1/24-1/31 - Time to Enter - National Homebrew Competition Entry Window

[julia_1]

Hello everyone, get ready to go for the gold. The 2023 National Homebrew Competition (NHC) registration is open January 24 to January 31.

• Register here: 2023 National Homebrew Competition
• Any account login questions, don't hesitate to email [email protected] or call us at 303-447-0816.

What's New in 2023 - Glad you asked. We are so excited to have brought back the first round judging to 9 regions in the U.S. who pre-judge all entries. First Round entries are judged using Beer Judge Certification Program score sheets and receive scores based on the BJCP judging system. Second/Final Round entries are evaluated using the same method from 2022, providing judge comments (no score) using a similar approach to the Great American Beer Festival judging process. In addition, 2023 asks for fewer bottles (2 bottles for the first Round and 3 if you qualify for the second/final Round).

Entry Timeline

• January 24 to January 31, 2023: Entry Registration & Payment
• February 10, 2023: Deadline for Category/Entry Changes
• March 6 to March 17, 2023: First Round Shipping/Drop-off Window (Dates may vary slightly by location)
• March 24 to April 23, 2023: First-Round Judging
• June 5 to June 14, 2023: Final Round Shipping/Drop-off Window
• June 21, 2023: Final Round Judging
• June 24, 2023: Award Ceremony during Homebrew Con in San Diego, CA

Why Enter? - Since 1979, 162,710 entries have been evaluated, and 2023 marks the 45th year. This national competition is THE one to ensure homebrewers are represented from each country, state, club, and walk of life. Entry feedback, competing against the best homebrewers in the world, and having your homebrew a part of the world's most significant homebrew competition weighs into homebrew trends and beer style evolution. <My favorite each year is seeing how many entries were in each category. Last year Pilsner was THE TOP entered category and second was Strong Belgian Ale, with American IPA not until 3rd top. Go homebrewers.> Plus, winners genuinely can say their entry represents the top beer/mead/cider on the planet for their respective style category.

Who Judges the NHC - The answer to this question is...the most robust and experienced judge pool of any homebrew competition in the world, with the majority of judges being higher-ranked BJCP judges.

Who Runs the NHC - The American Homebrewers Association, in partnership with the BJCP, along with staff from the Brewers Association and hundreds of dedicated competition volunteer leaders and judges.

About NHC - Today, NHC has become the largest homebrew competition in the world. The goal is simple: to celebrate the spirit of homebrewers. The competition gives homebrewers a chance to receive invaluable feedback on their entries and recognizes the most outstanding, world-class homebrewed beer, mead, and cider. Final round winners are revealed at Homebrew Con (June 22-24 in San Diego, California).

Cheers, Julia
Executive Director of the American Homebrewers Association
[email protected]

Posts are always more fun with a graphic ...

 

[CascadesBrewer]

Not sure if this is the best place to post this, but the Saison category looks a little bugged.

It shows up in the list as just "25B - Strong Belgian *". Searching for Saison does not bring up a match. There are options for "25A - Strong Belgian: Belg Blond" and "25C - Strong Belgian: Belg Golden Stg".

Then with 25B selected, it is awkward to enter the needed info. I am not sure how that child page is supposed to work. I used the "If you find your beer's description to be more complicated than this tool allows, then click here." at the top and entered the Strength and Color as text.

 

[Airborneguy]

$30 per entry… oof.

 

[julia_1]

$30 per entry… oof.

That is the modern cost of a national competition. Any questions you may have please let me know. We are hosting 10 individual competitions, processing tens of thousands of physical bottles/cans, bringing together the most robust and largest judge pool on the planet and more. Plus each entry has the chance to be judged in second/final round and $29 one time entry fee covers both. Cheers.

 

[Airborneguy]

I understand, but it still sucks from this end. I’d considered entering until I saw the cost.

 

[AlexKay]

That is the modern cost of a national competition. Any questions you may have please let me know. We are hosting 10 individual competitions, processing tens of thousands of physical bottles/cans, bringing together the most robust and largest judge pool on the planet and more. Plus each entry has the chance to be judged in second/final round and $29 one time entry fee covers both. Cheers.

$29 makes a lot more sense since we're paying for two rounds; thanks for the clarifications. The other reasons ... don't make as much sense. Scale should lower per-entry costs, not raise them. The first-round in Indianapolis, for instance, really shouldn't cost more than the Indiana Brewer's Cup (which is large, rigorously judged, and extremely well run).

$29 is also worth it to me because scoresheets are back! This is huge. Thank you very much.

 

[julia_1]

Be well and brew on.

 

[julia_1]

Not sure if this is the best place to post this, but the Saison category looks a little bugged.

It shows up in the list as just "25B - Strong Belgian *". Searching for Saison does not bring up a match. There are options for "25A - Strong Belgian: Belg Blond" and "25C - Strong Belgian: Belg Golden Stg".

Then with 25B selected, it is awkward to enter the needed info. I am not sure how that child page is supposed to work. I used the "If you find your beer's description to be more complicated than this tool allows, then click here." at the top and entered the Strength and Color as text.

Hello. Cat. 25B is the correct category for Saison – the system is just reflecting the BJCP category/subcategory, where it’s classified under the Strong Belgian Ale category and, you’re right, it was not displaying the “Saison” subcategory name correctly, but we’ve adjusted that and it should display correctly shortly, if not already. Cheers and thank you for the ping on this.