Best of Show: The Competition Brewing Podcast

In this episode, Matthew Herrold joins us to talk about the meteoric rise of the Master Homebrewer Program.  This competitive brewing program allows brewers to earn designations and specialty badges based on competition scoresheets over various styles.  In addition, the MHP runs the Circuit of America and acts as an advocate to competitive brewers by providing additional services such as competition feedback and information.  In addition to being a founder and current President of the MHP, Matthew also runs a vlog on YouTube called MeanBrews which helps brewers analyze the data trends on winning style recipes.

If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and give us a review. We're always looking for content ideas and guests, so please feel free to email us with your suggestions at CompetitionBrewPod@gmail.com. You can also find us at Facebook.com/BestOfShowPodcast or follow BestOfShowPodcast on Instagram! Cheers y'all!

In this episode, we take a quick look at four upcoming homebrew competitions including Drunk Monk Challenge, Boot Brew Fest, Cascade Brewers Cup, and SheBrew.  Then we were joined by Neil Topliffe and Eric Ruzicka of the Bay Area Mashers to discuss their upcoming World Cup.  No, not that World Cup.  This is the World Cup of Beer in the San Francisco Bay area.  Find out about these two homebrewers and what's so special about the World Cup of Beer.

If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and give us a review. We're always looking for content ideas and guests, so please feel free to email us with your suggestions at CompetitionBrewPod@gmail.com. You can also find us at Facebook.com/BestOfShowPodcast or follow BestOfShowPodcast on Instagram! Cheers y'all!

In this episode, we were joined by Julia Herz, the Executive Director of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) to discuss opening day of the National Homebrew Competition (NHC) 2023.  Aside from topics revolving around NHC, we received some great information and advice from Julia for homebrewers and competition organizers alike.  This is not an episode that you will want to miss.

Here are the key dates to remember for NCH 2023:

Registration Opens Jan 24 - 31

Entry Edit Deadline Feb 10

First Round Shipping  Mar 6-17

First Round Judging  Mar 24 - Apr 23

First Round Results  May 3

Final Round Shipping  June 5-14

Final Round Judging  June 21

Awards Ceremony  June 24

If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and give us a review. We're always looking for content ideas and guests, so please feel free to email us with your suggestions at CompetitionBrewPod@gmail.com. You can also find us at Facebook.com/BestOfShowPodcast or follow BestOfShowPodcast on Instagram! Cheers y'all!

In this episode, we take a quick look at four upcoming homebrew competitions including SNAFU Winterfest, Romancing the Beer, America's Finest Homebrew Competition, and the Peach State Brew Off.  Then we had a great conversation with the highly decorated Fritz Schanz of the Denton County Homebrewers Guild.  Fritz won the Circuit of America in 2022, has finished in the top 10 of the Lone Star Circuit 4 consecutive years, and shocked the competitive homebrewing community with a massive 15 medals at the Colorado State Fair in 2022.  You'll want to hear what Fritz has to say about competitive brewing.  We end the show with a recap of four competition's best of show winners that were announced in the last month.

If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and give us a review. We're always looking for content ideas and guests, so please feel free to email us with your suggestions at CompetitionBrewPod@gmail.com. You can also find us at Facebook.com/BestOfShowPodcast or follow BestOfShowPodcast on Instagram! Cheers y'all!

In this episode, Andy Scherzinger is announced as a co-host and executive partner of the podcast.  Together we will recap 2022 by looking at the winners of various homebrew circuits around the country, including our own favorite competitions of the past year.  Then we met with Phil LaFleur of the Weizguys homebrew club to discuss their upcoming competition, Sweetheart's Revenge.  Tune in to find out everything you need to know about the largest homebrew competition in Colorado.

If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and give us a review. We're always looking for content ideas and guests, so please feel free to email us with your suggestions at CompetitionBrewPod@gmail.com. You can also find us at Facebook.com/BestOfShowPodcast or follow BestOfShowPodcast on Instagram! Cheers y'all!

In this episode, we will recap several competitions including the Maltose Falcon's Mayfaire, Port City Plunder, and Lunar Rendezbrew 28.  We also discussed upcoming competitions for which you can still enter.  Those are the Boerne Beer Fest (Championship Belt is on the line), Clash of the Carboys, 25th Cascade Brewers Cup, and the Arizona Mead & Cider Festival. We'll also have special guest host Jonathan Reasoner of the Bay Area Mashtronauts on the show.  Jonathan is the Vice President of the Bay Area Mashtronatus, founder of the Dysfunctional Brewing Blog (dysfunctional.beer), decorated competitive homebrewer, and organizer Lunar Rendezbrew 28.  Jonathan will recap Lunar Rendezbrew on the show to provide insight into the event as well as lessons learned for competition organizers.

