ABC Brews Crews

2013 Brews Crews Results

Results are posted below! Thank you to everyone for your entries, your judging expertise, your stewarding assistance, and everything else you did and sacrificed to pull this competition together. A special thanks goes out to the Competition Directors. Without them, the competition would have never left the ground.

Here’s some numbers:

332 Beers, 24 Meads, and 7 Ciders, 89 Entrants
Categories with most entries: Cat 10 (36 entries), followed by Cat 14 (30), Cat 23 (24), Cat 6 (23), and Cat 21 (22).

Keep an eye on this page and/or the Brews Crews Facebook page for all other Brews Crews information that may bubble up.
Please also take a look around our sponsors page. This ‘sponsor’ list really represents all businesses that we worked with during the course of the competition. We make a point to showcase some of the cool stuff that we don’t always realize is right here under our noses, especially the artists!

Happy Brewing to everyone, and hope to see you all again next year!

Judging and Awards – Saturday, 6/8

Getting ready for the big day. Judging will be all day Saturday and then we emerge from conclave with results. Once Best of Show has been determined and our paperwork is in order, we’ll be heading out to the biergarten for the awards ceremony. We plan to start by 6pm. This means we MAY start before that. We’ll be pretty anxious to get going as soon as we’re ready (probably so will you), so get there before 5:30 to be sure. We made a Category 7 beer for our 7th anniversary, so get yourself set up with one or two in time for the ceremony.

If you can’t make it down, we’re planning to live-Tweet results as well as put them up in a post on this page. So keep your eye on things here, our Facebook page, and the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild Twitter feed

Looking at and clicking around on our Sponsors page may not sound like super fun, but please check them out. They were instrumental in making this competition happen and it could not have happened without them.

If you entered a beer, mead, or cider in the competition, look for a Brews Crews staffer (anyone with a Brews Crews nametag should be able to point you in the right direction) and get a raffle ticket for a chance at some beer swag.

Looks like awards ceremony weather to me!

Until Saturday…

7th Annual Brews Crews Competition Registration is open!

The registration site for the 7th Annual Brews Crews is open!

We’re still finalizing arrangements with some of our drop off sites and will have completed info posted shortly. Please follow the links below or at the top of the page for important information about submitting your entries and helping out as a steward or judge.

New this year: Payment via PayPal is available! You’ll see the PayPal option when you register your entries.

Rules and Information

Entry Registration

Judge and Steward Registration

Keep your eye out for Brews Crews Facebook posts regarding updates or check back here.
Good luck!

7th Annual Brews Crews Competition is Brewing!

Hello all!

Things are in the works and competition details will be available soon! Here are some noteworthy dates:
Registration will open soon, and will close Sunday, May 5th
Entry drop offs between May 2nd and May 11th (dates differ depending on drop off location – look for details once posted)
Competition and Awards – Saturday, June 8th.

Please check back here or even better, keep an eye on the Brews Crews Facebook Page as details emerge

Good Luck!

2012 Brews Crews Results

Results are posted! Thank you to everyone for your entries, your judging expertise, your stewarding assistance, and all other muscle you provided to make this thing happen. Here’s some numbers:

357 Beers, 16 Meads, and 14 Ciders, 109 Entrants
Categories with most entries: Cat 10 (39 entries), followed by Cat 14 (31), Cat 16 (32), Cat 22 (26), and Cat 23 (29).

Keep an eye on this page for a post when the photos are uploaded, and for whatever other Brews Crews business that should arise.
Please also take a look around our sponsors page. This ‘sponsor’ list really represents all businesses that we worked with during the course of the competition. We make a point to showcase some of the cool stuff that we don’t always realize is right here under our noses, especially the artists!

Here’s to another great year of brewing and hope to see you all again next year.
Cheers!

