ABC Brews Crews

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.

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!

2011 Brews Crews Results

5th Annual ABC Brews Crews Homebrew Competition Results

Light Lagers and Pilsners – Category 1 and 2 (8 entries)
Jeff and Susan Rankert	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Milford, MI	Little Bo-Pils	02B	Bohemian Pilsner	1
Jeff and Susan Rankert	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Milford, MI	Sub-Prime Pilsner	02A	German Pilsner	2
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s Light Lager	01C	Premium American Lager	3
European Amber Lagers and Dark Lagers (5 entries)
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s Dark Lager	04A	Dark American Lager	1
Stephen Bender		Perry, MI	Paint River Octoberfest	03B	Oktoberfest/Märzen	2
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s October Fourth	03B	Oktoberfest/Märzen	3
Bock (14 entries)
Art Smith	Lapeer Area Brewers	Lapeer, MI	Spring Blossom	05A	Maibock/Helles Bock	1
Kevin Penn and Matt Smith		Howell, MI	Helles Bock	05A	Maibock/Helles Bock	2
Aron Butler	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ypsilanti, MI	Heaven in Hell 2011	05A	Maibock/Helles Bock	3
Light Hybrid Beer (24 entries)
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s Krolsch	06C	Kölsch	1
Jim Satin	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Willis Road Wheat	06D	American Wheat or Rye Beer	2
Adam Wisniewski and Britani Bodeis		Kalamazoo, MI	Dairyland Cream Ale	06A	Cream Ale	3
Amber Hybrid Beer (7 entries)
Dreaver		Caton, MI	California Common	07B	California Common Beer	1
Daniel Fick	CRAFT	Berkley, MI	Hot Water Vapor	07B	California Common Beer	2
Kevin Paul	CRAFT	Royal Oak, MI	CogDor	07B	California Common Beer	3
English Pale Ale (9 entries)
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s Special Bitter	08B	Special/Best/Premium Bitter	1
Roger and Vickie Brideau		Ann Arbor, MI	Empty Nest Pale Ale	08A	Standard/Ordinary Bitter	2
Todd Hale		Port Huron, MI	Hale’s Pale Ale	08B	Special/Best/Premium Bitter	3
Scottish and Irish Ale (12 entries)
Stephen Bender		Perry, MI	Paint River Scotch Ale	09E	Strong Scotch Ale	1
Roger Brideau and Dana Dejohn		Ann Arbor, MI	Wee Scotch Ale	09B	Scottish Heavy 70/-	2
Scott Gordon		Trenton, MI	Monkey Head	09C	Scottish Export 80/-	3
American Ale (22 entries)
Bob and Kim Barrett	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Citramarillo Pale Ale	10A	American Pale Ale	1
Theo Weber	TC-Hops	Grawn, MI	Big Red	10B	American Amber Ale	2
Mike Casedy and Scott Szymusiak		Ann Arbor, MI	Pittsfield Pale Ale	10A	American Pale Ale	3
English Brown Ale (9 entries)
Kevin Paul	CRAFT	Royal Oak, MI	Nut Boy 1.0	11C	Northern English Brown Ale	1
Justin Chartier and Christian Workman	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Warren, MI	Esteban’s Irish Red	11A	Mild	2
Stephen Bender		Perry, MI	Paint River Southern Brown	11B	Southern English Brown	3
Porter (11 entries)
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s Uncle Tom’s Porter	12A	Brown Porter	1
Jeff and Susan Rankert	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Milford, MI	Our Precious Baltic Fluid	12C	Baltic Porter	2
Jim Satin	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Bobcat Porter	12B	Robust Porter	3
Stout (32 entries)
Brian LaGoe	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ypsilanti, MI	Oat Stout	13C	Oatmeal Stout	1
Matt Fojtik and Dave Fick	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Russian Imperial Stout	13F	Russian Imperial Stout	2
Pat Craddock	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Split Open and Melt	13F	Russian Imperial Stout	3
India Pale Ale (IPA) (19 entries)
Josef and Andy Hudacek	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Brighton, MI	IPA	14B	American IPA	1
Bob Sinelli		Dexter, MI	Dexter IIPA	14C	Imperial IPA	2
David Pearson	HomebrewTalk Brewers	South Lyon, MI	Amplified V	14B	American IPA	3
German Wheat and Rye Beer (5 entries)
