What are you entering in AHA?

The American Homebrewers Association National Homebrew Competition is approaching and the time has come to decide what you are entering and send it in.

IMPORTANT DATES
First Round Entries Due March 31 - April 11, 2008
Second Round Judging, June 19, 2008
Awards Ceremony June 21, 2008, at the National Homebrewers Conference.

Excellent Event at Ebenezer's

Ebenezers's Restaurant and Pub in Lovell Maine was the site of a great BFD event this weekend. Thanks to Jeff & Pam Goyette who arranged everything, and to owner Chris Lively who provided us with a wealth of outstanding beers from his cellar. Among the great beers that I got to try were Black Albert, Russian River's Salvation (batches 1 + 5), and Chris's custom blend of Boon Geueze and Cantillon Kriek (totally yummy!) Fifteen of us made up the BFD party at Ebenezer's and I encourage those of you who were lucky enough to be there to add comments to this posting and let everyone else know what they missed.

FOAM Homebrewer's Challenge

The folks in FOAM (Fitchburg Order of Ale Makers) are holding a Homebrewer's Challenge to benefit charity, and are looking for brewers to participate. Their president, Joe Zadrozny (of Z Street Brewing fame) sent the following invitation:

The Date: April 26, 2008

The Event: 20 brewers will have their beer available for the public to taste and to judge. The winner as judged by a Peoples Choice ballot will receive a handsome plaque, and bragging rights! Tickets will be sold, and proceeds will go to Andrews Helpful Hands and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Requirements: One five gallon batch of your most popular beer, in a corney keg. You may also serve your beer from bottles, along with other beverages for people to sample if you wish.

Name___________________________________

Email___________________________________

Phone___________________________________

Beer You Are Donating_____________________

Will you be available to serve your beer? Y or N

Thank you!! Email info to joez3@verizon.net

There is still room for a half dozen or so brewers. The brewers will get a commemorative glass and the chance to sample the other brewers wares for free. There are going to be raffles and food available. It should be a fun evening!!

Brown Ale Competition

It's almost Spring time and that means brown ales! Okay, that's not really the case, but nonetheless we are having a Brown competition in April. This is BJCP Category 11 under the 2004 Style Guidelines. Brew up a Mild, a Southern English Brown, or a Northern English Brown and don't hop it too much.

The same competition rules apply as always:

The beer must be ready to drink by the April 2008 BFD meeting at Joe and Maureen Moore's house. It must be labelled with the brewer’s name and submitted in one of the following containers: 2 12 oz. bottles, 1 22 oz. bottle, or 1 container with at least 22 ounces of beer (i.e. growler, plastic soda bottle, etc.).

Contact any of the members of the Competition Committee (Todd, Phil, Billy K., Bill R. or Mary) if you have any questions.

2008 Boston Homebrew Competition

Today's Boston Homebrew Competition was a great event. Michael Fairbrother, Dan Hall, David Rosenbaum, Todd and I were all on hand to help the Wort Processors with the judging and stewarding duties. The official results will be posted on the competition site soon. One of the competition organizers was kind enough to share preliminary results with me so I could put them here on our blog right away. Eleven brews made by 5 BFD members placed. (The beer names are based on my notes scribbled on the back of a judging sheet - not the Wort Processors paper work.)

First Place
Jim Prucha - Schwartzbier
Jim Prucha - American Brown
Michael Robinson - Bock
Bill Herlicka - Specialty beer (aged in scotch barrel)
Todd Russell - Porter

Second Place
Lyn Howard - American Pale Ale
Michael Robinson - Kolsch
Michael Robinson - Baltic Porter
Michael Robinson - American Barley Wine

Third Place
Todd Russell - Saison
Michael Robinson - Old Ale