2012 6th Annual ABC Brews Crews Homebrew Competition Results

Light Lager – Category 1 (9 entries)
Robert Vrabel	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Farmington Hills, MI	Munich Helles	1D	Munich Helles	1
Phil Sullivan	Underground Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sullys Sloan Regal	1B	Standard American Lager	2
Jeff and Susan Rankert	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Milford, MI	Erste Helles	1D	Munich Helles	3
Pilsners and European Amber Lagers and Dark Lagers – Categories 2 and 3 (12 entries)
Jim Satin	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Knaufs Bo Pils	2B	Bohemian Pilsner	1
Mike Carr	Cass River Homebrewers	Port Huron, MI	Party Girl Classic American Pilsner	2C	Classic American Pilsner	2
Eric Tabor	KLOB	Marshall, MI	Eric Tabor	3A	Vienna Lager	3
Dark Lager - Category 4 (13 entries)
Art Smith	Lapeer Area Brewers	Lapeer, MI	Roasted Night	04C	Schwartzbier	1
Jim Satin	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Knaufbrau Dunkel	04B	Munich Dunkel	2
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sullys Dark Lager	04A	Dark American Lager	3
Bock – Category 5 (8 entries)
Brian LaGoe	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ypsilanti, MI	Doppelganger Bock	05C	Doppelbock	1
Jason Reinhardt	Mile High Monks	Lakewood, CO	Iron Horse	05B	Traditional Bock	2
Jim Satin	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Knaufbrau Bock	05C	Doppelbock	3
Light Hybrid Beer – Category 6 (25 entries)
Adam Wisniewski and Britani Wisniewski		Kalamazoo, MI	Britanis Cream Ale	06A	Cream Ale	1
Phil Sullivan	Underground Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sullys Kolsch	06C	Kölsch	2
John Dishinger		Ann Arbor, MI	M. Jerry	06D	American Wheat or Rye Beer	3
Amber Hybrid Beer – Category 7 (9 entries)
Todd Hale	Cass River Homebrewers	Port Huron, MI	Dusseldorf	07C	Düsseldorf Altbier	1
Art Smith	Lapeer Area Brewers	Lapeer, MI	Alternator	07A	North German Altbier	2
John Reed	Mid Columbia Zymurgy Association	West Richland, WA	Stanley Steamer	07B	California Common Beer	3
English Pale Ale and English Brown Ale – Categories 8 and 11 (13 entries)
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sullys Epic	08B	Special/Best/Premium Bitter	1
Mike Carr	Cass River Homebrewers	Port Huron, MI	Dark Mild	11A	Mild	2
Jeff Hughes	C.R.A.F.T.	Washington, MI	Deuces Mild	11A	Mild	3
Scottish and Irish Ale – Category 9 (16 entries)
Kevin Paul	CRAFT	Royal Oak, MI	Scottish Light	09A	Scottish Light 60/-	1
Ross Ziegenthaler	MOB – Muskegon Ottawa Brewers	Spring Lake, MI	Willows Old Nessie	09C	Scottish Export 80/-	2
Robert Vrabel	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Farmington Hills, MI	Strong Scotch Ale	09E	Strong Scotch Ale	3
American Ale – Category 10 (39 entries)
Brian Lagoe	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ypsilanti, MI	Kinda Evil Twin	10B	American Amber Ale	1
Adam Lauver and Kyle Miller	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ypsilanti, MI	Deaf Dogo Pale Ale	10A	American Pale Ale	2
Chris Hammer Huber	SNOBs	North Royalton, OH	Double H Brown Ale	10C	American Brown Ale	3
Porter – Category 12 (13 entries)
Eric Tabor	KLOB	Marshall, MI	Eric Tabor	12C	Baltic Porter	1
Sam Straight	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Sammybrau Porter	12B	Robust Porter	2
Kevin Paul	CRAFT	Royal Oak, MI	Robust Porter	12B	Robust Porter	3
Stout – Category 13 (20 entries)
Konrad Schlenner	C.R.A.F.T.	Lake Orion, MI	Underland Stout	13E	American Stout	1
Andy Nelson	Mile High Monks	Centennial, CO	Imp one-one	13F	Russian Imperial Stout	2
Robert Vrabel	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Farmington Hills, MI	Oatmeal Stout	13C	Oatmeal Stout	3
India Pale Ale (IPA) – Category 14 (31 entries)
Josef and Andy Hudacek	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Brighton, MI	Kick Ass	14B	American IPA	1
Scott Gauche and Gim Lee		Kentwood, MI	Citra IPA	14B	American IPA	2
David Curtis	KLOB	Kalamazoo, MI	Red IPA	14B	American IPA	3
German Wheat and Rye Beer – Category 15 (12 entries)