Konrad Schlenner	CRAFT	Lake Orion, MI	Jefe Hefe	15A	Weizen/Weissbier	1
Kevin Rayl	Motor City Mashers	Brownstown, MI	Hefeweizen	15A	Weizen/Weissbier	2
Andrew Baker		Ypsilanti, MI	Hefty Hefe	15A	Weizen/Weissbier	3
Belgian and French Ale (19 entries)
Chris P. Frey and the F.O.R.D. Club	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Crispy’s Flanders Red w/ Cherries	16E	Belgian Specialty Ale	1
Sam Firke	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	No-Chill Wit	16A	Witbier	2
Jon Bay		Saline, MI	Insanity Citrus Wit	16E	Belgian Specialty Ale	3
Sour Ale (6 entries)
Pat Craddock	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Rod Flanders	17B	Flanders Red Ale	1
Josef and Andy Hudacek	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Brighton, MI	Flanders Red	17B	Flanders Red Ale	2
Kevin Rayl	Motor City Mashers	Brownstown, MI	JP	17B	Flanders Red Ale	3
Belgian Strong Ale (19 entries)
Theo Weber	TC-Hops	Grawn, MI	Belgian Sunset	18D	Belgian Golden Strong Ale	1
Chris P. Frey and Brian Petrovich	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Crispy’s Triple	18C	Belgian Tripel	2
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sullys Belgian Blonde	18A	Belgian Blond Ale	3
Strong Ale (8 entries)
Joe Merriman	The Red Salamander	Lansing, MI	English Barleywine	19B	English Barleywine	1
Jim Satin	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Young Jim’s Old Ale	19A	Old Ale	2
Aron Butler	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ypsilanti, MI	Don’t Cellar Short	19A	Old Ale	3
Fruit Beer (8 entries)
Josef and Andy Hudacek	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Brighton, MI	Strawberry Marzen	20A	Fruit Beer	1
Brian LaGoe	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ypsilanti, MI	Cherry Wheat	20A	Fruit Beer	2
Patrick Meehan		Dundee, MI	PomPale	20A	Fruit Beer	3
Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer (14 entries)
Jim Satin	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Hades Pepper Pale Ale	21A	Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer	1
Pat Craddock	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Ethiopinator	21A	Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer	2
Courtney Read	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Lansing, MI	Can’t Catch Me!	21A	Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer	3
Smoke-Flavored/Wood-Aged Beer (13 entries)
Roger Burns	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	If it’s Not Scottish, It’s Crap	22C	Wood-Aged Beer	1
Bob and Kim Barrett	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	What’s Smokin’	22A	Classic Rauchbier	2
John Bay		Saline, MI	Black Eye Bourbon Porter	22C	Wood-Aged Beer	3
Specialty Beer (23 entries)
Kevin Rayl	Motor City Mashers	Brownstown, MI	Vanilla Bourbon Stout	23A	Specialty Beer	1
Adam Nolan and Colin Vestrand		Kalamazoo, MI	Station Point IPA	23A	Specialty Beer	2
Nate Arnold and Joe Matson	The Brewing Network	Ypsilanti, MI	CDA	23A	Specialty Beer	3
Traditional Mead, Melomel (Fruit Mead), and Other Mead (11 entries)
Daniel Fick	CRAFT	Berkley, MI	Strawberry Rain	25C	Other Fruit Melomel	1
Brian Routt	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Melancholy	26B	Braggot	2
Jessica Smykowski		Commerce, MI	The Kaiser of Cyser	25A	Cyser	3
Standard Cider and Perry and Specialty Cider and Perry (7 entries)
Michael McClatchey		Plymouth, MI	Michigan Breakfast	27A	Common Cider	1
Karl Vernon		Livonia, MI	You Bet Your Sweet Apple!	28C	Applewine	2
Brian Routt with Adam Denlinger, Jim Cain, and Paul Wilson	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild		Common Cider	27A	Common Cider	3
Best of Show Beer
Bob and Kim Barrett	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Citramarillo Pale Ale	10A	American Pale Ale	1
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s Krolsch	06C	Kölsch	Runner-Up
Best of Show Mead/Cider
Daniel Fick	CRAFT	Commerce, MI	Strawberry Rain	25C	Other Fruit Melomel	1
Michael McClatchey		Plymouth, MI	Michigan Breakfast	27A	Common Cider	Runner-Up

