Wow, time flies!  Spring has sprung, Vin Scully is back in the broadcaster’s booth and the hop rhizomes are bursting forth.  And the homebrew competition season marches inexorably forward.

Entries are due this Friday for the 38^th Maltose Falcons Mayfaire Competition.  Full registration details are available at http://competitions.maltosefalcons.com/.  This competition uses the Falcons guidelines which you can download from https://www.maltosefalcons.com/comps/styles/2015-falcons-style-guidelines.  The Best of Show winner will have their beer brewed by the Ladyface Ale Company and entered in the Great American Beer Festival Pro/Am competition!  Entries can be dropped off at the Culver City shop until close of business on Friday, April 8^th.  Judging will be at St. Martins in the Fields, 7136 Winnetka Ave Winnetka CA, 91306 on Saturday, April 23rd.

Coming up sooner than you might think is the California State Fair.  Registration is now open at http://www.castatefair.org/homebrew/.  Entries can be dropped off at South Bay Brew Supply no later than April 25^th, 1311 Post Avenue, Torrance.  Do NOT drop them off at the Culver City shop!

Results have been announced for America’s Finest City competition.   Congrats go to Lloyd Johnson and Ted Silvas for three ribbons, including First place for Nectarine and Peach Saison, and a pair of 3^rds for Whisky Barrel Imperial Stout and Funky BGS Brett Beer.  Congrats also to Chris Lindsey for a blue ribbon for his Rauch Roggenbier, Craig Corley for a 2^nd for Belgian Blonde, and an HM for Munich Helles.  Finally, our Club Weizenbock Big Brew took an HM for Weizenbock.  Lloyd and Ted take the early lead in the Brewer of the Year award!

We had a great time with the Second Annual Belgian Brew Challenge!  Thanks to all who entered, and all who contributed as judges, stewards and the all-important staff.  I presume you saw the recap.  Award will be presented at the April club meeting on April 21^st at Casa Molloy.

Entries have made it safely to San Diego for the AHA National Homebrew Competition. The NHC is still looking for judges for the event. The San Diego site will be judging on April 8^th and 9^th.

Looking ahead, we have LA County Fair in July, Pacific Brewers Cup in September and the California State Homebrew Competition in October.   You still have plenty of time to brew for these events.  The whole list is below.

If you are hard-core competition junkie, there are a bazillion other contests to enter.  Some of you asked about the Orange County Fair.  Info is available at http://ocfair.com/competitions/docs/2016/guides/1-homebrew.pdf.   The AHA has their master list at http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/competitions/aha-bjcp-sanctioned-competition/.

2016 Pacific Gravity Brewer of the Year Competition Schedule

April 8th                Mayfaire Entries
April 23^rd              Mayfaire Judging
April 25^th              California State Fair
July                        Los Angeles County Fair
September            Pacific Brewers Cup
October                 California State Homebrew Competition

We still need a volunteer to take the National Homebrew Competition entries down to San Diego sometime between now and March 9th.  If you can make the trip, please contact me at Competitions@PacificGravity.com

Entries need to be delivered to:
Ballast Point Home Brew Mart
5401 Linda Vista Road, Suite 406
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 295-2337
Attention: George Cataulin

The club will contribute up to $50 for gas money.  Let me know what day you can make the trip.  I’ll put out the word to get entries collected ahead of time.

For those you you who have entered at other AHA NHC sites, please note that you are on your own to ship the beers.

Thank You
Carl TownsendCompetition Coordinator

Calling all home brewers! Our 2nd Annual Los Angeles Belgian Brew Challenge is coming up fast and I’m excited to announce the details here tonight!

Once again, PG member Neil Saund has generously donated his space to host our competition and Henry Nguyen of Monkish Brewing Company in Torrance has signed on to brew a Pro-Am version of the Best of Show beer. As you may remember, last year’s Best of Show by Brian Holter and Kingsley Toby brewed at Monkish as “Triumphus” was an unforgettable Tripel. I can’t wait to see what the 2016 Triumphus will be!

We’ll begin accepting registrations and online submissions on February 1st and drop off starting March 1st through March 12th so you’ve got some time to get over to Culver City Home Brewing Supply to grab ingredients and brew your entries.

Judging will occur on Saturday March 26th at 9am. We’ll need plenty of volunteer stewards and judges so please make sure you opt-in appropriately if interested while registering.

For more details navigate to http://belgianbrewchallenge.com  and if you have any questions email labbc@pacificgravity.com.