Jeremy and Jacqueline Wright		Ann Arbor, MI	Hefeweizen	15A	Weizen/Weissbier	1
Justen Pelton	GlassCity Mashers	Toledo, OH	Peltons Weizen	15A	Weizen/Weissbier	2
Lyle Lash III		Ypsilanti, MI	Wikathoos Weizenbock	15C	Weizenbock	3
Belgian and French Ale – Category 16 (33 entries)
Ross Ziegenthaler	MOB – Muskegon Ottawa Brewers	Spring Lake, MI	Willows Bam	16E	Belgian Specialty Ale	1
Jon Bay		Saline, MI	Sassy Girl Saison	16C	Saison	2
Kevin Rayl	Motor City Mashers	Brownstown, MI	Abbey Saison	16E	Belgian Specialty Ale	3
Sour Ale - Category 17 (7 entries)
Chris Frey	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Crispy’s Flanders Red w/ Cherries	17B	Flanders Red Ale	1
Josef and Andy Hudacek	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Brighton, MI	Sour Ass	17B	Flanders Red Ale	2
John Applegarth	Primetime Brewers	Grand Rapids, MI	Flanders Red	17B	Flanders Red Ale	3
Belgian Strong Ale – Category 18 (17 entries)
Tracy and Teresa Stevenson	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Tripel Treat	18C	Belgian Tripel	1
Mike Carr and Patsy Hyde	Cass River Homebrewers	Port Huron, MI	Whilst Patsy Sleeps BDS	18E	Belgian Dark Strong Ale	2
Todd Hale	Cass River Homebrewers	Port Huron, MI	Little Blonde Bomb	18A	Belgian Blond Ale	3
Strong Ale – Category 19 (8 entries)
Jim Satin	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI		19A	Old Ale	1
Kevin Paul	CRAFT	Royal Oak, MI	Lights Out	19B	English Barleywine	2
Lyle Lash III		Ypsilanti, MI	Directors Cut	19C	American Barleywine	3
Fruit Beer - Category 20 (10 entries)
Art Smith	Lapeer Area Brewers	Lapeer, MI	Casablanca Shandy	20A	Fruit Beer/06D Amer. Wh	1
Jeremy and Jacqueline Wright		Ann Arbor, MI	Raspberry Hefeweizen	20A	Fruit Beer/15A Weizen	2
Jeremy and Jacqueline Wright		Ann Arbor, MI	Blackberry Half-wit	20A	Fruit Beer/16A Witbier	3
Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer – Category 21 (8 entries)
Jordan Semer and Justing Koertgen	Corner Brewery	Plymouth, MI	Ginger-Green Tea Delight	21A	Spice, Herb, or Vegetable	1
Robert Vrabel	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Farmington Hills, MI	Breakfast Stout	21A	Spice, Herb, or Vegetable	2
Jamie Kidwell and Andrew Brix		Ann Arbor, MI	Juniper Rye IPA	21A	Spice, Herb, or Vegetable	3
Smoke-Flavored/Wood-Aged Beer – Category 22 (25 entries)
Phil Sullivan	Underground Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sullys Bourbon Barrel Emperor	22C	Wood-Aged Beer	1
Brian Richards	Bay de Noc Brewers	Ishpeming, MI	Orchard Fire Porter	22B	Other Smoked Beer	2
Michael Bardallis	Downriver Brewers Guild	Allen Park, MI	Rauchbier	22A	Classic Rauchbier	3
Specialty Beer – Category 23 (29 entries)
Joe Nielsen		Berkley, MI	Rye IPA	23A	Specialty Beer	1
Tony Arruda	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Rumple Kiltskin	23A	Specialty Beer	2
Bryan and Dan Yestrepsky		Ann Arbor, MI	Cosmic Funk Bel-Ginger Beer	23A	Specialty Beer	3
Traditional Mead, Melomel (Fruit Mead), and Other Mead – Categories 24, 25, 26 (16 entries)
Roger Burns	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Cherry Bomb	25C	Other Fruit Melomel	1
Roger Burns	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Mostly Michigan Mead	26C	Open Category Mead	2
Daniel and Rose Bishop		Jackson, MI	TheWeddingMead	26C	Open Category Mead	3
Standard Cider and Perry and Specialty Cider and Perry – Categories 27, 28 (14 entries)
John Applegarth	Primetime Brewers	Grand Rapids, MI	Common Cider	27A	Common Cider	1
Anthony Kilimas	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Harrison Township, MI	sweet cider	27A	Common Cider	2
John Applegarth	Primetime Brewers	Grand Rapids, MI	Common Perry	27D	Common Perry	3
Best of Show Beer
Joe Nielsen		Berkley, MI	Rye IPA	23A	Specialty Beer	1
Adam and Britani Wisniewski		Kalamazoo, MI	Britanis Cream Ale	6A	Cream Ale	Runner- Up
Best of Show Mead/Cider
Roger Burns	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Cherry Bomb	25C	Other Fruit Melomel	1
John Applegarth	Primetime Brewers	Grand Rapids, MI	Common Cider	27A	Common Cider	Runner-Up

