Siciliano’s 2014 Homebrew Competition: Registration & Submission Instructions

By Steve Siciliano

This year we will again be using the Beers to Fear online competition center for entry registration for the Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition. Everyone submitting a beer in the Siciliano’s competition will be required to register the entry on this site.

Entry registration will begin on Monday, March 17 and will close either on Sunday, April 6 or at the moment the 250-entry cap for the competition is reached, whichever occurs first. We must receive the registered entries by Sunday, April 13. No entry will be accepted after that date. Instructions on how to register and submit an entry for the 2014 competition follow.

If you entered last year’s Siciliano’s competition or have entered beers in the Homebrew at the W.E.B. or Michigan Beer Cup competitions you will be able to use your existing login information for the Beers to Fear site. Those who have not previously used this site for entry registrations will have to create a user profile before you can log on. Check your spam folder for your confirmation email if it does not appear in your in box. After you confirm the email, you may access the site and register an entry.

Once you access the site you will see a “+” button on the “Entries” tab of the homepage. To register a beer click on the “+” button. A submission form will appear asking for information regarding the entry name, assistant brewer and BJCP style. Fill in all applicable information and select the BJCP style that best fits the beer being entered. In Categories 20-23 (except 22-A Classic Rauchbier), the form will ask for any special ingredients and the base style of the beer being entered. Providing relevant information will help the judges with the evaluation of the entry. After all the information is inputted, select the “Add New Entry” button then select the “Finished” button.

Next go the “Entries” tab. Select the box next to your entry and click on the printer icon underneath. This will download the bottle ID labels which can then be printed out and attached to the bottles with rubber bands.

Once the registration process has been completed and bottle labels printed off, entries can be dropped off or shipped to the Siciliano's Market along with the $5.00 entry fee. Cash or check only. Remember, all registered entries must be received by Sunday, April 13. Please ship entries to:

Siciliano’s Market
2840 Lake Michigan Dr. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Complete details for the Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition can be found here. Questions can be directed to steve@sicilianosmkt.com.

Siciliano's 2014 Homebrew Events: Updates and Reminders

Homebrewers on Calder Plaza

By Steve Siciliano

We will begin accepting entries for the Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition on Monday, March 17. Online entry registration will open Monday, March 17 and will close Sunday, April 6 or until the 250 cap is reached, whichever comes first. You will have until Sunday, April13 to drop off entries. No entries will be accepted after this date.

This year’s Best-of-Show winner will receive a $500.00 gift card from Siciliano’s Market and will have the opportunity to brew the winning recipe on New Holland Brewing Company’s seven-barrel pub system. Complete competition details can be found here. Information on how to register entries through the Beers to Fear on-line competition center will be posted on The Buzz later this week.

Also, there are still a few open spots for brewing teams for the Second Annual Siciliano’s Big Brew on the Calder. Complete details for the May 3rd event can be found here. Anyone interested in being assigned as a brew team captain can contact Steve at this address: steve@sicilianosmkt.com.

Finally, the Eleventh Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Party is going to be held this year on Saturday, May 17 at Townsend Park. Tickets are $40.00 per person and will go on sale on Monday, March 24. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. Please note that party attendees will be receiving T-shirts this year and we will be asking for sizes at the time you purchase your ticket. If you are purchasing tickets for a spouse, friend, family member or significant other, you are going to need to know the correct size. Please don’t guess.

Please contact Siciliano's or email me directly with any questions that you have.

Siciliano's Upcoming Homebrew Events: Update

Sarah & Barb pick out door prizes
for the 11th Annual Homebrew Party

By Steve Siciliano

Team Siciliano has been busy lately touching base with merchandise vendors, T-shirt designers, caterers, entertainers, printers, banner makers, venue managers, food truck operators, the Grand Rapids water department, the Grand Rapids fire department, the Mayor’s office and the office of special events. We’ve been dotting our i’s, crossing our t’s and putting our ducks in a row. I detest using clichés, but I just couldn’t think of a better way of saying that right now we have a lot on our plates.

