SFHG Competition Series

SF Homebrewers Guild “Homebrewer of the Year” Competition Series

Do you have what it takes to be named the SFHG Homebrewer of the Year in 2013?

The SFHG is holding four BJCP competitions in 2013. Points earned by club members in the club-only competitions, plus points earned by placing in certain outside competitions, are added up to determine who is the SFHG Homebrewer of the Year. The winner will have their name engraved on the SFHG HOY trophy cup and will bask in the adulation of their peers. Brewers must be a paid annual member of the SFHG to be eligible for the SFHG HOY Award.

In addition to the four SFHG club-only competitions, Guild members may earn points toward the SFHG HOY award by placing in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd (or winning Best of Show!) in any BJCP beer or mead style category in the Bay Area Mashers “World Cup of Beer” or any of the three events used to determine the State of California “Sierra Nevada Homebrewer of the Year,” which includes the Mayfaire Competition, the California State Fair, and the California State Homebrew Competition.

How points are allocated:

• 0.5 point for entering a beer in an SFHG club competition (but not for entering the selected outside comps).
• 3 points for placing First in any category in an SFHG or select outside competition.
• 2 points for placing Second in any category in an SFHG or select outside competition.
• 1 points for placing Third in any category in an SFHG or select outside competition.
• An additional 0.5 point are awarded for Best of Show winners in an SFHG competition.
• An additional 2 points are awarded for a Best of Show winner in one of the select outside competitions. Why? The selected outside comps each receive well over 500 entries, anyone who can top them all deserves a big point reward.

Tie-breaker for HOY: 

If at the end of the year there is a tie of points between multiple homebrewers, we will break the tie by taking these factors into consideration in this order, until someone emerges as winner:

1. Points earned in SFHG-only competitions (This is the SFHG HOY award, after all!)
2. Most SFHG BoS wins
3. Most SFHG 1st Place wins
4. Most SFHG 2nd Place wins
5. Most SFHG 3rd Place wins
6. If it’s still a tie at this point both parties share the SFHG HOY!

2013 SFHG Competitions

SFHG Winter Warmer/Holiday Spiced Beer Competition– Entries due no later than January 31. Beers will be judged according to the 2008 BJCP Style Guidelines for style 21B – Christmas/Winter Specialty Spiced Beer. Winners will be announced during SF Beer Week at a Pi Bar Homebrew Share event on Sunday, February 17.

SFHG Tribute to America Memorial Day Competition – BJCP sanctioned competition. Entries due no later than May 3. To kick off SF’s cool American summer, brewers may brew one or both of the invented-in-America beer styles we chose for this competition. The categories are: the beer that made San Francisco famous, 7B – California Common, as well as that iconic American brew, 14B – American IPA. Winners for each style will be announced at an SFHG Pre-Memorial Day BBQ/Picnic (location TBD) Saturday, May 18.

SFHG Celebrates Belgian Independence Day Competition – BJCP sanctioned competition. Entries due no later than July 16. To honor Belgium’s Independence from the Netherlands on July 21, 1831, brewers may brew one or both of two Belgian style beers chosen for this competition. The categories are the farmhouse favorite 16C – Saison, and the deceptively light and smooth 18A – Belgian Blond Ale. Winners for each style will be announced at an SFHG Event/Homebrew share (location TBD) Sunday, July 21.

SFHG Return to our Brewing Roots Competition – BJCP sanctioned competition. Entries due no later than October 18. To honor the enormous influence of European countries on popular American beer styles, brewers may enter one or both of the two European style beers chosen for this competition. The categories are the light and spritzy 15A – Weizen/Weissbier and a roasty favorite with a British background, 12B – Robust Porter. Winners for each style will be announced at an SFHG Event/Homebrew share (location TBD) on Saturday, November 2.

2014 SFHG Competitions

SFHG Winter Barleywine Fest – That’s right, we’re giving you notice over a year in advance — for our SF Beer Week competition in February 2014 we will be judging Barleywine! We’re mashing 19B – English Barleywine and 19C – American Barleywine together into one general Barleywine category, so get brewing now and give them time to mature. Points earned in this competition will count toward the 2014 SFHG Homebrewer of the Year award.

Non-SFHG Competitions eligible for SFHG HOY Award points

SFHG members may earn points by placing in the top 3 for any competition category in the below named events. Entry alone in any of the below events will not earn points, beers must place in the top 3 according to each competition’s categories and rules.

Bay Area Mashers World Cup of Beer – 2013 registration opens February 1-16 (limited to 750 entries). Entries due no later than February 16, 2013. In addition to possibly earning points toward SFHG HOY, the BoS Winner for this event will be brewed by Linden Street Brewery. Winners for each style and BoS announced at event at Linden Street Brewery March 16, 2013.

Mayfaire Competition (CA) sponsored by the Maltose Falcons – 2013 registration opens April 1-18. Entries due no later than April 18. This is one of three competitions used to determine the State of California “Sierra Nevada Homebrewer of the Year.” Judging to take place April 27 in Southern California.

2013 California State Fair (Sacramento) – 2013 registration expected in April, check for details in late March/early April. Entries expected to be due on or about May 3rd, based on the 2012 timeline. This is the second of three CA competitions used to determine the State of California “Sierra Nevada Homebrewer of the Year.” Judging to take place in May; winners announced and placed on display at the CA State Fair on July 12-28, 2013.

35th Annual California State Homebrew Competition – 2013 registration expected October (check for details in July/August). Entries are expected to be due first week of October, based on their 2012 timeline. This is the third of three competitions used to determine the State of California “Sierra Nevada Homebrewer of the Year.” Judging and winners announced on November 2, 2013.

Need More Info?

Join the SFHG mailing list and become a member of the SFHG MeetUp page to receive the most up to date information. If you have any specific questions you can email Chris Cohen or Kevin Inglin at sfhomebrewersguild@gmail.com.

There can be only one winner of the HOY Award, however, all SFHG members will benefit greatly from entering competitions and receiving honest feedback and recommendations for how to improve your beer. All SFHG brewers are highly encouraged to Just Brew It!