Jamaica Plain resident takes top US honors at 5th Annual VinePair Next Wave Awards
PRESS RELEASE / October 16, 2025 (Boston, MA) – VinePair, a leading drinks publication offering content about drinks culture and important trends and topics in wine, beer and spirits, today announced that Liz Nicol, owner and head brewer at Jamaica Plain’s Drawdown Brewing Company, was named US “Brewer of the Year” as part of the VinePair Next Wave Awards. Now in its fifth year, the VinePair Next Wave Awards celebrate the individuals and organizations creating community in their spaces, innovating in their fields and revolutionizing the drinks culture throughout the country. Nicol will accept this prestigious award at the Next Wave Awards gala on October 23rd at the Evelyn Hotel in New York City.
Joanna Sciarrino, Editor in Chief for VinePair, says that “the VinePair team brainstorms all year long for our Next Wave Awards nominees and winners, curating the list internally and with the support of our closest contributors and industry network.” She adds, “Our mission is to spotlight the individuals and brands doing things differently, with the overall goal of making the industry better. At Drawdown Brewing Company, Liz Nicol is creating a space where beer quality, inclusivity, and entertainment all share equal importance, and where building a community for everyone is a priority at a time when beer needs community most. We’re delighted to bestow this much-deserved award upon her.”
Liz Nicol opened Drawdown Brewing Company nearly two years ago at 3200 Washington Street in the Egleston Square neighborhood of Jamaica Plain to immediate acclaim. The Boston Globe, in its annual “Best of the Best” awards named it one of Boston’s best breweries and Boston Magazine singled it out as the best place to watch women’s sports.
Nicol says “to even be nominated on a national level by VinePair is truly an honor, but to win this award is beyond my wildest dreams.” She adds, “I can’t quite put into words how incredibly honored I am to have been named Brewer of the Year. For an organization like VinePair to see what we (Drawdown) are doing and think it’s worthy of a Next Wave Award gives us the affirmation that the path we are blazing is indeed a valued one.”
She says our goal when opening Drawdown Brewing Company in December, 2023 “was to create a welcoming space to include people in the beer experience who aren’t normally invited or included. We take pride in introducing the community around us to beer, especially when guests come in and ask us to help guide what they should order. We’re changing the perception of what beer is, and introducing this amazing beverage to an entirely new audience and generation of beer drinkers. I’m so honored that VinePair sees what we’re doing on a national level and thank them for this incredible honor. Thank you as well to all of our loyal patrons and amazing team who are dedicated to keeping Drawdown relaxed, casual and welcoming at all times.
Located in the Egleston Square neighborhood of Jamaica Plain, at the corner of Montebello Road, the 50-seat Drawdown Brewing Company is owned and operated by Liz Nicol (civil engineer turned brewer) who resides nearby. The brewery is open Thursday through Sunday (opening on Wednesdays soon) and has a relaxed atmosphere that gets amped up for women’s sports and RuPaul’s Drag Race. The taproom has light snacks on hand, but guests are encouraged to order in from local Roxbury and Jamaica Plain eateries nearby. A community mind-set and inclusive mission are a big part of Drawdown’s vibe, along with a commitment to offering classic beer styles and creative small batch brews. Concludes Nicol, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, “Drawdown is a welcoming space for all. We’re excited to be an award-winning brewery that has a reputation for celebrating diversity, uniquely independent businesses and a thriving socially-minded community.”
Link to VinePair’s award announcement: https://
About Drawdown Brewing Company
Drawdown Brewing Company is a local focused, innovative brewery with core offerings in proven styles, in addition to creative small batch brews. Located in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. We strive to be an integral part of our community; while upholding the tenets of inclusion, equity and diversity in our staffing and our customer base. Boston’s home for Women’s Sports.
3204 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Photos of Liz Nicol – Photo Credit: Ned Jackson
