Homebrewers of Philadelphia and Suburbs
(HOPS)
Presents

Best of Philly Homebrew Competition

(15th in a Series)

Sunday November 15, 1998
Hosted by:
Red Bell Brewing Co.
31st & Jefferson Sts.
Philadelphia, PA

Sponsored by area homebrew stores, beer outlets, and restaurants

NO BEER STYLE POLICE ALLOWED

Tired of the "Style Nazis" goose stepping across your score sheets? Do you feel that the need to pigeonhole beer into a predetermined parameter stifles the creativity of your brewing process? Have you brewed a beautiful Dry Stout that you dry hopped, have all your friends say, "This is the best beer you ever brewed-- it's a winner!" -only to be shot down by the judges because it's "not appropriate to style"? If you've noticed you either have to choose between brewing to compete or brewing to be creative and all of this has turned you off from entering homebrew competitions, then this year's HOPS BOPS Homebrew Competition is for YOU! So send in your Wheat IPA's, your Rye Pilsners, your dry hopped Octoberfests. We promise the criteria for this competition will be- Is it clean?, Is it good?, Is it well balanced?--Beer style be damned! The only caveat is- if your beer does resemble a classic style, please explain in a few words why your beer is not that style. (Example: It's a dry stout, but I dry hopped it.). (Classic styles are still welcome, within the criteria.)(Or if it is a classic style, please tell us.) So the gloves are off, restrictions are off- and may the best beer win!

Entry Categories are divided by ale or lager, other or none of the above (wheat yeasts for example), cider & mead. The subcategories of ale and lager are light, amber, dark or strong (above 1.055 O.G.).

  1. Each entry will be made with two (2) brown or green bottles, 12 to 16 ounces, free of labels, with plain or blackened crown caps. No raised lettering/symbols on the bottles, no porcelain caps. Entries are $5 for the first entry, $3 for additional entries. There is a $5 surcharge at the discretion of the organizer for late entries. Checks should be made payable to 'HOPS'.
  2. All entries must be received by November 11,1998. Ship/drop off entries at Home Sweet Homebrew, 2008 Sansom St. Phila. PA 19103. (Anyone else who wishes to act as a drop off may do so, provided entries are delivered to the above address by the cut off date.)
  3. For returned score sheets, entry must include SASE. All other score sheets may be picked up at Home Sweet Homebrew after the competition.
  4. Competition open to all homebrewers. Beers produced in a commercial establishment will not be accepted.
  5. Each brewer is limited to one entry per subcategory.
  6. All entries become the property of HOPS.
  7. Prizes not awarded at the competition may be picked up at Home Sweet Homebrew, or by other arrangements. Any added expense of shipping the prizes is the responsibility of the contest winner.

HOPS BOPS will also be holding a benefit raffle in memory of Mark Johnston, a local National BJCP judge. Mark was tragically killed in an automobile accident last summer. We will be donating the proceeds from the raffle tickets to his wife and family in his memory. For all those who had the opportunity to know Mark or to judge with him, his loss leaves a void amongst our community of homebrewers. His wry wit, good humor and exurburance for the hobby always made him a welcome addition to any competition. Raffle tickets may also be purchased by mail or phone for those wishing to help get his family through this horrible loss.

For further information or to register as a judge, please call Home Sweet Homebrew at 215-569-9469, or e-mail Nancy at Home Sweet Homebrew.

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