Homebrewers of Philadelphia and Suburbs
(HOPS)
Presents

Best of Philly Homebrew Competition

A BJCP Sanctioned Event

(25th in a Series)

Saturday, October 24, 2009     9:30 am
Hosted by: Homebrewers of Philadelphia and Suburbs
Location: Nodding Head Brewery & Restaurant
1516 Sansom St
Philadelphia, PA

Sponsored by Home Sweet Homebrew.

This is an opportunity for you to have your homemade beer evaluated by BJCP qualified judges. The competition is open only to BJCP Categories 1-23 (beer only). Awards will be given for 1st place winning beers in all categories and Best of Show. Evaluation forms will be e-mailed back to all contestants shortly after the competition. Anyone wanting a paper copy can pick them up at Home Sweet Homebrew a week after the event.

If you have any questions, call Home Sweet Homebrew or send e-mail to the event organizer.

Competition Guidelines and Entry Requirements

• The competition is open to all homebrewers.
• The fee is $7 for each entry. Checks or money orders must be made payable to HOPS. No cash or credit cards will be accepted.
• Entries may be dropped off at any of the locations listed below. Dates when entries will be accepted are also listed. All mailed entries should be sent to the Home Sweet Homebrew location. They must be addressed as "HOPS BOPS, c/o Home Sweet Homebrew" to ensure that the packages do not get misplaced by accident. If you are mailing your entry, please package carefully and do not use USPS.
• Drop off locations are accepting entries for more than one competition. Entries should be clearly labeled as "HOPS BOPS" to avoid confusion with these other competitions.
• Judges may bring their entries the day of the competition only if they have registered them online before the drop-off deadline. Anyone who does so accepts the status of their beer's temperature and/or haze due to bottle shake up.
• TWO (12-16oz) bottles per entry. Brown preferred, green accepted, clear discouraged. Bottles must be free of labels or identifying marks. Grolsh-type wire swing tops are not acceptable. Printed crown caps must be blacked out. An online-generated   bottle ID form must be attached to each bottle with a rubber band. No glue or tape please.
• As usual, only one entry per BJCP subcategory is allowed with a maximum of two entries per BJCP category.
• Beer will be judged according to the category it was entered in. Please consult the BJCP Style Guidelines. The competition is restricted to categories 1-23. Any ciders or meads entered will be disqualified and happily drunk and verbally judged by the competition staff.
• The competition organizers reserve the right to collapse categories as he/she deems appropriate.
• All entries become property of HOPS. No entries will be returned. Only home-brewed (not commercial or commercially assisted) beers may be entered (must conform to AHA guidelines for homebrew).
• Entries that do not follow these guidelines and entry requirements will be disqualified. Disqualified entries may be judged but are not eligible for any of the awards.
• Any questions or disputes that arise during the competition will be settled by the competition organizers with all decisions being final.

HOPS - BOPS Drop Off Points and Deadlines

Entries accepted from 10/03/2009 to 10/18/2009 at all locations.

• Home Sweet Homebrew
  2008 Sansom Street
  Philadelphia, PA 19103
  Phone: (215) 569-9469
  Contact: George or Nancy (www.homesweethomebrew.com)
  Mail in location!
  
  
• Keystone Homebrew Supply-Montgomeryville
  779 Bethlehem Pike
  Rt-309 & N. Wales Rd
  Montgomeryville PA 18936
  Phone: (215) 855-0100
  Contact: www.keystonehomebrew.com
  
  
• Keystone Homebrew Supply-Bethlehem
  599 Main Street
  Bethlehem, PA 18018
  Phone: (610) 997-0911
  Contact: www.keystonehomebrew.com
  
  
• Wine, Barley & Hops Homebrew Supply
  248 Bustleton Pike
  Feasterville PA 19053
  Phone: (215) 322-4780
  Contact: winebarleyandhops.com
  
  
• We are working on a few more locations.
  
  

• Two Bottles of correct size without identifying marks.
• Online generated Bottle ID forms attached to each bottle with a rubber band.
• Only one entry per BJCP subcategory with a max of two entries per BJCP category.

Parking information for Nodding Head

The parking lot at 24th and Sansom is $7 on Saturdays (credit card only). Do not park in the schoolyard lots just west of 22nd--You will get towed. There may be some free on-street parking around the school west of 22nd. Note to those driving in. It's a big city with big city parking rules. Pay attention to the signs--No whining. Public transportation is an excellent alternative.

Public transit is also an option if you would like to park free by Boathouse Row/Azalea Garden behind the Art Museum or along certain stretches of Pennsylvania Ave, in front of the Parkway House and between Spring Garden & 22nd, is not timed parking. The Route 48 Bus runs along Pennsylvania Ave (the big street by the big apartment buildings) and goes down Market St. two blocks away from Sansom & Nodding Head. Cash fare is $2.00, exact change, they do take dollar bills.