Here's what the team has been so busy working on of late: The upcoming homebrew competition and judging, the 11th Annual Siciliano's Homebrew Party, the 2nd Annual Siciliano’s Big Brew on the Calder and last, but certainly not least, our participation in the American Homebrewer Association annual convention.

We will be providing more details on each of these events in future Buzz posts. In the meantime here’s a plate of tasty appetizers:

• Entries for the Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition will be accepted from Monday, March 24th through Sunday, April 13th. This year’s Best-of-Show winner will receive a $500.00 gift card from Siciliano’s Market and will have the opportunity to brew the winning recipe on New Holland Brewing Company’s seven barrel pub system. Complete competition details can be found here.
• Last year’s inaugural Siciliano’s Big Brew on the Calder was a huge success and we’re making a few changes that will make this year’s Big Brew Day even better. The 2nd Annual Siciliano's Big Brew on the Calder is scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd. Details on how to captain or participate on a brew team will be posted within the coming weeks.
• We are returning to Townsend Park on Saturday, May 17th for our 11th Annual Homebrew Party. Tickets are $40.00 per person and will go on sale on Monday, March 24th. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. 
• The American Homebrewers Association is bringing its annual convention to Grand Rapids in June and Siciliano’s Market will be participating in a big way—we have signed on as both the Keynote Speaker Sponsor and the Volunteer Sponsor for this year’s event. Information pertaining to the convention can be found on the AHA web site.

Siciliano's Homebrew Competition Update: New Date & Venue for Judging

By Steve Siciliano

In a recent Buzz post we reported that the judging for the 11th Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition was to be held at the Rockford Community Cabin on Sunday, April 20th. This past Friday afternoon I received an email from Isaac Hartman from New Holland Brewing Company. Did we realize, Isaac asked, that we had scheduled the judging to take place on Easter Sunday?

Nope, we didn’t.

After informing my wife Barb and staffers Sarah Derylo and Doug Dorda of the oversight we immediately went into crises mode. We discussed contingencies and decided that the best scenario would be rescheduling the judging for Saturday the 19th, provided we could still secure a venue. An email was sent inquiring whether the Rockford cabin was available. It wasn’t.

After coming up with a list of other possible locations we made phone calls and left messages. While I waited for the calls to be returned I fretted. Laura Sczcepanek, a caterer who operates out of the Guest House on Stocking Avenue in Grand Rapids, was the first to call back. Yes, she informed us, the venue was available on the 19th and yes, she would be able to provide a post-judging meal. That’s all I needed to hear. “Book it,” I told Sarah.

In the end the crises was averted and a valuable lesson was learned—when scheduling our competition judging on Sundays in April keep cognizant of the fact that Easter is a movable feast.

Anyone wishing to participate in this year’s competition on Saturday, April 19th , either as a steward or a judge, can contact Steve at steve@sicilianosmkt.com. A call for stewards and judges who have participated in past Siciliano’s competitions will be sent via email within the coming week.

New Beer Friday, Homebrew Contest Edition (Jan 17)

The prestigious Siciliano's Cup

Attention home brewers!

How would you like to win a $500.00 gift card to Siciliano’s Market? Do you think it would be cool to brew your own award-winning recipe on New Holland Brewing Company’s seven-barrel pub system and then be able to drink that beer with your friends and family at local craft beer bars? Have you ever dreamed of seeing your name engraved on the prestigious Siciliano’s Cup? The $500.00 prize along with everything else we listed could be yours providing your beer wins Best in Show in the 11th Annual Siciliano’s Market Homebrew Contest.

Someone is going to win. Why not you!

See below for contest rules and regulations. Please note that the registration and drop off dates posted in The Buzz on January 6th have changed.

