Competition Corner – March 2019
The beers have been organized into their walk-in cooler lair
In hopes that Master Level Judges soon would be there.
Well, the big event is almost here: The 5th Annual Los Angeles Belgian Brew Challenge. With thanks to Los Angeles Ale Works, just about everything is set for judging day on Sunday, March 24th. We have a cadre of judges lined up, including not one, but two Master level judges. Any competition could use a couple more judges, so if you ever wanted to give it a try, come on down. Activities will get under way at 8:00 AM on Sunday, March 24th at LA Ale works, 12918 Cerise Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250. If you want to judge, please sign up at http://comp.belgianbrewchallenge.com/. I’d like to give an advance shout-out for all volunteers including judges, stewards, the master chef, bottle sorters and course, our sponsors.
Result are in for the first two competitions of 2019:
America’s Finest City: Craig Corley picked up a 3rd place ribbons for his Kölsch #15.
California State Fair: Craig Corley must have taken advantage of a bit more aging, since this same Kölsch took 1st place. Carl Townsend took 3rd place with his Holiday Spice Ale. But that was blown away by Kingsley Toby, with a 1st place in the same category with his “Spanish Inquisition”. Wow, I didn’t expect that! Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition!
Still upcoming is first round of the AHA Nationals. Thanks to Tom Hok your San Diego regional entries have made is safely home. Judging is in the next couple of weeks, with results out in late April. Entrants who place in the top 3 spots will be invited to the National Finals in Providence Rhode Island in June.
Upcoming competitions include Mayfaire, with entries due April 12 at Eagle Rock, Steinfillers, Woodland Hills brewing shops. Enter now at http://competitions.maltosefalcons.com/. Judging will be April 27 at Five Threads Brewing Company.
Nest up is the Jeff Sanders Memorial Competition, run by Strand Brewers club. Enter now at http://www.jeffsandersmemorial.com/. This competition features a limited set of categories. Entries are due May 9th at South Bay, Eagle Rock, Steinfillers, Woodland Hills. Judging will be May 16th.
Rounding out the competition year are the following:
July – Los Angeles County Fair
September – Pacific Brewers Cup
October – California State Homebrew Competition
Although not part of the Pacific Gravity Homebrewer of the year cycle, here are a couple of additional competitions you might want to enter:
Orange County Fair. You can register at https://ocfair.com/howtoenter/beer-wine/. Entries are due March 25th, and may be dropped off at Smog City brewery or Steinfillers. Judging will be Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, at OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.
World Cup of Beer. This competition is a Master’s Championship of Amateur Brewing (MCAB) qualifier event. Registration info can be found at https://www.worldcupofbeer.com/ The entry Deadline is Wednesday, June 5th.
If you are hard-core competition junkie, there are a bazillion other contests to enter. The AHA has their master list at http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/competitions/aha-bjcp-sanctioned-competition/.
