Phil Farrell, Brewmaster at StillFire Brewing, brings nearly 40 years of elite brewing expertise to the helm of one of Georgia’s most decorated breweries. A Grand Master Level 7 judge in the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP)—ranking him among the top six beer judges in the world—Phil has judged more than 10,000 beers at globally recognized competitions, including the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and Great British Beer Festival. He previously served as Vice President of the BJCP and sat on the Board of Governors for the American Homebrewers Association.
Before becoming a professional brewer, Phil was a dominant force in the homebrewing world, racking up more than 500 awards. He’s the only homebrewer to ever win a gold medal at the U.S. Open Beer Championship against commercial brewers and is a two-time Mid-South Home Brewer of the Year. His legendary win at the 2011 Wynkoop Brewery “Beer Drinker of the Year” competition earned him lifetime beer privileges and solidified his reputation as one of America’s most passionate beer enthusiasts.
Phil has brewed collaboratively at iconic breweries like Sierra Nevada and Rogue, building lifelong relationships across the craft beer industry. His brewing philosophy combines technical precision with relentless creativity, a formula that has led StillFire Brewing to earn hundreds of awards—including multiple medals at the Great American Beer Festival.
With decades of judging, brewing, and beer education behind him, Phil Farrell continues to shape and elevate craft brewing in the U.S., mentoring future brewers and delivering world-class beers to the StillFire taproom every day.
Scroll down for a full list of Phil’s contributions.