developed the balanced Red IPA that ultimately earned Best in Show honors.

His award-winning lager will be professionally brewed by Hamburg Brewing Company and available at the Fair and select retail locations this summer.

Celebrate the Winners at Hamburg Gaming on July 21

Join the Erie County Fair for a special sampling event featuring the 2026 Best in Show Cider and Home Brew on Tuesday, July 21 at Hamburg Gaming. From 4 to 7 p.m., guests 21 and older are invited to enjoy samples, light snacks, and live music from Brother James. Don’t miss this chance to raise a glass to local talent and taste the Fair’s award-winning brews!