Monday, November 26, 2007

Dear New England Homebrew Club,

I have been asked to organize the judging of the Sam Adams Patriot Homebrew Competition. This is a BJCP sanctioned competition to include styles 1 to 23, judging will take place on Saturday January 26th at Gillette Stadium (home to the New England Patriots).

I have setup a on line registration page for judges and stewards. Please see http://www.nhbrewers.com/Patriot/registration.php to register.

More information about lodging etc. will be provided to those that register, once I get the information from Boston Beer Co.

Also I could some help in running the competition, if anyone wants to volunteer please have them contact me.

Michael Fairbrother
Brew Free or Die

Sunday, November 11, 2007

In Memory of Don

Brew Free or Die and Southern Maine Homebrewers held it's second annual New England Regional Homebrewers competition on November 3, 2007 in Manchester NH, raising $2000 dollars for the American Cancer Society in memory of Don Merkey.

Don always wanted BFD to get more involved with the running of a big homebrew competition. Well it brings a tear to my eye, but with two successful years of running this competition, it's clear we have finally done it! I think Don would be proud of us, as the NERHBC by all measures was a tremendous success!






Competition stastics:

  • 250 entries (including beer, cider, and mead) from 16 states across the entire country.
  • 36 sponsors including:
  • Competition level sponsor - Gritty's
  • Best of Show sponsor - White Labs
  • Brewer of the Year sponsor - Boston Beer Co.
  • Meadmaker of the Year sponsor - Sky River Mead
  • Cidermaker of the Year sponsor - Gile's Family Farm
  • We raised $2000 for American Cancer Society, in Memory of Don Merkey.


It took a combined effort of many members of both homebrew clubs to organize the competition, raise sponsors, catalog and process all 750 bottles.

Also we couldn't have done it without all the help from the stewards, BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) judges, and professional brewers who spent the day processing and judging all 250 entries, so that feedback could be provided to all the entrants.

Here are the top winners:

  • Best of Show winner: Mark Healy with his Peach Cider.

  • Brewer or the Year: Rick Rocheleau

  • Meadmaker of the Year: Michael Fairbrother

  • Cidermaker of the Year: Eric Sprague

For a detailed list of all the winners and sponsors vist http://www.bfd.org/NERHBC

Thursday, November 8, 2007

A Musical Tour of Dogfish Head Brewery

A friend sent me this video link and I thought others might be interested: Dogfish Head Brewery