Sean-o September 14th, 2009 . . . .
Categorized under: Home brewing

Results of the Topsfield Fair Homebrew Competition

Last Saturday, the 2009 Topsfield Fair Homebrew Competition was held in Topsfield, MA. Hosted by the Northshore Homebrewers (in which I am a member), a group of avid homebrewers gathered to judge entries from all across the country. There were 146 homebrew entries in total, separating into the 17 different categories (as designed by the BJCP). The Topsfield Fair competition is a BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) sanctioned event.

What is the BJCP?

“The Beer Judge Certification Program was designed to promote beer literacy and the appreciation of real beer, and to recognize beer tasting and evaluation skills. We certify and rank beer judges through an examination and monitoring process.

The BJCP was founded in 1985 and has administered the Beer Judge Examination to 5,184 individuals worldwide. 2,997 are currently active judges in the program, with over 450 holding the rank of National or higher. Since we started keeping detailed records, our members have judged over 494,727 beers and we have sanctioned over 3,760 competitions.” For more information, visit: http://www.bjcp.org

Why join a homebrew club?

A homebrew club is a great place to meet new friends and to learn the art of homebrewing. During club events, you can learn about the different styles of beer, the history of brewing, along with the science of homebrewing. Making beer is easy. Making good beer can be difficult. Homebrew clubs can help make it easy. Most members of the homebrewer club will provide tips of the trade, recipes and equipment. If you just want to learn how to brew or if you want to make your own beer, join a club today – why wait?

Topsfield Fair Competition

I was busy for the morning session, but I arrived at the competition about half way through to help for the second round. The number of entries were larger than expected, so the second round was a mini round – right before lunch. After lunch, I participated in the third round judging the Belgian Strong Style. This is a very fun style. My particular flight included three different subcategories: Blonde, Dubble and Tripple. All of the entries were quite interesting, with the winning beer being from the Blonde category.

Here are the full results from the competition:

Best of Show – Keith Antul – Scottish Export 80

Table 1 – Lagers (8 Entries)
Keith Antul Worcester, MA German Pilsner 2A German Pilsner 1
Alastair Hewitt Wakefield, MA Bohemian Pilsner 2B Bohemian Pilsner 2
Jeffery Nicholas & Leslie Tuttle Salem, MA Standard American Lager 1B Standard American 3
Table 2 – Darker Lagers (7 Entries)
Jeff Wallace Saunderstown, RI Schwarzbier 4C Schwarzbier 1
Alastair Hewitt Wakefield, MA Schwarzbier 4C Schwarzbier 2
Keith Antul Worcester, MA Vienna Lager 3A Vienna Lager 3
Table 3 – Cream and Blonde Ales (7 Entries)
Joseph Lind Milton, MA Cream Ale 6A Cream Ale 1
Ken Weber Winchester, MA American Pale Ale 6A Cream Ale 2
Keith Antul Worcester, MA Cream Ale 6A Cream Ale 3
Edward Fabrycki Southington, CT Blonde Ale 6B Blond Ale 3
Table 4 – Hybrid (8 Entries)
Jeffery Nicholas & Leslie Tuttle Salem, MA Kolsch 6C Koelsch 1
Alastair Hewitt Wakefield, MA American Wheat 6D American Wheat or Rye Beer 2
Edward Fabrycki Southington, CT California Common 7B California Common Beer 3
Table 5 – English and Scottish (9 Entries)
Keith Antul Worcester, MA Scottish Export 80 9C Scottish 80/- 1
Jason Koravos Leominster, MA Special Bitter 8B Special/Best/Premium Bitter 2
Jeffery Nicholas & Leslie Tuttle Salem, MA Special/Best Premium Bitter 8B Special/Best/Premium Bitter 3
Table 6 – American Pale (9 Entries)
Jeff Wallace Saunderstown, RI Amerillo Pale Ale 10A American Pale 1
Stuart Siegel Manchester, CT American Pale Ale 10A American Pale 2
Stuart Siegel Manchester, CT American Pale Ale 10A American Pale 3
Table 7 – American Amber and Brown (8 Entries)
Steve Murray Bar Harbor, ME American Amber Ale 10B American Amber 1
James Tanner Boxford, MA American Ale 10B American Amber 2
Stuart Siegel Manchester, CT American Pale Ale 10B American Amber 3
Table 8 – English Brown and Brown Porter (7 Entries)
Alastair Hewitt Wakefield, MA English Mild 11A Mild 1
Jason Koravos Leominster, MA Northern English Brown 11C Northern English Brown 2
Joseph Lind Milton, MA Dark Mild 11A Mild 3
Table 9 – Stout and Porter (9 Entries)
Kelly Socia Albany, NY Sinebrychoff Baltic Porter clone 12C Baltic Porter 1
Justin Leeming Newport, RI Dry Stout 13A Dry Stout 2
Keith Antul Worcester, MA Robust Porter 12B Robust Porter 3
Table 10 – Dry Sweet and Oatmeal Sout (10 Entries)
Richard MacPherson Middleton, MA Sweet Stout 13B Sweet Stout 1
Alastair Hewitt Wakefield, MA Russian Imperial Stout 13F Russian Imperial Stout 2
Albert DiGeso Cambridge, MA Oatmeal Imperial Stout 13F Russian Imperial Stout 3
Table 11 – IPA (10 Entries)
Stuart Siegel Manchester, CT Inda Pale Ale 14B American IPA 1
Russell Shade Malden, MA American IPA 14B American IPA 2
Keith Antul Worcester, MA American IPA 14B American IPA 3
Table 12 – German Wheat (6 Entries)
Kevin Farrell Medford, MA Weizenbock 15C Weizenbock 1
Justin Leeming Newport, RI Weizenbock 15C Weizenbock 2
Jason Koravos Leominster, MA German Hefeweizen 15A Weizen 3
Table 13 – Belgian and French (12 Entries)
Alastair Hewitt Wakefield, MA Biere De Garde 16D Biere de Garde 1
Joseph Lind Milton, MA Saison 16C Saison 2
Tim & Danielle Broderick South Hamilton, MA Ginger Saison 16C Saison 3
Table 14 – Belgian Strong (10 Entries)
Alastair Hewitt Wakefield, MA Belgian Blond 18A Belgian Blond Ale 1
Justin Leeming Newport, RI Belgian Dubble 18B Belgian Dubbel 2
Dave Gagliarducci & Mark Lyne West Springfield, MA Belgian Blond 18A Belgian Blond Ale 3
Table 15 – Strong Ale (9 Entries)
Albert DiGeso Cambridge, MA Barleywine 19C American Barleywine 1
Keith Antul Worcester, MA Imperial IPA 14C Imperial IPA 2
Kevin Farrell Medford, MA Imperial IPA 14C Imperial IPA 3
Dave Gagliarducci & Mark Lyne West Springfield, MA Imperial IPA 14C Imperial IPA 3
Table 16 – Fruit and Spice (9 Entries)
Jamie Clark & Alastair Hewitt Watertown, MA Belgian Quad w/prunes and raisins 20A Fruit Beer 1
Jeff Wallace Saunderstown, RI Hefeweizen with Lemongrass 21A Spice, Herb, Vegetable Beer 2
Keith Antul Worcester, MA Spice / Herb Vegetable Beer 21A Spice, Herb, Vegetable Beer 3
Table 17 – Smoke and Specialty (8 Entries)
Dave Gagliarducci & Mark Lyne West Springfield, MA Russian Imperial Stout 22C Wood-Aged Beer 1
Steve Murray Bar Harbor, ME Rye IPA 23A Specialty Beer 2
Cela Doll & John McKenney Belmont, MA Bohemian Pilsner 23A Specialty Beer 3

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