2008 National Organic Brewing Challenge Winners
Craft Brew Winners:
2008 marks the first year that this all organic competition has hosted a craft brew category. Although the number of entries was low in the first year, some excellent beers were entered showcasing some of the finest organic beers the brewing industry has to offer. The craft brew category contestants have the same entry requirements as the homebrew entries- all malts, hops, and adjuncts must be organic, and the only non organic ingredients allowed are yeast and naturally occurring minerals. Craft brew entries are beers brewed for commercial sale to the public. There were four judges of the craft brew entries. 3 judges are BJCP Grand Master rank, and one is a craft brewer . We hope you will have the opportunity to try these great examples the next time you buy organic beer!
1st Place: Brewery: Uncommon Brewers, Santa Cruz, CA
Beer: Siamese Twin Ale
Brewer: Alec Stefansky
Prize: 11 lbs of organic hops from Seven Bridges Cooperative
Notable judges comment: "A great food beer- especially if someone else is driving! Also a lovely dessert on its own" (I'll take a case.. J)
2nd Place: Brewery: Michelob Brewing Company, Merrimack NH
Beer: Stone Mill Pale Ale
Brewer: William H. Allen
Prize: 5 lbs of organic hops from Seven Bridges Cooperative
Notable judges comment: "Well crafted. For all the limitations on organic brewers this is a very nice example of the American Pale Ale style"
3rd Place: Brewery: Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery, Santa Cruz, CA
Beer: Dread Brown Ale
Brewer: Emily Thomas and Chad Brill
Prize: 3 lbs of organic hops from Seven Bridges Cooperative
Notable judges comment: "Very nice example that pushes into Brown porter Territory because of roast character"
Honorable Mention: Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Beer: Red Band Trout Red
Brewer: Paul Arney
Notable judges comment: "The peppery aspect (of hop?) is wonderful, reminiscent of late summer afternoons under the peppertree, dried grass roastiness of malt, and a dusty breeze"
Homebrew Winners:
2008 is the second year of this contest. We received 115 entries which was more than 4 times the number of entries in this contest last year. Entries came from all over the country. This year our homebrew contest was judged by 25 judges, nearly all of whom are registered as BJCP judges and include 3 Grand Master judges, 2 National judges, and 5 certified judges. The entries were divided into 15 flights and each entry was evaluated by 3 different judges. It was a very long day filled with lots of great organic beers!
Top Scoring Entry (West): "Framboise Saison", brewed by Jim Maurer of Colorado
Score: 40.33 out of 50
Prize: Hands on brewing experience at Eel River Brewing Co. in Fortuna, CA
Notable judges comment: "Wow! Good beer. Right on Saison style with balanced fruitÉ well made, clean beer"
Top Scoring Entry (East): "Lachrymator" smoked beer brewed by Valdymar Kopec of New York
Score: 43.7 out of 50
Prize: Hands on brewing experience at Clipper City Brewing Co. in Baltimore, MD
Notable judges comment: "I would love to drink this beer all the time and even brew it myself"
Best of Show
The best of show was a special non-scoring round of all of the first place entries in 15 flights (group of beers in 1 judging session). The judges compared each entry next to the other 15 and selected the 3 they agreed were the best overall beers.
1st Place: Keith Antul of Massachusetts, For his Organic IPA
Prize: $250 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative plus a 1 year membership in the Organic Buyers Club
Notable judges comment: "Good carbonation. Nice light hops taste"
2nd Place: Ben Miller of New Mexico, for his "Stout Trousers" American Stout
Prize: $100 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative plus a 1 year membership in the Organic Buyers Club
Notable judges comment: "Spicy hops, roast espresso, dry aftertaste"
3rd Place: Chad Taylor & Sean Co of California for their "El Diablo Dorado" Belgian Golden Strong Ale
Prize: $50 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative plus a 1 year membership in the Organic Buyers Club
Notable judges comment: "Good malt profile, characteristic Belgian yeast/sugar profile, some hops in balance and style appropriate. Good fruity profile".
Category Winners:
1. Light Lager- 2 entries
1st Place: J. Mark Hood of Washington for his "Lawn Dort" Dortmunder Export
Prize: $30 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Valdymar Kopec of New York for his "Hedley Helles" Munich Helles
Prize: Seven Bridges T-shirt
3. European Amber Lager- 3 entries
1st Place: Mike McDole of California for his Oktoberfest
Prize: A 1 year subscription to Brew Your Own Magazine plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Morgan Murphy of California for his Marzen
Prize: Book "Wild Fermentations" donated by Brewmaster
3rd Place: Calen Lopata of California for his Oktoberfestbier
Prize: Coupon for 1 vial of yeast from White Labs and a White Labs poster
8. English Pale Ale- 4 entries
1st Place: Kyle Bozicevic of California for his "Triple X Special Bitter"
Prize: A logo cooler from Briess Malting filled with goodies plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Sean Gregg of California for his "Chiswick Bitter Clone"
Prize: A logo Polo shirt from Briess Malting Co.
