Announcing Brew Wars for DC15

[DrFaustus]

I've talked to Russ. It looks like I'll be running a contest next year at Defcon.

Announcing a new contest for Defcon 15 - Brew Wars

There will be a beer brewing contest at Defcon next year. All styles of beer will be accepted. Each contestant should arrive with at least two twelve ounce bottles of their beer. Each style of beer will be judged based on its style. The standard for each style will be this year's winner of that style at the Great American Beer Festival (http://www.beertown.org/events/gabf/index.htm). The overall winner will be the beer that is closest to perfection in its style of brew.

There will be a panel of five judges, each experienced hop heads. They will be provided with a small sample of each beer, and what style of beer it is. All judges are excluded from bringing their own beer to the contest.

I'll drop more details as I hammer them out. I wanted to announce this really early, so you'll have plenty of time to perfect your brews. I also wanted to drop the information early enough that you can get a hold of the beer in your style that won the GABF, which happens at the end of next month.

If anyone would like to come with me to the GABF just get a hold of me. I'll be attending the Saturday afternoon session. That's when they announce this year's winners.

I'm considering a root beer category as well. If we have enough interest in home made root beer I'll go ahead and do it. I'd require yeast carbonation. It'd definitely be dedicated to Sinster. I'd whip up a batch of his last root beer recipe, as we used to exchange our scratch recipes before his untimely death.

Dr. Faustus
--
If a man be drunk overnight, the devil cannot hurt him in the morning.

[noid]

I'd be interested in judging. I've been brewing for over 10 years and have done many different styles.

Also, would you do a cider class? If so, then I may compete

[DrFaustus]

I'd be interested in judging. I've been brewing for over 10 years and have done many different styles.

Also, would you do a cider class? If so, then I may compete

I don't have all the judges yet, so I would consider it.

As far as cider goes, I am completely unqualified to judge it. that's the only problem I'd have with it.

Dr. Faustus
--
If a man be drunk overnight, the devil cannot hurt him in the morning.

[DJ Jackalope]

Ha... yay.... is this official? I allready tried to do this 2-3 years ago and we couldn't get it done.

HELL YEAH! **offers full support and help if needed!!!!** just let me know.

[DrFaustus]

Ha... yay.... is this official? I allready tried to do this 2-3 years ago and we couldn't get it done.

Don't worry...I'll make it happen. It was supposed to happen already, but I got lazy/unemployeed.

Dr. Faustus
--
If a man be drunk overnight, the devil cannot hurt him in the morning.

[TheCotMan]

I've talked to Russ. It looks like I'll be running a contest next year at Defcon.

Once DT or Blackbeetle start posting official information about DC15 (dates, locations, etc) or some time late October, mid-November or early December (whichever happens first) we'll probably open up a DC15 discussion area, and I'll publish a new Contests and events subforum.

If for some reason I forget about this thread, please remind me about your intent to run this contest after we start putting up DC15-specific content.

Good idea for a contest; it has been suggested, before, but I don't remember what happened with it. Let's see if che is willing to enter.

[noid]

Well, I can be a very good judge of cider, especially homebrewed. So, if you would use me as a judge you could have a cider class as well.

[DJ Jackalope]

*nominates che for beer judge*

[TheCotMan]

*nominates che for beer judge*

(insert virtual bonk on the head with a rubber chicken)
But then he can't enter!

O:-)

[heretic]

Ok, now THIS is very cool. Looking forward to it.


-heretic

[DJ Jackalope]

ha.... *nominates self for beer judge*....

*bonks cotman back*

[DrFaustus]

Well, I can be a very good judge of cider, especially homebrewed. So, if you would use me as a judge you could have a cider class as well.

I'm going to pass on the cider style. While you may be an excellent judge of cider, I'd still have to make sure *all* the judges were up to judging cider. I want to make sure that one judge's decision won't completely sway all judging. Each judge needs to be able to understand and evaluate each style without having to ask the opinions of the group. Another reason for passing on a cider is simplicity. This will be the first year for this competition. I'd like to see this become a new tradition. The best way to ensure success in its first year is to make it as simple as possible. I'm going to avoid as much complexity as I can. Not judging brews other than beer is a big step in that direction.