Judging and Awards Ceremony – This Saturday, 6/9

We’re almost there! Judging on Saturday at the Corner Brewery, and then the awards ceremony will follow immediately afterward in the biergarten. We expect to start at 6pm. Just head back and look for our designated area. If you entered a beer, mead, or cider in the competition, and you attend the ceremony, you’ll get a raffle ticket for a chance to get some cool stuff! Look for a Brews Crews staffer with a roll of raffle tickets.

Check our Sponsors page for some clues as to what you might find in the raffle . Please do spend a minute checking out our sponsors – they have really stepped up with some cool goods and services that help make this whole thing possible.

Weather’s looking pretty good for an outdoor ceremony. Let’s hope I didn’t just now jinx it – oops!

See you Saturday!

Mead and Cider Judging

In order to get a jump on judging, we figured we’d knock out the mead and cider categories before Saturday. So, on Monday, we packed up the caravan, invited a few judges, and headed up to see our friends at B. Nektar Meadery. They were kind enough to lend us their space and expertise to help evaluate your entries. I can’t think of a better group to get the job done. See a picture of the group here.
Thanks!

Come find out how things turned out by attending our awards presentation at Corner Brewery this Saturday. Things should kick off at 6, but show up early to get a beer and get settled in. More details about Saturday to follow.

Cheers!

6th Annual Brews Crews competition registration is open!

The 6th Annual Brews Crews competition is now open for business! Entries may be brought to a dropoff point as early as May 12th. Please check the list of drop off locations for details.

Follow the links below or at the top of this page for important information:

Rules and Information

Entry Registration

Judge and Steward Registration

Good luck to all!

6th Annual Brews Crews competition scheduled

The 6th Annual Brews Crews competition will take place on Saturday June 9, 2012. Watch this space for more information.

5th Annual Brews Crews Thanks and Looking Ahead

Thank you all again for another great year! Many thanks to Arbor Brewing, our host. It would not be possible without their unflagging support for this competition and our great hobby.

Thanks also to our sponsors:
Arbor Brewing Company
Stir Starter
Jay Howe Hand-Crafted Ceramics
White Labs
Wyeast
AHA

Thanks also to our Best of Show panel:
Matt and Rene Greff, owners and brewmaster of Arbor Brewing Company, as well as our host for the competition
Ron Jeffries, brewmaster of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Doug Beedy, brewmaster of Fort Street Brewery

Scroll down to the previous post to review the list of medalists, and keep an eye on this space for additional info about the winning beer and mead brewing/making and release… and more photos!