If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and give us a review. We're always looking for content ideas and guests, so please feel free to email us with your suggestions at CompetitionBrewPod@gmail.com. You can also find us at Facebook.com/BestOfShowPodcast or follow BestOfShowPodcast on Instagram! Cheers y'all!

In this episode, we will recap several competitions including the Virginia Beer Blitz, America's Finest City Homebrew Competition, and the All American Homebrew Competition.  Upcoming competitions include the Mead Stampede, Carbondale Brew Fest, and the Maltose Falcons Mayfaire competition.

We'll also give you a full introduction to your host, John Black.  John is a competitive homebrewer that serves as the Mission Commander of the Bay Area Mashtronauts, finished top 10 on the Lone Star Circuit in 2021, and is one of the competition organizers of Lunar Rendezbrew 28, the 3rd largest homebrew competition in the country this year!  Learn a little more about John's competitive brewing journey and get an update about how things are going so far with Lunar Rendezbrew along with insights of things that worked well and lessons learned for next year.

If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and give us a review. We're always looking for content ideas and guests, so please feel free to email us with your suggestions at CompetitionBrewPod@gmail.com. You can also find us at Facebook.com/BestOfShowPodcast or follow BestOfShowPodcast on Instagram! Cheers y'all!

In this episode, we will recap several competitions including the Clarksville Carboys Limited Edition V, Coconut Cup, Shamrock Open, and the Bluebonnet Brew Off.  The National Homebrew Competition is now open, so entry registration will be discussed.  I will also give a recap of my first trip to the Bluebonnet Brew Off conference and homebrew awards.  Shout out to all the amazing brewers I had a chance to talk with including some listeners of the show.

We'll also have special guest John Lawless on the show.  John is a competitive homebrewer that has gone on to focus on competition judging including the Nation Homebrew Competition as well as the Great American Beer Festival.  He is also running for the American Homebrewers Association governing committee. Elections are underway now, so AHA members should go online and vote!

If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and give us a review. We're always looking for content ideas and guests, so please feel free to email us with your suggestions at CompetitionBrewPod@gmail.com. You can also find us at Facebook.com/BestOfShowPodcast or follow BestOfShowPodcast on Instagram! Cheers y'all!

In this episode, I will recap the awards from the Drunk Monk competition in Chicago, as well as the Amber Waves of Grain competition in Western NY.  I'll also provide an update on the what happened at the Peach State Brew Off and the Arizona Spring Classic.  A few upcoming competitions that are open for registration now will also be highlighted including NHC which opens soon. You can find the links to register below. My guest this for this episode is Gavin Andrews. He is the founder of the Hoppy Possum Southern Brewers Cup Homebrew Competition and Festival in Johnson City, Tn.  Spots are filling up fast for this competition as they have offered up $10,000 in prize money for the winners of the beer and the mead/cider competition.

If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and give us a review. We're always looking for content ideas and guests, so please feel free to email us with your suggestions at CompetitionBrewPod@gmail.com. You can also find us at Facebook.com/BestOfShowPodcast or follow BestOfShowPodcast on Instagram! Cheers y'all!

In this episode, I will recap the awards from the SheBrew competition in Portland, Or as well as the Reggale and Dredhop competition in Boulder, Co.  I'll also provide an update on the Circuit of America standings at the quarter point of the circuit events.  A few upcoming competitions that are open for registration now will also be highlighted. You can find the links to register below. My guest this for this episode is Matt Morriss. He is the director of the Bluebonnet Brew Off in Dallas, Tx and a co-founder of the Horsemen of the Hopocalypse. "The Bluebonnet" as Matt calls it is one of the largest and most prestigious homebrew competitions in the country.  Listen in to see why Matt thinks this competition is so special and what fun activities will take place at the conference and awards in Dallas on March 18th & 19th.  If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and give us a review. We're always looking for content ideas and guests, so please feel free to email us with your suggestions at CompetitionBrewPod@gmail.com. You can also find us at Facebook.com/BestOfShowPodcast or follow BestOfShowPodcast on Instagram! Cheers y'all!

This is the inaugural episode of Best of Show: The Competition Brewing Podcast.  We will recap the awards from the final weekend of February including the Southern New England Regional Homebrew Competition, the IBU Open, Extravaganza!, and Operation Fermentation. I'm sure you won't want to miss my favorite audio from the weekend as well.  A few upcoming competitions that are open for registration now will also be highlighted. You can find the links to register below.

My guest this for this episode is Paul Pitre. He is the president of the Redstick Brewmasters and the founder of the Boot Brew Fest in Eunice, LA. This is not only the largest homebrew competition in Louisiana, but also the only homebrew competition in the state. Paul shares his insights in organizing this festival as well as some personal competition highlights.

If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and give us a review. We're always looking for content ideas and guests, so please feel free to email us with your suggestions at CompetitionBrewPod@gmail.com. You can also find us at Facebook.com/BestOfShowPodcast or follow BestOfShowPodcast on Instagram!

Cheers y'all!