Delaware News

Second annual home-brew beer competition set for Delaware State Fair

Department of Agriculture | News | Date Posted: Monday, July 9, 2012



2012 Battle of the BrewsBattle of the Brews to take place July 21

Photos from the 2011 Battle of the Brews are available for media use on Flickr.

HARRINGTON — More than 300 bottles of home-brewed beer will compete for top honors next week as part of the Second Annual Battle of the Brews at the Delaware State Fair, sponsored by the Delaware Department of Agriculture.

The July 21 event is Delaware’s only Beer Judge Certification Program-sanctioned event, where professional judges rate the work of home brewing enthusiasts in the First State. There are 329 beer entries this year from 88 competitors, up from 225 entries in 2011.

“The word is spreading, and there’s a lot of excitement about this event,” said Dan Woodall, a home brewer and analytical chemist with the Department of Agriculture who organized the competition. “This is all about the home brewers. It gives them a place to get good feedback about their beer.”

Judging begins 9 a.m. Saturday, July 21, in the Delaware Electric Cooperative Free Entertainment Tent, and goes until 5 p.m. Results will be announced between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., when the public is invited to taste beers from local breweries. Xtreme Brewing, a Millsboro-based homebrew supply store, will also be on hand throughout the day to discuss equipment and techniques.

“Home brewing is increasing in popularity all around Delaware,” said Woodall, who has been home brewing for about 15 years. “With all the local breweries here, Delaware is a great location to get inspiration. It’s also a social hobby, and an easy one to get into – it’s portable and shareable.”

Judges will grade the beers on a point system that includes aroma, appearance, flavor, mouthfeel and overall impressions. The beers they sip will be cooled throughout the day in a refrigerated truck lent by Standard Distributing Co. of New Castle.

Winners will be selected in 23 styles, or categories, with the top beer of each style competing for Best Of Show. The champion will receive a $250 cash prize and a place in the American Homebrewers Association’s national competition. Second place wins $150 and third place $50. Styles include lagers, pilsner, bock, hybrids, ales, porter and stout, among other categories.

For more information on the Battle of the Brews, visit http://battleofthebrews.webs.com.


Photos from the 2011 Battle of the Brews are available for media use on Flickr.


Contact:
Dan Shortridge
Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520

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Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

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Second annual home-brew beer competition set for Delaware State Fair

Department of Agriculture | News | Date Posted: Monday, July 9, 2012



2012 Battle of the BrewsBattle of the Brews to take place July 21

Photos from the 2011 Battle of the Brews are available for media use on Flickr.

HARRINGTON — More than 300 bottles of home-brewed beer will compete for top honors next week as part of the Second Annual Battle of the Brews at the Delaware State Fair, sponsored by the Delaware Department of Agriculture.

The July 21 event is Delaware’s only Beer Judge Certification Program-sanctioned event, where professional judges rate the work of home brewing enthusiasts in the First State. There are 329 beer entries this year from 88 competitors, up from 225 entries in 2011.

“The word is spreading, and there’s a lot of excitement about this event,” said Dan Woodall, a home brewer and analytical chemist with the Department of Agriculture who organized the competition. “This is all about the home brewers. It gives them a place to get good feedback about their beer.”

Judging begins 9 a.m. Saturday, July 21, in the Delaware Electric Cooperative Free Entertainment Tent, and goes until 5 p.m. Results will be announced between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., when the public is invited to taste beers from local breweries. Xtreme Brewing, a Millsboro-based homebrew supply store, will also be on hand throughout the day to discuss equipment and techniques.

“Home brewing is increasing in popularity all around Delaware,” said Woodall, who has been home brewing for about 15 years. “With all the local breweries here, Delaware is a great location to get inspiration. It’s also a social hobby, and an easy one to get into – it’s portable and shareable.”

Judges will grade the beers on a point system that includes aroma, appearance, flavor, mouthfeel and overall impressions. The beers they sip will be cooled throughout the day in a refrigerated truck lent by Standard Distributing Co. of New Castle.

Winners will be selected in 23 styles, or categories, with the top beer of each style competing for Best Of Show. The champion will receive a $250 cash prize and a place in the American Homebrewers Association’s national competition. Second place wins $150 and third place $50. Styles include lagers, pilsner, bock, hybrids, ales, porter and stout, among other categories.

For more information on the Battle of the Brews, visit http://battleofthebrews.webs.com.


Photos from the 2011 Battle of the Brews are available for media use on Flickr.


Contact:
Dan Shortridge
Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.