[THC] Homebrew Competitions need (1) entries, and (2) judges

[Linda Swihart]

In 2007 there were approximately 250 BJCP-sanctioned competitions, 
garnering a total of approximately 50,000 entries.  This was largely but 
not entirely in the US.  The number of competitions around the world is 
growing.  Many of the competitions include all styles of beer, cider, 
perry, and mead described in the BJCP style guide; many are more limited 
in scope.  Some comps have hundreds of entries and some have d few dozen.

Judges and stewards are required for this to happen, and the better the 
help, the better the competitions.  The better the feedback to the 
entrants and the overall more opportunity for improvements in 
homebrewing.  There is in general no pay; it's a labor of love and quest 
for knowledge, although there is sometimes a travel stipend for judges, 
and there is usually food.  There are often (but not always) "beds for 
brewers" (meaning beds for judges from out of town).

The BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) has existed since 1985.  
http://www.bjcp.org/index.php

There are fairly clear guidelines for a competition to follow in order 
to be accepted as a BJCP/AHA Sanctioned Competition Program event.
http://www.bjcp.org/compcenter.html

The list of competitions changes about every day.  JUDGES AND STEWARDS 
ARE NEEDED for all competitions.
http://www.bjcp.org/apps/comp_schedule/competition_schedule.php

Following is a condensed list of what appears at the competition 
schedule page at this moment.  Quite likely that we will have a judge 
study group again this fall, but you may volunteer to judge or steward 
without any previous experience.  My experience indicates that it is an 
ENORMOUS amount of fun as well as a great education.  (NOTE 4/19 in 
Columbus and 4/25 in Warrenville IL.  The NHC first round competitions 
need many judges and these are the closest ones to us.)

02/11/2008     CABA Porter Competition  Ajax, ON
02/16/2008     AHA Club-Only Competition Dark Lagers  Fargo, ND
02/16/2008     Toronado Barleywine Festival  San Francisco, CA
02/22/2008     Kansas City Bier Meisters 25th Anniversary  Kansas City, KS
02/22/2008     America's Finest City Homebrew Competition  San Diego, CA
02/23/2008     SODZ British Beerfest  Columbus, OH
02/23/2008     Leap Beer Brew-Off  Mundelein, IL
02/23/2008     War of the Worts XIII  North Wales, PA
02/23/2008     The Coconut Cup  Miami, FL
02/23/2008     The 5th Annual Brewhouse Brewoff  Edmonton , AB
03/01/2008     19th Annual Reggale and Dredhop  Denver, CO
03/01/2008     Boston Homebrew Competition  Boston, MA
03/01/2008     Best Florida Beer Competition 2008  Dunedin, FL
03/01/2008     2008 Peach State Brew-Off  Atlanta, GA
03/07/2008     Kona Brewer's Festival Home Brew Competition  Kailua Kona 
, HI
03/08/2008     10th Annual UKG Drunk Monk Challenge  Aurora, IL
03/08/2008     IBU Open  Des Moines, IA
03/08/2008     Tanunda Show - Home Brew Section  Tanunda, South 
Australia; AU
03/08/2008     Bockfest  Cincinnati, OH
03/08/2008     UNYHA 30th Annual/17th Empire State Open  Rochester, NY
03/08/2008     FestivAle Homebrew Championship  Madison, WI
03/08/2008     Celebrewtion  Sacramento, CA
03/14/2008     McChord Club Brewfest  McChord AFB, WA
03/15/2008     Hudson Valley Homebrewer's 18th Annual Homebrew 
Competition  New Paltz, NY
03/15/2008     Shamrock Open XIII  Raleigh, NC
03/15/2008     Great Arizona Homebrew Competition  Phoenix, AZ
03/15/2008     March Mashness  St. Cloud, MN
03/28/2008     Bluebonnet Brewoff  Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
03/29/2008     AHA Club-Only Competition Perfect Porter Challenge  
Zionsville, IN
03/29/2008     Chicago Cup Challenge  Blue Island, IL
03/29/2008     March in Montreal  Boisbriand, QC
03/29/2008     World Cup of Beer  Berkeley, CA
03/29/2008     TRASH XVIII - Hosted by Hereford & Hops Steakhouse & 
Brewpub  Cranberry Twp., PA
04/05/2008     The Highland Cup (no web site)  Asheville, NC
04/05/2008     Slurp & Burp Open  Estacada, OR
04/05/2008     Hurricane Blowoff  West Palm Beach, FL
04/06/2008     Canberra Brewers All Fool's Comp  Canberra, ; AU
04/08/2008     2008 ALES Homebrew Open/AHA Qualifier Competition  
Regina, SK
04/11/2008     Titletown Open XIV  Green Bay, WI
04/12/2008     Maltose Falcons Mayfaire  Woodland Hills, CA
04/12/2008     2008 South Shore Brewoff  Mansfield, MA
04/12/2008     AHA National Homebrew Competition 1st Round Northwest 
Region  Anchorage, AK
04/18/2008     AHA National Homebrew Competition 1st Round Midwest 
Region  St. Paul, MN
04/19/2008     Golden Growler  Wausau, WI
04/19/2008     COHO Spring Fling 2008  Bend, OR
04/19/2008     20th Annual Homebrew Competition  Memphis, TN
04/19/2008     AHA National Homebrew Competition 1st Round South Region  
Raleigh, NC
04/19/2008     AHA National Homebrew Competition 1st Round East Region  
Columbus, OH
04/19/2008     AHA National Homebrew Competition 1st Round West Region  
Lodi, CA
04/25/2008     AHA National Homebrew Competition 1st Round Northeast 
Region  Philadelphia, PA
04/25/2008     AHA National Homebrew Competition 1st Round Great Lakes 
Region  Warrenville, IL
04/25/2008     AHA National Homebrew Competition 1st Round Southwest 
Region  San Diego, CA
04/26/2008     Big & Huge Homebrew Competition  Madison, WI
04/26/2008     AHA National Homebrew Competition 1st Round Old West 
Region  Denver, CO
04/27/2008     Liquid Poets Homebrew Competition  Fort Collins, CO
05/03/2008     Green Mountain Homebrew Competition  S Burlington, VT
05/10/2008     AHA Club-Only Competition Extract Beers  Naperville, IL
05/10/2008     Spirit of Free Beer  Ashburn, VA
05/16/2008     Amber Waves of Grain  Grand Island , NY
05/18/2008     13th Annual Big Batch Brew Bash  Houston, TX
05/31/2008     Puget Sound Pro-Am Competition  Kent, WA
06/07/2008     Boneyard Brew-Off  Urbana, IL
06/14/2008     new york state fair homebrewers competition  syracuse, NY
06/19/2008     AHA National Homebrew Competition 2nd Round  Cincinnati, OH
06/22/2008     21st Annual Southern California Regional Homebrew 
Championship  Corona, CA
07/19/2008     Ohio State Fair Homebrew Competition  Columbus, OH
08/02/2008     AHA Club-Only Competition Mead  Minneapolis, MN
08/02/2008     Lunar Rendezbrew XV  Houston, TX
08/16/2008     Minnesota State Fair Homebrew Competition  St.Paul, MN
10/04/2008     2nd Annual KROC World Brewers Forum Homebrew Competition  
Westminster, CO
10/25/2008     Queen of Beer Women's HBC  Placerville, CA
11/01/2008     Battleground Brewers Skirmish in the Triad  Greensboro, NC
11/01/2008     Novembeerfest  Kent, WA
11/15/2008     Land of the Muddy Waters  Rock Island, IL