Events

2009 National Organic Brewing Challenge 2009 Entry Period September 1st through October 10th, 2009 An AHA/BJCP Sanctioned Competition Now, organic brewers can compete head to head in a national competition that is professionally judged just for organic beers. The basic spirit of this contest is to celebrate the diversity of organic ingredients that are available. Creative & inspired interpretation of recipes is strongly encouraged because not every ingredient under the sun is available organic. The range of ingredients may be more limited, but with today's choices of fresh, clean, organic ingredients, virtually any style is possible to homebrewers with open minds and creative skills! Brewing great organic beer at home is a true challenge, and now those who take the challenge can realize the rewards of prizes and recognition that participating in this contest can bring. These challenges are similar to what commercial organic breweries face- how to brew popular, tasty beer styles without resorting to conventionally grown malt, hops, or chemical additives. Brewers who make the choice to brew organic are helping fund a global endeavor to support the huge effort organic hop and malt growers face in cultivating crops commercially and profitably without using a toxic soup of chemicals. The contest rules differ slightly from other homebrew contests because all of the ingredients must be verified organic. Just as professional brewers of certified organic beer have to show documentation that all ingredients are USDA certified, the entries will have to include a complete recipe listing the source of each ingredient- good practice for homebrewers hoping to “go pro” as organic brewers in the future. Similar to the German beer purity law, the Reinheitsgebot, which states that the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be Barley, Hops and Water, Seven Bridges promotes the “Organic Beer Purity Standard” which further states that all of the Barley and Hops must be organic. This competition presents a new challenge to modern day homebrewers accustomed to a huge selection of hops, barley malt, malt extract, and other brewing ingredients, because ingredients that are organically grown make up a much smaller list. Homebrewers are expected to use creative interpretation and skill in ingredient selection to brew world famous beer styles such as IPA, Oatmeal Stout, Hefeweizen, and Pale Ale using only organic ingredients. This challenge is reminiscent of the early days of modern homebrewing in the late 70’s and early 80’s when homebrewing became federally legal in 1978 and quality ingredients available to homebrewers were scarce but the desire to brew great beer at home was strong. Important Links: Entry Form: Download the Contest Entry Form How to Enter: Entry Requirements and Instructions: Printable Flyer (last years- 2009 flyer will be posted by 6/15/09): 2008 NOHC Flyer Prizes & Official Contest Sponsors- 2009 Prizes TBA: 2008 Prizes and Sponsors Beer Judge Certification Program Website: BJCP Website Organic Beer Homebrew Recipe Database: 7 Bridges Organic Beer Recipe Database Volunteer Judges and other Volunteers are wanted- Contact us if interested: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 2008 Competition- pictures, list of winners, and winning recipes: 2008 NOHC Archives 2007 Competition- pictures, list of winners, and winning recipes: 2007 NOHC Archives

Dates: Entries begin September 1st, 2009. Entry deadline is October 9th at 6 pm. Entries received before or after the entry dates will not be entered in the contest.

Contest Judging October 18: Judging for this contest will be held on Sunday October 18 from 10 am to 5 pm. Only judges, volunteers, and Seven Bridges staff will be permitted to attend the judging. Location of judging TBA.

Entry Requirements- Homebrew Division: Entry fee of $7 for first entry and $5 for each additional entry from the same brewer. 3 bottles required per entry. Bottles must be no smaller than 8 oz. and no larger than 22 oz, with no labels or other markings on the bottle. All malt, hops, and adjuncts must be verified organically grown. Yeast or other ingredients containing GMO's (genetically modified organisms) are not permitted. If an organic ingredient is unknown by the contest committee (comprised of 7 Bridges staff and volunteers) further verification may be required, such as a purchase receipt showing that the item purchased is organically grown.