2011 Brews Crews - It's a Wrap!

The 5th Annual Brews Crews Competition judging and awards ceremony are complete! 307 entries, 86 entrants, 23 prize categories. It was a long and hectic day, but it was totally worth it. What a great bunch of beers – you should all be proud. Final results will be posted shortly (by the end of the week), but for now, here are our Best Of Show winners:

Bob and Kim Barrett of the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild for their “Citramarillo” American Pale Ale
and
Daniel Fick of CRAFT for his “Strawberry Rain” Other Fruit Melomel

Congratulations!!

Thanks to all who came out for the awards presentation. We had a group of about 70 brewers and their fans turn out for the ceremony. Check the photos section of this site for some images of the day. We had a snafu with our medals but made the best of it, substituting lanyards from our friends at Adventures in Homebrewing for medals. As soon as the medals come in we’ll ship them out, along with scoresheets that weren’t picked up at the presentation.

Keep your eyes on this site for additional updates, including the results listing.
Brew on!

Judging and Awards this Saturday, 6/4

The 5th Annual Brews Crews competition award ceremony will be held at Corner Brewery immediately following the Best of Show judging. This should happen by 6pm but could start as early as 5pm. You might want to get a glass of Velvet Hammer or Framboozled to celebrate The Corner Brewery’s 5th anniversary, and get settled early enough so that you don’t miss anything.

We’ve got a dedicated area reserved in the biergarten, just head out back and look for the white fenced area. If the weather doesn’t agree, we’ll have to improvise; they’ve got indoor activities lined up which may get in the way of us moving things inside. Let’s just all hope for decent weather!

UPDATE: If you have an entry in the competition, be present to enter (be present to win also) a raffle drawing for one of three license keys for BeerSmith 2.0!

5th Annual Brews Crews competition is now open

The 5th Annual Brews Crews competition is in motion. Entry registration is open now, and beers may be submitted starting May 13th at these locations.

Follow the links below or at the top of the page for more information and to register:

Rules and Information

Entry Registration

Judge and Steward Registration

Read the flyer

2011 5th Annual Brews Crews Competition is Coming!

The 5th annual Brews Crews competition, sponsored by Arbor Brewing Company in cooperation with the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild is gearing up for this year’s event. Check this space for updates, and/or subscribe to Posts (upper right of this page) to get updates as they are posted.

Competition judging and award ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 4th, 2011. Details regarding competition rules, registration, and entry submission will be posted on this page shortly. Check back soon!

2010 Brews Crews Results

Fourth Annual ABC Brews Crews Homebrew Competition Results

Light Lagers and Pilsners – Category 1 and 2 (11 entries)
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s Blunt Lager	01B	Standard American Lager	1
Jeff Rankert	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Milford, MI	Sub-Prime Pilsner	02A	German Pilsner	2
Jeff Renner	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Your Father’s Mustache	02C	Classic American Pilsner	3

European Amber Lagers, Dark Lagers, and Bocks – Category 3, 4, and 5 (13 entries)
Jim Satin		Saline, MI	Bobcat Lager	03A	Vienna Lager	1
Mike Casedy and Scott Szymusiak		Ann Arbor, MI	Playa-Hator	05C	Doppelbock	2
Ryan Karcher and Erica Karcher		Novi, MI	Karcher Bock	05B	Traditional Bock	3