3rd Place: Robert Carlson of California for his Extra Special Bitter
Prize: Coupon for 1 vial of yeast from White Labs and a White Labs poster
9. Scottish and Irish Ale- 6 entries
1st Place: Michael Gordon of California for his "90 Schilling Scottish Ale"
Prize: 3 2 Liter Growlers donated by Brewmaster plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Dave Kramer-Urner of California for his Irish Red Ale
Prize: Sweatshirt and a pint glass from Santa Cruz Aleworks
3rd Place: Volker Ackermann of California for his "Radical Red Ale" Irish Red
Prize: Coupon for 1 vial of yeast from White Labs and a White Labs poster
10. American Ale- 13 entries
1st Place: Tara & Jack Ball of New Hampshire for their "Windshear" American Amber Ale
Prize: A 1 year subscription to Brew Your Own Magazine plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Winston & Georgia Crouse of California for their "Specialty Ale" American Pale Ale
Prize: A logo Polo shirt from Briess Malting Co.
3rd Place: Carol Lezin of California for her "116 Pale Ale" American Pale Ale
Prize: Coupon for 1 vial of yeast from White Labs and a White Labs poster
11. English Brown Ale- 2 entries
1st Place: Benjamin Osen from California for his "Hairy Nut Brown Ale"
Prize: A selection of beers from New Belgium Brewery plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Robert Carlson of California for his Southern English Brown Ale
Prize: Seven Bridges T-shirt
12. Porter- 5 entries
1st Place: Rick Luttropp from Oregon for his Robust Porter
Prize: $30 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Tim Clifford of California for his "Tucker Organic Porter"
Prize: Seven Bridges T-shirt
3rd Place: Jonathan Botta of California for his "Black Dragon" Baltic Porter
Prize: Coupon for 1 vial of yeast from White Labs and a White Labs poster
13. Stout- 18 entries
1st Place: Dave Kramer-Urner of California for his Oatmeal Stout
Prize: 3 2 Liter Growlers donated by Brewmaster plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Richard Lawrence of Massachusetts for his "Shimpaku Stout" Foreign Extra Stout
Prize: Book "Wild Fermentations" donated by Brewmaster
3rd Place: Ben Miller of New Mexico, for his "Stout Trousers" American Stout
Prize: Coupon for 1 vial of yeast from White Labs and a White Labs poster
14. India Pale Ale- 9 entries
1st Place: Keith Antul of Massachusetts for his Organic IPA
Prize: A 1 year subscription to Brew Your Own Magazine plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Chad Taylor & Sean Co of California for their "Clarkia IPA"
Prize: Seven Bridges T-shirt
3rd Place: Chico Lusby of California for his "Ale Diablo" American IPA
Prize: Coupon for 1 vial of yeast from White Labs and a White Labs poster
15. German Wheat & Rye Beer- 3 entries
1st Place: Morgan Murphy of California for his Dunkleweizen
Prize: $30 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Morgan Murphy of California for his Bavarian Wheat
Prize: 14 oz. Organic hop assortment from Seven Bridges Cooperative
3rd Place: John Radcliff from California for his Dunkleweizen
Prize: Coupon for 1 vial of yeast from White Labs and a White Labs poster
16. Belgian & French Ale- 11 entries
1st Place: Jim Maurer from Colorado for his "Oh My God Wit"
Prize: $30 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Chad Taylor & Sean Co of California for their "Citadel Wit"
Prize: Organic malt sampler from Briess Malting Company
3rd Place: Richard Lawrence of Massachusetts for his "Sensai Saison"
Prize: 6 oz. Organic hop assortment from Seven Bridges Cooperative
18. Belgian Strong- 11 entries
1st Place: Morgan Murphy of California for his Belgian Dark
Prize: $30 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative
2nd Place: Chad Taylor & Sean Co of California for their "El Diablo Dorado" Belgian Golden Strong Ale
Prize: Seven Bridges T-shirt
3rd Place: Richard Lawrence of Massachusetts for his "Twin Trunk Belgian Ale" Belgian Dubbel
