The Saratoga Thoroughbrews present the 13th annual Knickerbocker Battle of the Brews Homebrew Competition

The Saratoga Thoroughbrews Homebrew Club will be holding the 13th annual Knickerbocker Battle of the Brews at The C. H. Evans Brewing Company in Albany, NY on November 8, 2008. The competition is sanctioned by the Beer Judge Certification Program and the American Homebrewers Association. Entrants will receive expert commentary on their homebrew on official score sheets prepared by judges recognized by the Beer Judge Certification Program. Winners will be announced and awards will be presented at about 5:00 PM. For more information contact one of the organizers below:

Eligibility: Anyone may enter. Beer, mead, or cider entered must have been made at home. Beverages made at a commercial enterprise, including brew-on-premise establishments, are not eligible.

Entry Fee: The fee for each entry is $6. Please make checks payable to Saratoga Thoroughbrews. Only checks will be accepted for entry fees. Please do not include cash with your entry.

Categories: This competition uses the 2008 BJCP style guidelines that can be found at http://www.bjcp.org/stylecenter.php. Each entry must be classified as one of these styles for judging purposes. Please choose styles carefully. Entries will be judged as an example of the chosen style. Judges will not reclassify entries. Similar styles will be grouped together into categories for the purpose of judging and awarding prizes.

Entries: For each entry, the brewer must submit:

• Two (2) bottles or one pressurized PET container (plastic soda bottle) with "carbonator". Bottles may be of any style, but must contain at least 10 ounces and be free of labels and have any other identifying marks blacked out. PET containers must contain at least 24 ounces. Carbonators will be returned to entrants.
• Bottle identification forms attached to each bottle with a rubber band.
• A completed competition entry form.
• The appropriate entry fee based on the total number of entries.

For your entry to do best, be sure to supply all of the required information and as much optional information as is appropriate for the style. Refer to the style guidelines for the styles that require or may benefit from additional information. For any questions about the entry form, the style guidelines, classifying an entry, or supplying additional information, please contact the Competition Registrar.

Entries may be dropped off from October 24 to October 31, 2008 at one of our drop-off locations or they may be carefully packed and shipped (preferably via UPS) to arrive no later than October 31, 2008 to the following address:

Knickerbocker Battle of the Brews
c/o The C. H. Evans Brewing Company at the Albany Pump Station
19 Quackenbush Square
Albany, NY 12207

Entries received after the drop-off deadline will not be accepted and will not be returned.

Judging: Each entry will be judged by a panel of at least two judges, at least one of whom has achieved Recognized rank in the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). Entries will be judged both for overall quality and conformance to the chosen style. The first round of judging will determine the top three entries in each award category. The first place entry in each award category will then compete for Best of Show. Judging will be closed to the public.

Awards: Each of the top three entries in each award category will receive a ribbon or medal. The brewer winning the Best-of-Show will be awarded $200.00. There may be a separate Best-of-Show for meads and ciders if the number of entries warrants it.

In addition to the Best-of-Show award, there will also be a Brewmaster's Choice Award. One of the finalists' beers will be chosen to be produced and served at the C. H. Evan's Brewing Company. The brewer of the chosen beer will be invited to join in the full-scale brewing of his or her beer.

New York state residents who receive awards will also receive points toward New York State Homebrewer of the Year. For more information, see http://www.nyshoty.org/

BJCP Experience: Judges and stewards will be awarded experience points toward advancement in the BJCP. All judges and stewards will be required to fill out registration and waiver forms. Lunch will be provided for judges and stewards between sessions, and additional tokens of appreciation will be presented to judges. If you are a BJCP or experienced judge and would like to help out, please contact the Judge Coordinator.

Miscellaneous: Awards, score sheets, and BJCP experience records will be sent out within two weeks of the competition date. Any questions or disputes will be settled by the competition organizers, and all decisions will be final. Entries become the property of the Saratoga Thoroughbrews Homebrew Club and will not be returned ("carbonators" excepted).

Judging will be closed to all except judges, stewards, and organizers, but the awards ceremony will be open to the public.

Additional Information and Forms

New York State Homebrewer of the Year competition details

Drop-off Locations

Entry Form

Judge Registration Form

Sponsors

Download a copy of the entry packet (Word 2000 format)

Download a promotional poster (Word 2000 format)

Download a sheet of reminder cards (Word 2000 format)

Winners of the 2008 Knickerbocker Battle of the Brews

Winners of Previous Knickerbocker Battle of the Brews