Light Hybrid and Amber Hybrid – Category 6 and 7 (17 entries)
Adam Mills	The Brewing Network	Big Rapids, MI	Diaeresis	06C	Kolsch	1
Jon Bay		Saline, MI	Bajaba	06A	Cream Ale	2
Sam Firke	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Centennial Blonde	06B	Blonde Ale	3

English Pale Ale – Category 8 (11 entries)
Stanley Harrison		Kalamazoo, MI	ESB	08C	Extra Special/Strong Bitter (EPA)	1
Curtis Kratt		Clawson, MI	Curt’s Bitter	08C	Extra Special/Strong Bitter (EPA)	2
Craig McKenzie		Marine City, MI	Lucky Ducky	08C	Extra Special/Strong Bitter (EPA)	3

Scotch and Irish Ales – Category 9 (7 entries)
Adam Mills	The Brewing Network	Big Rapids, MI	Black Eye Ale	09E	Strong Scotch Ale	1
Stephen Bender		Perry, MI	Panty Remover Scotch Ale	09E	Strong Scotch Ale	2
Adam Mills	The Brewing Network	Big Rapids, MI	Tiny Kilt	09A	Scottish Light 60/-	3

American Ale – Category 10 (19 entries)
Justen Pelton	Salacious Homebrewers In Toledo	Toledo, OH	Otto Ale	10A	American Pale Ale	1
Eric Murch		Ypsilanti, MI	Brown Rabbit	10C	American Brown Ale	2
Stanley Harrison		Kalamazoo, MI	Pale ale	10A	American Pale Ale	3

English Brown Ales – Category 11 (8 entries)
George Gorospe	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers (KGB)	Warren, MI	Brown Spider	11C	Northern English Brown	1
Adam Mills	The Brewing Network	Big Rapids, MI	Ives Ave Brown	11A	Mild	2
Curtis Kratt		Clawson, MI	D-Town Brown	11C	Northern English Brown	3

Porter – Category 12 (18 entries)
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s Porter	12B	Robust Porter	1
Patrick Vigil		Ann Arbor, MI	Brown Porter	12A	Brown Porter	2
Pat Hyde	Cass River Homebrew Club	Port Huron, MI	Baltic Porter	12C	Baltic Porter	3

Stout – Category 13 (12 entries)
Brian Routt	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Foreign Extra Stout	13D	Foreign Extra Stout	1
Trevor Klimek	KLOB	Paw Paw, MI	Oat/Rye Stout	13E	American Stout	2
Mike Casedy and Scott Szymusiak		Ann Arbor, MI	Presque Isle Imperial Stout	13F	Russian Imperial Stout	3

IPA – Category 14 (15 entries)
Curtis Kratt		Clawson, MI	IPA	14B	American IPA	1
Randall deBeauclair	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Pinckney, MI	Mr. D’s IPA	14A	English IPA	2
Jeff Rankert	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Milford, MI	Irrational Exuberance IPA	14B	American IPA	3

German Wheat and Rye – Category 15 (11 entries)
Patrick Vigil		Ann Arbor, MI	Amber Hefeweizen	15B		1
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s Dunkelweizen	15B	Dunkelweisen	2
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s Hefeweizen	15A	Weizen/Weissbier	3

Belgian and French Ale and Sour Ale - Category 16 and 17 (17 entries)
Trevor Klimek	KLOB	Paw Paw, MI	Lite Wit	17A	Berlinerweiss	1
Chris Frey	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Saline, MI	Sour Brown Puss	17C	Flanders Brown Ale / Oud Bruin	2
Tony Trzaskos		Walled Lake, MI	Bottoms down in Belgium	16A	Witbier	3

Belgian Strong Ale – Category 18 (12 entries)
Adam Mills	The Brewing Network	Big Rapids, MI	Belgian Dar(Ken)	18E	Belgian Dark Strong	1
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s th1rt3en Ale	18E	Belgian Dark Strong	2
Mike Casedy and Scott Szymusiak		Ann Arbor, MI	Babbling Friar’s Belgian Dark Strong Ale	18E	Belgian Dark Strong	3

