The Bluebonnet Brew-off Rules
This competition is AHA sanctioned and open to any amateur homebrewer age 21 or older.
All mailed entries must received at the mailing location by the entry deadline – please allow for shipping time.
All entries will be picked up from drop-off locations the day of the entry deadline.
All entries must be handcrafted products, containing ingredients available to the general public, and made using private equipment by hobbyist brewers (i.e., no use of commercial facilities or Brew on Premises operations, supplies, etc.).
The competition organizers are not responsible for mis-categorized entries, mailed entries that are not received by the entry deadline, or entries that arrived damaged.
Qualified judging of all entries is the primary goal of our event. Judges will evaluate and score each entry. Each flight will have at least one BJCP judge.
Brewers are not limited to one entry in each category but may only enter each subcategory once. For example, participants may enter a Belgian Wit (16A) and Belgian Saison (16C), but may not enter two Saisons, even if they are different brews.
To help ensure the quality of entry judging, there will be a 1525 entry limit in this year’s competition. Once this limit is reached, no further entries will be accepted. In addition, each brewer will be limited to 20 entries to help give more brewers an opportunity to participate.
The Best of Show judging will be determined by a Blue Ribbon Panel based on a second judging of the top winners.
Bottles will not be returned to entrants. But you are welcome to come to the comp and carry off the empties. Usually hundreds get recycled or trashed.
Specific nitty-gritty 2016 Bluebonnet Brew-off Rules and Information
CONTEST RULES
This contest is open to all homebrewers throughout the World. The competition is restricted to non-commercial home-brewed beer. Beers produced on the premises of commercial brewers including Full Service brew-on-premises establishments are not eligible. The same applies to Mead and Ciders.
BREWER LIMITS RULES FOR 2016
Entries for the competition can be made either as an Individual and/or as a Team. Noting same, entries will be limited to a total of 20 entries per homebrewer (i.e. 15 Individual entries would allow for 5 more as a member of a team/different teams). The BBO web is designed to have you choose between a Team entry or an Individual entry for each of your homebrewed entries. Further, Entrants will be limited to 1 (One) entry per Sub-Category (or entire Category if there are no sub-categories). An entrant may enter a category both as an Individual and as a Team however.
The Bluebonnet Brew-Off will be limited to the first 1,525 accepted entries.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Each entry for the competition should consist of three bottles. To ensure anonymity of the entrants, we require that bottles be standard 12 ounce or 333 ml green or brown bottles with all paper or ink labels removed. Smaller bottles are allowed for Mead, Barley Wines and similar. Standard homebrew caps accepted (gold, silver, solid color, stars or stripes). Any lettering or graphics on the caps should be completely obscured with black ink. Traditional “long-neck” style bottles are encouraged, while bottles with Grolsch-type swing tops and unusually shaped bottles are NOT allowed. Bottles with raised lettering (eg, Samual Adams) are strongly discouraged. Corked bottles meeting the above restrictions are acceptable; however, you must crimp a crown cap over the cork. Bottles not meeting these requirements may be disqualified. Brown bottles are encouraged for maximum protection from light. All bottles must be clean with a properly completed entry label attached (generated at submission) by a rubber band. DO NOT TAPE OR GLUE ON BOTTLE LABELS as this will result in immediate disqualification without a refund!
Also note, our new on-line entry system will ask you to enter your beers based on the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines then be automatically re-categorized into the Bluebonnet Categories for judging and awards. Category selection on the entry system is a drop down box that will include BOTH the BJCP Category/ Sub-Category (as applicable) as well as the Category description. For example, a Kolsch is Category 5B under BJCP Guidelines, but will be separated out as Bluebonnet Category 3-Kolsch for this competition. The Bluebonnet Style Guidelines are published under Style Guidelines and will include the crosswalk to the BJCP categories.
Also CAREFULLY review the Special Ingredient Instructions for all styles including Saison, Wheat and Rye, All Specialty Beer categories, Fruit, Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Smoked and Wood Aged categories as well as Meads and Ciders. Please review the instructions provided in the 2015 BJCP Guidelines when entering. Entries will be reviewed prior to check-in for appropriate classification in accordance to the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines. If an entry is deemed to be mis-entered then it will be re-assigned. In the instance that the re-assignment causes a brewer to have multiple entries in a sub-category then the re-classified beer will be disqualified. Example, if a Flanders Red aged on Oak is entered into Wood Aged beer then it will be re-classified to Flanders Red. Example two, if a Cherry Cinnamon Wheat Ale is entered into Spice/Herb/Vegetable or Fruit then it will be re-classified as Fruit and Spice Beer. Any classic style that does not require additional comments but additional comments are provided will be re-classified; example: an entrant declares Black IPA but enters under American IPA will be moved to Specialty IPA. Any beer that is disqualified due to re-classification will not receive a refund.