I can't say that I won't allow other brews in at a future date, but for the first year I'm going to stick to the KISS principle.

[DJ Jackalope]

Well, I can be a very good judge of cider, especially homebrewed. So, if you would use me as a judge you could have a cider class as well.

Hey Noid, I figure you and I can sit down and judge some ciders sometime!

[IrishMASMS]

Hey Noid, I figure you and I can sit down and judge some ciders sometime!

-raises hand-

I'll take some of that cider action!

[bloofar]

I'm going to pass on the cider style. While you may be an excellent judge of cider, I'd still have to make sure *all* the judges were up to judging cider.

As long as it, and some very small rocks, float on water it's a good cider.


I've got a pair of porters I've been working on. Also a mead that is excellent if you're into paint thinner (it's actually quite good). Any chance on a honey-wine category?

[DrFaustus]

No chance. I want this event to last. The best thing I can do right now is keep it simple. So, we'll stick to just beer.

[DrFaustus]

It's time to remind everyone of Brew Wars again. The very first Brew
Wars will happen this year at Defcon 15.

The rules are simple. Just bring twenty four ounces of your home brew
to Defcon. A judging panel of three people, including myself, will
drink and rate each brew. The beer will be rated on a scale of 1-10.
Each beer will be judged in it's catergory. The standard of each
category of beer is last year's winner of the Great American Beer
Festival in the style you have entered. A list of those winning beers
can be found at the URL below.

http://www.beertown.org/events/gabf/medals/2006/medalists.aspx

The judges will be blind tasting the beers. The only information given
to the judges will be what style of beer it is.

Judges will not be allowed to enter their own brews.

Judges have already been selected. All judges are were at the GABF and
sampled all winning brews. Extensive tasting notes were taken at the time.

I have sourced a glass carboy for the winner. This carboy will be
etched will a logo commemorating the event. If your beer is good
enough, you could soon be brewing your next batch in a unique carboy.

[Z^2]

Apropos of the other non-beer-brew people here, I think we should have a not-entirely dissociated non-beer-brew "contest", because we seem to have a small crowd gathering. I may have some interesting things to bring, assuming I can get past TSA.

[Synapse]

Has there been any update on the brew wars? This thread hasn't gone anywhere.
Will this take place?

I got a Lager that will be done in about 3 weeks.
Already tested it, (using force carbonation). Pretty decent.

and a second ale just starting.

Anyone else that has some brewing going on?

[DrFaustus]

Yes, it is going to happen.

It will not happen along side another event. It would be great if that was possible, but it is not.

The hotel does not allow us to bring the beer in to the convention space. Due to that restriction it cannot be run next to another event.

It won't be held during the BBQ, because too many people aren't in town at that point.

Right now it looks like it will go down on Friday afternoon, but I'm not going to set anything in stone until I hear it from Russ.

I've already stated how the beer will be judged. You can check the contest page on the official DC sight if you missed that.

As far as transporting the beer to DC, I will leave that up to you.

The winning prize will be a glass carboy. I'd have to ship it to Defcon, so I've decided to ship it directly to the winner's choice of address instead. I doubt anybody really wants to try to haul that on an airplane or take up that much space in their car anyhow.

The carboy will have some sort of logo sandblasted in. I'm sure anybody would be happy to brew their next batch with a one of a kind carboy!

Speaking of logos...I'm not a graphic artist and could use help designing a logo if anybody out there is more right hemisphere than me.

Dr. Faustus

[Deviant Ollam]

It will not happen along side another event. It would be great if that was possible, but it is not.

The hotel does not allow us to bring the beer in to the convention space. Due to that restriction it cannot be run next to another event.not trying to force you to have the event anyplace you don't wish... but you certainly can bring your own beer to the outdoor space next to the contest room floor... otherwise the BCCC wouldn't be able to operate there.

if you still were intersted in a side-by-side event, feel free to consider that option, as i run the BCCC at noon on friday.

[DrFaustus]

not trying to force you to have the event anyplace you don't wish... but you certainly can bring your own beer to the outdoor space next to the contest room floor... otherwise the BCCC wouldn't be able to operate there.

if you still were intersted in a side-by-side event, feel free to consider that option, as i run the BCCC at noon on friday.