Strong Ales – Category 19 (8 entries)
Justen Pelton	Salacious Homebrewers In Toledo	Toledo, OH	Big Bang	19C	American Barleywine	1
Aron Butler	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ypsilanti, MI	2006 Barleywine	19B	English Barleywine	2
Mike Casedy and Scott Szymusiak		Ann Arbor, MI	Depot Town Old Ale	19A	Old Ale	3

Fruilt Beer – Category 20 (7 entries)
Stephanie Wildey and Evan Wildey		Ann Arbor, MI	Wildeyes Blackberry Rain	20A	Fruit Beer	1
Adam Mills	The Brewing Network	Big Rapids, MI	Peach Kolsch	20A	Fruit Beer	2
Ian Stines	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Soaring Strawberry Wit	20A	Fruit Beer	3

Spice/Herb/Vegetable – Category 21 (13 entries)
Kevin Penn		Howell, MI	Old Festivus ale	21B	Christmas/Winter Specialty spiced beer	1
Sam Firke	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ann Arbor, MI	Zingiber	21A	Spice Herb Vegetable beer	2
Matthew Good	The Brewing Network	Fostoria, OH	Endless Night	21A	Spice Herb Vegetable beer	3

Smoke Flavored and Wood Aged – Category 22 (9 entries)
Phil Sullivan	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers	Royal Oak, MI	Sully’s Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout	22C	Wood aged beer	1
Tony Trzaskos		Walled Lake, MI	Blackened Bourbon Porter	22C	Wood aged beer	2
Andy Nelson	Mile High Monks	Centennial, CO	Pullman Porter	22C	Wood aged beer	3

Specialty Beer – Category 23 (8 entries)
Takumi Sato and Bob Weitor/Dave Snow		East Lansing, MI	BoTaDa	23A	Specialty Beer	1
George Gorospe	Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers (KGB)	Warren, MI	Sweet Java	23A	Specialty Beer	2
Karl Hinbern		Ann Arbor, MI	Hibiscosity	23A	Specialty Beer	3

Traditional Mead and Melomel – Category 24 and 25 (15 entries)
Randall deBeauclair	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Pinckney, MI	Pomegranite Mel	25C	Other Fruit Melomel	1
John Rathmell	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ypsilanti, MI	Blueberry Melomel	25C	Other Fruit Melomel	2
Joel Timm		Ypsilanti, MI	Blueberry Mead	25C	Other Fruit Melomel	3

Other Mead – Category 26 (15 entries)
Matthew Goebel	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ypsilanti, MI	Summer Fruit	26C	Open Category Mead	1
Randall deBeauclair	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Pinckney, MI	Mixed Berry Plambic Mead	26C	Open Category Mead	2
Alex Pettit	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Ypsilanti, MI	Cinnthecyser	26C	Open Category Mead	3

Standard/Specialty Cider/Perry – Category 27 and 28 (12 entries)
Takumi Sato		East Lansing, MI	Apple Bottoms	27A	Common Cider	1
Gary Bonds		Saline, MI	Shannon’s Delight	28C	Apple Wine	2
Philip Wilcox	Ann Arbor Brewers Guild	Jackson, MI	Frogapple Cider	27A	Common Cider	3

Best of Show Beer
Jim Satin		Saline, MI	Bobcat Lager	03A	Vienna Lager

Best of Show Mead/Cider
Takumi Sato		East Lansing, MI	Apple Bottoms	27A	Common Cider

Awards Ceremony

The 4th Annual BrewsCrews competition award ceremony will be held at the Corner Brewery starting at or after 6PM, on Saturday May 22. The weather forecast shows a 40% chance of rain, as of Wednesday. If the weather is nice, we’ll be outside in the beer garden. If not, we’ll be inside somewhere. The day’s full schedule is shown below. Judging, including best of show judging, is not open to the public.

8:30 — judges arrive
9 am to 11:30 am — first judging session
11:30 am to 1:00 pm — lunch
1:00 pm to 3:30 pm — second judging session
4:00 pm — Best of Show judging begins
6:00 pm – award ceremony