The story behind the Conroy Cup of Heart and Hops Award begins with a simple gift and a not-so-great batch of beer.

 

Ray Conroy’s brewing journey started when he was given a beer-making kit from the Boston Store for Christmas. The first results? Let’s just say they weren’t award-winning. But instead of giving up, Ray leaned in. He upgraded his ingredients, refined his techniques, and began the steady, passionate process of tweaking recipes to get better and better results.

 

He fell in love not just with the finished product, but with the craft itself — the patience, experimentation, and constant pursuit of improvement. Every batch was a new opportunity to learn.

 

When he entered his beer in the first Flannelfest, he didn’t just participate — he won People’s Choice with his unforgettable peanut butter chocolate stout. That win meant a lot, but what meant even more was the community. Ray returned to Flannelfest year after year because he loved the friendly competition and, most of all, sharing his beer with others.

 

In 2024, Ray was diagnosed with cancer. True to who he was, he didn’t let it slow him down. He continued brewing, experimenting, and refining — still chasing the perfect pour. He entered the 2025 Flannelfest competition, pouring his heart into a strawberry rhubarb pie beer. Ray passed away the week before the event, but his beer was still entered — and once again, he won People’s Choice.

 

Flannelfest wasn’t just an event to Ray — it was a celebration of craftsmanship, camaraderie, and creativity.

 

The Conroy Cup of Heart and Hops Award honors that spirit:

 -The heart he poured into every batch

 -The hops and craftsmanship he was always refining

 -The joy he found in sharing his creations

 

It celebrates not just great beer, but the passion, perseverance, and community that Ray embodied.