Spooky Brew 2009 Homebrew Competition Results
Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 Chicago Beer Society Spooky Brew Review Homebrew Competition. We had 304 entries this year, the most ever! Thanks to all the brewers who entered beers in this year’s competition.
When the dust settled and judging was completed, Calvin Rowland of Bolingbrook and the Urban Knaves of Grain won Best-of-Show with a superb Applewine (BJCP category 28C); CBS’s own Dave Phillips and his team (Kyle Swansen, Tony Kline) were runners-up with their Specialty beer (category 23), a hoppy Belgian Pale Ale with brettanomyces; Ron Stazuk kept his streak alive by capturing the Spooky and Smashed Pumpkin awards again. After a post-event review revealed a clerical problem with the Witches’ Brew scoring, co-winners were named: Cindy Pillar and Katie Quiter with “Scary Spice,” who brewed a pumpkin ale with cinnamon and clove, and Stephanette Smith with “Inky Pawprint,” a very fine dry stout. Also, special kudos to Michael Shannon of the Midnight Carboys for earning 1st place honors in 4 categories and 9 ribbons overall. Well done! The complete results are available here.
The organizers owe a great deal of gratitude to brewers Ryan Clooney and Rob Hunter and all of the staff at Emmett’s Tavern & Brewing Company in Palatine for their incredible hospitality in hosting the event. Everyone on site was unbelievably helpful and patient; the lunch and beers were outstanding. We encourage everyone in the region to visit Emmett’s – great businesses like these deserve our support!
But even more, we really have to thank all of the Chicago area judges and stewards who stepped forward and did such a great job getting through our record number of entries.
Cheers,
Joe Preiser and Steve Hamburg, Organizers
rick on 02 Nov 2009 at 2:49 pm #
wheres cat 22?
Stevie on 02 Nov 2009 at 3:29 pm #
Category 22 was folded into a combined category: Specialty and Wood-Aged beers. This is because we only had a few entries in Category 22. Other categories that were combined: Cats 1-2 as Light Lagers; Cats 3-5 as Amber and Dark Lagers; Cats 6-7 as Light & Amber Hybrids; Cats 17 and 20 as Fruit and Sour Beers; Cats 24-26, all Meads; Cats 27-28 all Ciders and Perries.
Combining categories is quite common in homebrew competitions, especially when there are fewer entries. Because we had over 300 entries this year we did not have to combine categories as much as in the past. In fact, last year (123 entries) we had five fewer award categories than this year (304).
By the way, Wood-Aged beers were not included in category 22 until the 2004 BJCP guidelines and normally would have been judged as Specialty beers.
Michael Shannon on 03 Nov 2009 at 8:44 am #
It was actually four first places (English Brown, German Wheat, Belgian Strong, and Spice, Herb, Veg), but who’s counting?
Thanks for a great event! Seemed to go off without a hitch – except for Ron winning Spooky/Scary again….
Michael Shannon
Stevie on 03 Nov 2009 at 8:58 am #
Sorry about that! Main entry is now corrected.
Randy on 03 Nov 2009 at 2:01 pm #
Thanks for putting on the event. Will the final scores for each entry be posted/emailed/mailed so we know what we need to improve for next year? (what is the timeframe?) thanks!
Stevie on 03 Nov 2009 at 2:05 pm #
Not sure the actual date of mailing, but likely in the next day or so.
dan on 15 Nov 2009 at 9:39 am #
Did the scoresheets mail yet? We have yet to receive ours, thanks
Stevie on 15 Nov 2009 at 12:26 pm #
Scoresheets WILL be mailed this week. Sorry for the delay, but I was also working on the Fall Tasting, and FoBAB was the previous week. This has been a very busy period in the local beer world.
Stephanette on 24 Nov 2009 at 7:40 pm #
Received my score sheet today. I had no idea! Thank you for the recount, it’s an honor to share a place!