Well, if that's the case it sounds like a good idea. That is out by the EFF Dunk Tank, right?

That'd work just fine, and is better than holding it in my hotel room!

[DJ Jackalope]

Faustus,
how much beer would you need for tasting? 12oz? More?
The aiplane restrictions are making checking beer difficult.

[DrFaustus]

Faustus,
how much beer would you need for tasting? 12oz? More?
The aiplane restrictions are making checking beer difficult.

As stated earlier I am telling everyone to bring two bottles. We really don't need two, but the second is just in case something happens to the other one. Each judge is only going to get a few ounces of each beer to judge it. Just enough give it a good taste.

[SaintPatrick]

Has there been any update on the brew wars? This thread hasn't gone anywhere.
Will this take place?

I got a Lager that will be done in about 3 weeks.
Already tested it, (using force carbonation). Pretty decent.

and a second ale just starting.

Anyone else that has some brewing going on?

I'm friggin' stoked about the Brew Wars. I'm loading up some of my famous Jalapeño Draught and probably another. I'm just praying the heat of the drive doesn't totally screw with it.

[Pyr0]

Faustus,
If you need another judge let me know!
-Pyr0

[DrFaustus]

This is just a reminder!

We will be running this contest outside, by the EFF dunk tank, at noon on Friday.

We will be running it along side the beverage cooling contraption contest.

No, we will not be using the contraptions to cool your beer. I highly recommend you bring it at the temperature you want it to be judged at. I'd also recommend having it in some sort of container that will hold up to the heat of Las Vegas, at noon, in August!

[DrFaustus]

I received the following advise from Rman. It may be of interest to you!

-

Just registered, so wont be able to post for a while.

I think the contest is a fantastic idea, I'm planning on bringing out a brew or two to throw my hat in the ring.

A lot of people seem to be concerned about keeping their brew cool and having a way to get it to the con so you might want to pass along this advice that I've received for getting samples to beer contests.

I would suggest doing it the way brewshops sell liquid yeast. Small UPS box, just agianst policy there not illegal so you dont have to deal with any issues if the box gets ripped open, brew along with a few gel ice packs, wrap in bubble wrap and have it sent to your hotel in Vegas. Should keep it well within the good beer temperature range if done right.

[Joia]

Apropos of the other non-beer-brew people here, I think we should have a not-entirely dissociated non-beer-brew "contest", because we seem to have a small crowd gathering. I may have some interesting things to bring, assuming I can get past TSA.

Here's hoping this came through. I'll be packing a sampling of my meads with me tomorrow!

[jjarmoc]

I totally missed brew wars :( Didn't hear about it until I was already in Vegas. If I had known, I could've brought at least 4-5 beers to enter. So...

... will this be happening again next year? If I could make a suggestion, it might be worthwhile to have one primary style and announce it early enough for people to brew. Not that entries would have to be limited, but it could lead to some more direct competition.

Also, I'm up for mead and cider entries as well if there's any chance of expanding it. Maybe I'll just bring some mead next year either way - i'm sure there'd be some people interested in sampling.

Happy brewing!

[DrFaustus]

I totally missed brew wars :( Didn't hear about it until I was already in Vegas. If I had known, I could've brought at least 4-5 beers to enter. So...

... will this be happening again next year? If I could make a suggestion, it might be worthwhile to have one primary style and announce it early enough for people to brew. Not that entries would have to be limited, but it could lead to some more direct competition.

Also, I'm up for mead and cider entries as well if there's any chance of expanding it. Maybe I'll just bring some mead next year either way - i'm sure there'd be some people interested in sampling.

Happy brewing!

Yeah, we'll be running it again. Hopefully with a better turn out next year.

The reason I left the styles wide open was to foster as many entries as possible.

There were two people who showed up with mead. I'm going to try to bring a competition for mead under my umbrella next year. However, I won't be judging it. I simply don't know enough about mead to do that.

[DrFaustus]

I'm trying to find the person who brewed the Hefe. You took off before I collected names to post the results. Get a hold of me so I can give you proper credit.