Manchester, NH • September 17, 2007 — On Saturday, November 3rd, Brew Free or Die (BFD) and Southern Maine Homebrewers clubs are jointly hosting the Second Annual New England Regional Homebrew Competition at Milly’s Tavern in Manchester, NH. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Cancer Society in honor of Don Merkey, a member of BFD who succumbed to cancer in 2005.
The New England Regional Homebrew Competition, sponsored by Gritty McDuff’s, is the largest homebrewing competition in New England, and is sanctioned by the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The competition awards gold, silver and bronze medals in 28 beer-style categories. Homebrewer, Cidermaker and Meadmaker of the year honors, plus the Best of Show Award, are awarded to the top amateur brewers as determined through the competition. Winners will be selected from what are expected to be more than 160 entries of homebrewed beer, cider and mead from the six New England states. Entries will be accepted, between October 5th and October 26th, with judging to be held at Milly’s Tavern in Manchester, NH on Saturday, November 3rd, starting at 9am.
A complete list of winners will be posted on the competition website, http://www.bfd.org/NERHBC after the competition.
This year’s competition is being planned and run by registered club members from throughout New Hampshire and Southern Maine, and are members of local clubs Brew Free or Die, New Hampshire’s Oldest Homebrew Club, and Southern Maine Homebrewers. Gritty McDuff’s of Maine is the competition sponsor,while other sponsors include White Labs, Samuel Adams, Sky River Mead, and Giles Apple Farm among many other local and national firms. A complete list of sponsors is available on http://www.bfd.org/NERHBC.
“We are all very excited about the level of enthusiasm and support from New England Homebrewers for this competition”, said Steve Loignon, “The opportunity to demonstrate our love of home brewing, and to honor Don’s memory with a donation to the American Cancer Society is a real motivator for our members.” said David Rosenbaum, Vice-president of Brew Free or Die.
For more information, including entry forms and registration for judges and stewards, please see the competition website: http://www.bfd.org/NERHBC.
Brew Free or Die (BFD) is New Hampshire's first, and most active, homebrew club. It was founded in 1991 to foster the brewing and appreciation of craft beer in Central and Southern New Hampshire. Many BFD members have won awards for their brewing. Among the BFD members are a Grand-Master, several Master and National-level beer judges, and a number of Certified and Recognized-level judges.
Southern Maine Homebrewers was founded in 2004 to preserve and promote the time honored tradition of home brewing; to educate members about beer, mead & wine, beer, mead & wine tasting, beer, mead & wine judging, and brewing techniques founded on shared knowledge and experience. Southern Maine Homebrewers also maintains involvement with the AHA and their competitions through club sponsored entries and activities, and helps members to develop the necessary skills to be certified with the (BJCP) “The Beer Judge Certification Program”.