Online registration closes Sunday January 24, 2016 and receipt of entry closes Thursday January 28, 2016. Any entry not received by a check-in worker by Thursday, January 28, 2016 will be disqualified. Any beer that is disqualified due to late arrival will not receive a refund.
A completed ENTRY INFORMATION FORM, BREWER INFORMATION FORM, and request for feedback (commemorative score sheet) must accompany all entries.
PACKING INSTRUCTIONS
If you must ship your entries, we recommend that you allow 2” of packing materials between the borders of the box you use to ship your beer and any beer you enclose with in. Fill with packing material. Wrapping each bottle in bubble wrap may also be helpful. Avoid styrofoam peanuts as they may shift and expose the side of a glass bottle to impact. Enclose all entries in a plastic garbage bag, and then seal the bag. Do not use US Mail – it is ILLEGAL!!. UPS will accept your package, but not if it is labeled “beer”. You may want to label it “Yeast Samples” or “Kitchen Supplies” or simply “Fragile”.
ONLINE ENTRY & ELECTRONIC PAYMENT INFORMATION
Brewers are encouraged to use online entry and electronic payment. We will again be using the Internet payment tool PayPal. With PayPal you can use a credit card to pay entry fees, event fees, and purchase Bluebonnet merchandise. See http://www.bluebonnetbrewoff.org for online registration and other information.
SPECIAL INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS
In addition to special entry instructions listed in the 2015 BJCP Guidelines, the following categories have additional requirements for the 2016 Bluebonnet Brew-Off:
7C – Kellerbier – The brewer must specify whether the entry is a Pale, Amber or any other Kellerbier (See 2015 BJCP Guidelines for additional information)
24 – Specialty IPA – Any category of beer declared as an IPA including ones listed plus any fruit, spice, smoke, alternate grains or sugars, etc. If it has IPA or India Pale Ale in the comments then it goes here. Brewers may enter only one (1) Specialty IPA. Please review the style guidelines for additional entry instructions.
29 – Saison – The entrant must specify the strength (table, standard, super) and the color (pale, dark). (See 2015 BJCP Guidelines for additional information)
32-A – Spice, Herb, Vegetable (SHV)- See 2015 BJCP Guidelines. Any beer listing coffee, chocolate, peppers, spices or herbs. This includes any beer with the word “nut” (such as peanut or coconut) and/or peppers. This category is for entries that do not include pumpkin pie spices or mulling or Christmas spices.
Examples include Habanero Porter, Peanut Butter Stout, Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter, Roasted Hemp Heart Stout, Myrtle ESB, English IPA with Red Hots and Hibiscus Petals, Lavender Wheat, Chocolate Chipotle Stout, Chocolate Porter, Coffee Brown Ale, and Chocolate Mint Stout.
Beers with spices which also contain fruit such as a Cherry Chocolate Stout should be entered under 31B Fruit & Spice Beer.
Beers with Coffee and/or Chocolate which also contain pumpkin should be entered under 33A Autumn Seasonal
33A – Autumn Seasonal – Any beer that suggest cool weather and the autumn harvest season, and may include pumpkin or other squashes, and the associated spices, specifically cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. For Bluebonnet, any variety of pumpkin beer should be entered here regardless of any other ingredients. Examples include Chocolate Pumpkin Stout, Pumpkin Amber Ale, Squash Pilsner, and Pumpkin Vienna Lager.
33B – Winter Seasonal – Any beer that suggests cold weather and the Christmas holiday season, and may include holiday spices, specialty sugars, and other products that are reminiscent of mulling spices or Christmas holiday desserts, specifically nutmeg, cardamom, and allspice. Examples include Holiday Cookie Stout, Nutmeg Brown Ale and other traditionally accepted Christmas beers which use spicy, piney or woody hops in a different manor than the classic style such as Anchor Christmas Ale or Breckenridge Christmas Ale
37A – Alternative Grain Beer – any standard (classic style or not) beer that includes rye, oats, buckwheat, spelt, millet, sorghum, rice, etc. Examples include Rye Pale Ale, Oatmeal Pale Ale, Sorghum beer, etc. This category should not be used for Rye IPA which should be entered in category 24. This category should not be used for non-standard styles (Bluebonnet categories 31-36 & 38).