Prize: Coupon for 1 vial of yeast from White Labs and a White Labs poster
19. Strong Ale- no entries!!
21. Spice, Herb and Vegetable Beer- 2 entries
1st Place: Benjamin Osen of California for his Cocoa Porter
Prize: $30 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative plus a 1 year Membership in the Organic Buyers Club
2nd Place: Robert Carson of California for his Spiced Pumpkin Ale
Prize: 14 oz. Organic hop assortment from Seven Bridges Cooperative
23. Specialty & Other Beers- 26 entries
1st Place: Valdymar Kopec of New York for his "Lachrymator" smoked beer
Prize: $30 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative
2nd Place: Jim Maurer from Colorado for his "Framboise Saison"
Prize: Seven Bridges T-shirt
3rd Place: J. Mark Hood from Washington for his "Organator" Dopplebock
Prize: Coupon for 1 vial of yeast from White Labs and a White Labs poster
National
Organic Homebrew Challenge 2008!
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Prize List for 2008 Entries:2 Grand Prizes!: |
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Eastern Division: Winner to brew an organic beer at Clipper City Brewery in Baltimore Maryland, home of Oxford Organic Ales. The highest scoring qualified entry from all entries East of the Mississippi River USA will be invited to brew an organic batch of beer with the Brewmaster at Clipper City Brewing Company in Baltimore, Maryland. Clipper City is a long established local brewery founded in 1989 with a spirited dedication to the local community. They offer two certified organic beers which we are proud to say are brewed with organic hops from our brewery inventory! Visit the Clipper City Website for more information about the brewery and the beer: http://www.ccbeer.com/ |
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Western Division: Winner to brew an organic beer at Eel River Brewing Company in Fortuna CA- The first Certified Organic Microbrewery in the USA The highest scoring qualified entry from all entries West of the Mississippi River USA will be invited to brew an organic batch of beer with the Brewmaster at Eel River Brewing Company in Fortuna, California. In 1999 Eel River Brewing was the first Microbrewery in the United States to become certified organic and now offers a large selection of certified organic beers plus seasonal organic beers and a brewpub menu with many organic options. Visit the Eel River Brewing Company Website for more information about the brewery and the beer: http://www.eelriverbrewing.com/index.html GRAND PRIZE RESTRICTIONS & LIMITATIONS: The grand prize winner will have a hands on organic brewing experience at the host brewery, brewing the beer chosen by the host Brewmaster. The prize winning brewer must be able to travel to the brewery location at their own expense to participate in the brewing of the winning recipe. The grand prize winner will be given a homebrew sized portion of the batch they particpated in brewing. Further details on the grand prize will be forwarded to the grand prize winner once the winner is selected. |
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Best of Show Prizes: Made possible by our major sponsors:
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1st Place: $250 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative, a 7 Bridges T-shirt, plus a 1 year membership in the Organic Buyers Club 2nd Place: $100 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative plus a 1 year membership in the Organic Buyers Club 3rd Place: $50 worth of organic ingredients from Seven Bridges Cooperative plus a 1 year membership in the Organic Buyers Club Best of show prizes are awarded to the Best of Show round winners. This is an extra round of the highest scoring entry from each flight judged by the top ranking judges of this competition. A flight is a round in our competition usually made up of one or more categories, each consisting of 4 to 10 beers. The number of flights in the Best of Show round will be determined by the total number of entries received. |
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Category Prizes: Awarded to the highest scoring entries each of the 15 categories! We expect more prizes and sponsors to be listed here as the competition deadline gets closer! Category prizes made possible through the generous donations of our sponsors:
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| 1st place (all categories): | All first place winners of each category will recieve a 1 year membership in the Organic Buyers Club plus one of the following:
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| 2nd place (all categories): | All second place winners of each category will recieve one of the following:
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| 3rd place (all categories): | All third place winners of each category will recieve one of the following:
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| The contest prize committee (consisting of 7 Bridges staff and volunteers) will determine how 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be distributed once winners have been determined. To become a first, second, or third place winner the entry must have a score of at least 25 points (out of a possible 50) based on the BJCP scoring guidelines. | ||||||||||
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Prizes for the Craft Brew Division of the National Organic Brewing Competition 1st Place: Gold Medal plus 11 lbs of organic hops (wholesale value up to $275) from Seven Bridges Cooperative, plus year round recognition and a link on our website 2nd Place: Silver Medal plus 5 lbs of organic hops (wholesale value up to $125) from Seven Bridges Cooperative, plus year round recognition and a link on our website 3rd Place: Bronze Medal plus 3 lbs of organic hops (wholesale value up to $75) from Seven Bridges Cooperative, plus year round recognition and a link on our website |
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