http://www.becausebeer.ca/competition/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Announcing the first annual Because Beer Homebrew Competition, to be held July 4th-5th, 2014 in Hamilton, ON, Canada.
This is an official, BJCP-sanctioned competition, sponsored by the Because Beer Craft Beer Festival. Online registration opens June 1st, 2014.
See below for bottle entry deadline and information. Award ceremony to take place at Hamilton’s Because Beer Craft Beer Festival, July 11th-12th, 2014.
Because Beer is a Sonic Unyon production.
ENTRY INFO
1) ELIGIBILITY AND CATEGORIES
Anyone may enter beer for judging. Entries must be referred to by BJCP category number and subcategory letter. Please refer to official BJCP style guidelines for category designations and descriptions.
Commercially brewed beers are ineligible for this competition as are beers that were brewed on commercial equipment or property. Unmodified kit beers are also ineligible as are beers created at brew-on-premise locations where the entrant played a trivial role (i.e.: most brewing tasks or recipe formulation was not performed by entrant) The purpose of of this competition is to celebrate the creativity, originality, and skill of those who brew beer at home.
All BJCP beer categories will be accepted. We will not be judging meads or ciders for this competition.
2) ENTRY GUIDELINES
Online registration will begin June 1st, 2014. Beer entries will be accepted beginning June 16th 2014, and will close at the end of the business day June 27th, 2014.
Entry fees: $7.00 for first entry, and $6.00 per each subsequent entry. Payments using debit or credit card are accepted online via Paypal.
Entry requirements: Please provide TWO BOTTLES per entry. Standard bottles or cans of 295-500ml (10-17 oz) are required and must be clear of any distinguishing labels or markings. Glass bottles, plastic bottles, or aluminum cans are all acceptable. Large format bottles are not, i.e. 750ml 'bombers' or 2L growlers. Please be aware that if your brew or brews should make it to the Best of Show round, you MAY be required to provide an additional 1 or 2 bottles of said brews. Should one of your initial bottles break in transit, be lost to gushing, or be consumed in any other way during the initial judging phase, additional bottles may be required. We are not requesting these additional backup bottles up front, but please reserve at least 2 bottles from your entry batch for this purpose. All reasonable attempts will be made to contact brewers and provide them with a reasonable timeline to provide us with additional bottles, but if you are unable to provide them you will not be eligible to participate in the Best of Show round.
Use tape to securely attach to EACH bottle the appropriate Bottle Identification Slip. Bottle Identification Slips are provided for print out by our online entry software, after completion of competition data entry.
Beers from a single batch may be entered in multiple style categories, however multiple entries in a category MUST be from different batches.
Recipe information is optional. You may provide the judges a full recipe, or any notes on any special techniques, ingredients or information you think is relevant. Should the judges have any questions about your entries, these are the notes that will be provided to them. Complete recipe information for every beer is NOT required with entry, however, if your entry is in a category that requires extra information, for example, if it has a special ingredient (herb, spice, fruit, etc.) you MUST provide that information. Refer to the BJCP style guidelines for complete details on what information is required for which styles.
Competition organizers are not responsible for mis-categorized entries, entries received after entry deadline, or entries that are damaged upon arrival. Bottles will not be returned. No-shows will not receive a refund.
3) WHERE AND WHEN TO ENTER
Registration and entries will be accepted beginning June 16th, and will close at the end of the business day on June 27th. Entries will be accepted by mail or in person at:
Because Beer Homebrew Competition:
C/O Sonic Unyon Records
22 Wilson St.
Hamilton, ON
Canada
905-777-1223
Any further enquiries: brandi@becausebeer.ca
B) If you are mailing your entry, remember to pack each bottle with adequate packing material. We strongly encourage the use of bubble wrap, and wrapping each entry in a plastic bag in case of breakage in transit. Broken or damaged entries will be disqualified. Every reasonable effort will be made to contact entrants whose bottles have been broken to make arrangements for replacement bottles.
4) JUDGING AND STEWARDING
If you are interested in judging or stewarding this competition please register online using the entry software on our website.
Judging will occur on Friday July 4th 2014, and Saturday July 5th 2014, depending on the number of entries received. We reserve the right to break up categories if too many entries of one subcategory are received, in the interests of adequate judging. As well, we reserve the right to merge subcategories where deemed appropriate should too few entries for any subcategory be received.
5) AWARDS AND PRIZES
Medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in all style categories that have a minimum of three entries. Prizes to be announced and will be awarded as available.
Exceptional first place winners will advance to a Best of Show (BOS) round with a single BOS winner.
Prizes will be given as available. We cordially invite you to attend the Because Beer Craft Beer Festival where we will be live announcing winners of the competition on Saturday July 12th. (Pier 4, Hamilton Waterfront, exact time TBD), while you enjoy your favourite craft beers, excellent food, exciting guest speakers, and live entertainment.
Winners will be announced online within 48 hours of the competition completion. Score sheets and judges comments will be returned to all entrants via email. Any prizes not claimed at the Because Beer Craft Beer Festival will be sent out by mail or through alternate arrangements.
6) SPONSORSHIP
If you are interested in supporting the Because Beer Homebrew Competition through sponsorship, please contact brandi@becausebeer.ca
All sponsors will be recognized online and through media outlets and announcements where possible.