37B – Alternative Sugar Beers – any standard (classic style or not) beer that includes honey, brown sugar, invert sugar, molasses, treacle, maple syrup, sorghum, etc. Examples include Honey Wheat, Brown Sugar Brown Ale. This category should not be used for non-standard styles (Bluebonnet categories 31-36 & 38).
38D – Historical Beer – Any of the BJCP listed subcategories of historical beers (Gose, Kentucky Common, Lichtenhainer, London Brown, Piwo Grodziskie, Pre-Prohibition Porter, Roggenbier, Sahiti or Pre-Prohibition Lager). If a non-listed style is entered then the brewer must declare the primary characteristics of the style. Brewers may enter only one (1) Historical Beer.
Bluebonnet Brew-off Awards
PRIZES
Prizes will be awarded in each of the 44 Style categories available at this competition. The Bluebonnet Committee reserves the right to collapse categories should the committee not receive an adequate number of entries and/or to not award all places if the entries do not merit it. Honored Winners will receive:
1st Place – A coveted handmade Bluebonnet stein and a BBO Gold medal.
2nd Place – A BBO silver medal.
3rd Place – A BBO bronze medal.
Note: Category 44 (New Entrant) is designated for brewers who have not previously entered any Bluebonnet competition, in any category. There will be a 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place Award presented. Scoring points will be credited toward the Mueller-Browne Club Quality Award, but not towards the Bluebonnet Brewer of the Year, Team of the Year, the Bluebonnet Cup or Lone Star circuit points. The Category 44 winner is not eligible for Best of Show.
BEST OF SHOW
A Best of Show Beer will be judged and awarded from categories 1 – 38.
A Best of Show Mead / Cider will be judged and awarded from categories 39 – 43.
A Custom Display Plaque will be presented to each BOS winner
BLUEBONNET HOMEBREWER OF THE YEAR
The homebrewer accumulating the most placement points for Individually submitted entries from categories 1 – 43 will be recognized as the Bluebonnet Homebrewer of the Year. Points are awarded as follows:
1st place – 3 points
2nd place – 2 points
3rd place – 1 point.
A Custom Display Plaque will be presented to the BBO Homebrewer of the Year
BLUEBONNET HOMEBREW TEAM OF THE YEAR
The Homebrew Team accumulating the most placement points for a named Team’s submitted entries from categories 1 – 43 will be recognized as the Bluebonnet Homebrew Team of the Year. Points are awarded as follows:
1st place – 3 points
2nd place – 2 points
3rd place – 1 point
Two Custom Display Plaques will be presented to the BBO Homebrew Team of the Year
BLUEBONNET CUP
The homebrew Club receiving the most placement points, both from Individually and Team submitted entries on behalf of the Club, in categories 1-43, will be awarded the Bluebonnet Cup. In case of a Tie, the tie breakers will be in the following order: Most 1st place winners, then most 2nd place winners, then most 3rd place winners. A coin toss will settle any further tie.
MUELLER-BROWN CLUB QUALITY AWARD
Named after the late Glen A. Mueller and the late Frank H. Browne, early figures in DFW homebrewing, this prize is awarded to any entering Club, with a minimum of 35 submitted entries, which has the highest first round scoring average of their commemorative Judging Sheets.
Club is defined as any AHA Registered homebrew club that has had entries submitted either Individually and/or as a Team on its behalf. You do not qualify as a club if you enter as “independent” or “not affiliated.”
An entry can not be credited to multiple clubs (for instance, you can not enter a set of 3 bottles and have them judged as an entry for the Red River Brewers and also your newly formed “Mutt & Jeff Club.”) Points toward the Mueller-Browne Quality Award will only be awarded to one club.
This award is based on First Round Judging, and only awarded to clubs with a minimum of 35 entries. Please note that all of your club’s entries are averaged for this “quality score” (not just your best 35).
The Bluebonnet Committee has an internal document in place to handle tie breakers should they arise.
DISCLAIMER
All decisions of The Bluebonnet Committee and the Judging Staff are to be considered final. Be assured that every effort will be taken to create an uncompromising, blind-tasting environment for the judging of all entries.