Last year's wrap-up:  The Brewers Cup hit several milestones in 2007. We had a record 630 total entries: 443 homebrewed and 187 professionally brewed beers. We had our first international entry and winner, Ricardo Rosa from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We also had the most qualified pool of judges we have ever had. One hundred percent of our judges were either Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) judges or professional brewers. In our survey of judge comments, the feedback on score sheets reflected the quality of the judges evaluating beer.

When the swirling, sniffing, and sipping were finished, Best of Show honors went to Liz Laughlin of Rock Bottom College Park in Indianapolis for her kölsch. Judge comments included “just like ones I had in Köln….soft finish is pleasant” and “nice delicate beer, well-balanced, change nothing”. To have a delicate beer like a kölsch tapped as the Best of Show is a testimony to impeccable recipe formulation and brewing procedure.

The guys at Ram in downtown Indianapolis were gunning for the Brewers of Indiana Guild (BIG) Champion Brewer honors. The BIG Champion Brewer goes to the Indiana professional brewer who earns the most points in the competition based on medal count. With 17 entries and 7 medals, Ram brewers Dave Colt and Clay Robinson showed their ability to brew a wide variety of very diverse beers really well.

Homebrew Best of Show winner, Bill Ballinger of Shelbyville is passionate about brewing and it shows in the quantity and quality of the entries he submitted. Bill had twenty four entries; two firsts, three seconds and Best of Show for his year old American pale ale. Bill was clutching the picture of his two-week-old baby boy and grinning from ear-to-ear when he accepted the Best of Show Trophy.

The formula for determining the Indiana Homebrew Club of the year was changed this year to enable smaller clubs to be able to compete. The change worked because the newly formed club, MECA, with just six members took home the Homebrew Club of the year trophy. The MECA members are prolific brewers of good beer with a goal, to be the Indiana Homebrew Club of the Year. Goal accomplished.

The Brewers Cup could not happen without the support of our sponsors and supporters. The Indiana State Fair funds, promotes and provides immeasurable support for the competition. The Brewers of Indiana Guild heartily support the competition with entries, judges and a beautiful new display in the Ag Hort Building during the fair.  World Class Beverage supplies a refrigerated truck to serve as a cellar. Crown Liquors receives and stores over 60 cases of beer in their cooler for a month. Marketwise Solutions redesigned the Brewers Cup logo. Ron Smith organizes a beer judge study group and an Indianapolis Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) test site. Linda Swihart organized a BJCP study group and test in Lafayette and updated the Brewers Cup website. Quality Wine and Ale Supply, Crown Liquors and Great Fermentations all provide gift certificates for the homebrew winners. Please thank and patronize these businesses, groups and individuals who support the competition.

Start planning and brewing now for the 2008 Brewers Cup. Entries will be accepted between June 14-28th with the judging on July 12th. Information and entry forms for next year’s competition will be posted on the Brewers Cup website in the spring of 2008.

updated 02/26/2008