The Michigan Brewers Guild presented esteemed awards to industry trailblazers at its annual conference Thursday night, January 15, 2026, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo.
The Tom Burns Award was bestowed upon Derek “Chumly” Anderson of The Vierling in Marquette. This award is presented to a person who embodies the pioneering spirit of the Michigan brewing industry. This is an individual whose hard work, passion, and perseverance has been a guiding force in contributing to the Great Beer State while being supportive of the entire beer industry in Michigan.
Chumly began as a chef at The Vierling in 1987, eventually relinquishing his kitchen responsibilities to become the first full-time brewer in 1995, utilizing a five barrel, 155-gallon microbrewing system direct from Budapest, Hungary. The Vierling became one of the first breweries in Michigan to operate under the new (at the time) microbrew/brewpub laws with Chumly at the helm every step of the way. He is regarded as the longest tenured brewer at any brew operation in Michigan, even more remarkable as he has been brewing at the same establishment the entire time. Affectionately known as the “Scholarly Brewer” his fans have formed a loose-knit group called “Club Chumly” to honor him and his passion for his craft. The Vierling itself has been operating as a restaurant since 1883, and in 2023 longtime owners Kristi and Terry Doyle sold thie historic property to Chumly and his business partner, Joey Gleason.
Hear more from Chumly in this interview from the Michigan’s Great Beer State Podcast.
Past winners of the Tom Burns Award include:
The Michigan Beer Champion Award – given to a person who or organization/business that is a partner of the industry and who continually strives to promote or protect the craft beer industry in Michigan – was presented to Chas Thompson.
Chas is a native Michigander, Michigan Tech alumni and software engineer making beer money in the material handling industry since 1989. From 2004 through 2019, he was the Beer Engineer at Schmohz Brewing in Grand Rapids. He has volunteered for the Michigan Brewers Guild since 2008, assisting the “Keg Team” at festivals and providing IT support whenever needed. He is a former MBG Board Member and PAC Board Member. In his spare time, Chas is an active hunter and fisherman, including involvement with the USA Ice Team, North American Ice Fishing Circuit (NAIFC) Tournament and MI Ice Guys.
Past winners of the Michigan Beer Champion Award include:
The Defender of Michigan Beer Award was presented to Representative Joe Aragona (R-Michigan 60th District) by Scott Newman-Bale of Short’s Brewing Company, co-chair of the Guild’s Government Affairs Committee and former MBG president. Introduced in 2023, the award recognizes a legislator who is important to the industry for their own distinct service and commitment.
Joe Aragona was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2022. He chairs the House Regulatory Reform Committee, serves as vice chair of the House Rules Committee, and sits on the finance and insurance committees. A lifelong Macomb County resident, Aragona previously worked in his family’s small business, Aragona Family Jewelers, and held local leadership roles as a Clinton Township trustee and deputy supervisor for Harrison Township. He is active in the Kiwanis, Goodfellows, and serves on the board of the Humane Society of Macomb, as well as supporting charitable causes throughout the county.
The Michigan Brewers Guild was formed in 1997 and held its first festival in July 1998. Today, the Guild hosts four festivals dedicated exclusively to Michigan beer produced by its nearly 300 member breweries.
The Michigan Brewers Guild is the network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry. Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes more than 17,000 full-time jobs and $700 million in labor income / wages, with a total economic impact of over $2.4 billion. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation—supporting its title as “The Great Beer State.”