Entry Requirements- Craft Brew Division: Entry fee of of $50 for the first entry and $35 for each additional entry from the same brewery. A minimum of 48 fl. oz. of beer required per entry. Craft brew entries may be delivered in any container that the brewery wishes, but prior arrangements must be made for return delivery of containers if desired. All craft brew entries must be submitted by a licensed brewery that produces organic or certified organic beer for sale. All malt, hops, and adjuncts must be verified organically grown. Yeast or other ingredients containing GMO's (genetically modified organisms) are not permitted. If an organic ingredient is unknown by the contest committee (comprised of 7 Bridges staff and volunteers) further verification may be required, such as a purchase receipt showing that the item purchased is organically grown.

Rules: All Ingredients must be certified organic or organically homegrown except yeast and non flavor, non chemical additives. The only non-organic additives allowed are: Burton salts, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, citric acid, gypsum, Irish moss, lactic acid, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and yeast. Genetically modified ingredeints are not allowed. Each entry must include a recipe form which lists the source of each ingredient. Entries will be judged according to the BJCP Style guidelines which are published here: http://www.bjcp.org/stylecenter.html Entries and empty bottles will not be returned. See complete contest rules for further details.

Prizes: There are prizes for the 1st, & 2nd place winning entries that score at least 25 points in each category. 3rd place winners will recive a placard and some categories may have 3rd place prizes as well. Winners and the winning recipes may be published on the Seven Bridges Cooperative recipe page: http://www.breworganic.com/recipes/recipes_menu.htm All prizes and sponsors are listed on the prizes and sponsors page.

Categories (homebrew & craft brew):

All style categories will be judged according to the BJCP style guidelines. All beer style entries will be accepted. If the style you wish to enter is not listed as a main category, you may enter it under Specialty.

3. European Amber Lager
3A. Vienna Lager
3B. Oktoberfest/Märzen

6. Light Hybrid Beer
6A. Cream Ale
6B. Blonde Ale
6C: Kölsch
6D: American Wheat or Rye Beer

7. Amber Hybrid Beer
7A. Northern German Altbier
7B. California Common Beer
7C: Düsseldorf Altbier

8. English Pale Ale
8A. Standard/Ordinary Bitter
8B. Special/Best/Premium Bitter
8C. Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale)

9. Scottish and Irish Ale
9A. Scottish Light 60/-
9B. Scottish Heavy 70/-
9C. Scottish Export 80/-
9D. Irish Red Ale
9E. Strong Scotch Ale

10. American Ale
10A. American Pale Ale
10B. American Amber Ale
10C. American Brown Ale

12. Porter
12A. Brown Porter
12B. Robust Porter
12C. Baltic Porter

13. Stout
13A. Dry Stout
13B. Sweet Stout
13C. Oatmeal Stout
13D. Foreign Extra Stout
13E. American Stout
13F. Russian Imperial Stout

14. India Pale Ale (IPA)
14A. English IPA
14B. American IPA
14C. Imperial IPA

15. German Wheat and Rye Beer
15A. Weizen/Weissbier
15B. Dunkelweizen
15C. Weizenbock
15D. Roggenbier (German Rye Beer)

16.Belgian and French Ale
16A. Witbier
16B. Belgian Pale Ale
16C. Saison
16D. Bière de Garde
16E. Belgian Specialty Ale

18. Belgian Strong Ale
18A. Belgian Blond Ale
18B. Belgian Dubbel
18C. Belgian Tripel
18D. Belgian Golden Strong Ale
18E. Belgian Dark Strong Ale

19. Strong Ale
19A. Old Ale
19B. English Barleywine
19C. American Barleywine

21. Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
21A. Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
21B. Christmas/Winter Specialty Spiced Beer

23. Specialty Beer & Other Styles
If the style you enter is not listed above (1- 21), enter it here. If it is a BJCP listed style (http://www.bjcp.org/stylecenter.html) enter it with the BJCP style name in this category and it will be judged according to standard BJCP judging guidelines for that style. Multiple entries are accepted in this category as long as each entry is a different beer style according to the BJCP style guidelines.