1. Every homebrewer is allowed one (1) beer entry. All entries must be brewed by the registrant. Please do not submit entries under the names of significant others, etc.
2. Beers are submitted according to the BJCP Style Guidelines. Ciders and meads are excluded from this contest. If you are unsure of which is the correct style for your beer, contact us and we will help.
3. Entries require two (2) plain, unlabeled/unmarked 12-ounce amber bottles. Please no clear bottles or bottles of any other size.
4. We will again be using the Beers to Fear online software for entry registration. More information regarding the online entry format will be detailed as we near the opening of registration, including the website URL, directions on how to enter your beer and label printing.
5. The entry fee is $5.00, cash or check only.
6. The total number of contest entries will be capped at 250. Don’t delay in submitting your entry. Once the cap is reached no additional entries will be accepted.
7. Online registration for entries will be accepted from Monday, March 17 through Sunday April 6 or until 250 entries are submitted, whichever occurs first.
8. You will have until Sunday, April 13 to drop off entries at Siciliano’s Market. Entries will not be accepted after that date. If mailing an entry, please include paperwork and submission fee. Ship in a well-packed box to: Siciliano’s Market // 2840 Lake Michigan Dr. NW // Grand Rapids, MI 49504

All entries in the Siciliano’s Homebrew contest will be judged by industry professionals and/or trained judges according to the standards of style, not in comparison to each another, with the exception of Best in Show. Entries that receive scores falling within designated point totals will be awarded bronze, silver or gold medals. Best of luck everyone!

New and Returning Beer

• Bells Hopslam, $2.99/12oz - "Starting with six different hop varietals added to the brew kettle & culminating with a massive dry-hop addition of Simcoe hops, Bell’s Hopslam Ale possesses the most complex hopping schedule in the Bell’s repetoire. Selected specifically because of their aromatic qualities, these Pacific Northwest varieties contribute a pungent blend of grapefruit, stone fruit, and floral notes. A generous malt bill and a solid dollop of honey provide just enough body to keep the balance in check, resulting in a remarkably drinkable rendition of the Double India Pale Ale style" (source).
• Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale, $1.69/12oz - "A malty beer with a notable toasty flavor derived from lightly roasted malt. Slight fruit and hop accents add to the overall complexity" (source).
• Cheerday Lucky Buddha, $1.69/12oz - "Light aromas of hops with nuances of honey & malt, which pre-announces the transcending flavours across your palate with a silky easy finish" (source).
• Berghoff Straight-Up Hefeweizen, $1.69/12oz - "A real hefe-weizen, with the creamy goodness of wheat, plus a fruity and spicy nose" (source).
• Berghoff DortWunder, $1.69/12oz - "A classic and evenly balanced pale lager in the Dortmunder tradition" (source).
• Berghoff Winter Ale, $1.69/12oz - "There is a long-standing tradition of brewers making special beers for winter, both as a little holiday present to their customers, and also because a bigger, stronger, darker beer simply tastes great in the dead of winter. This rich, smooth, copper-colored ale is brewed with six malts for a lot of aromatic complexity, with cookie, caramel, raisin and toasted marshmallow notes. New World versions of noble hop flavors bring a certain European elegance, but with a little more brash personality, topped off with the floral-and-citrus that the all-American hop—Cascade—delivers" (source).
• Berghoff Germaniac, $1.69/12oz - "Scratch the surface of the German beer tradition and you find gems like this: a crisply bitter golden ale from Northern Germany that faded into obscurity a hundred years ago. With its subtle honey notes and small dose of molasses which gives it a lightly nutty character, this is a beer that deserves a much wider audience. We follow the classic recipe, with a mix of three types of malted barley, plus wheat and a dash of oats for a creamy texture, plus tiny amounts of Wisconsin cranberry honey and light molasses, both of which add subtle shading of aroma. Hopping is vigorous, and along noble lines, but amped up a bit with some North American varieties as well, just to keep it fresh-tasting and bold. It’s an ale fermentation, so there is a hint of fruitiness that plays nicely with the honey and molasses notes" (source).
• Cellar Brewing Uncle Krunkles, $1.79/12oz - "A somewhat fruity, caramely wheat ale that’s very easy to drink. Its light to medium body gives way to a bit of carbonation" (source).
• Saugatuk Hop In Your Rye P.A., $2.59/12oz - "Aromas of rye malt and bright citrus. Just the right amount of grapefruity hop presence. A delightful mouthful" (source).
• North Coast Old Stock Ale Cellar Reserve 2011, $26.29/500ml - "Old Stock Cellar Reserve is a one-time, small batch, limited release that has been aged in oak whiskey barrels. The aging process gives this world-class beer an added layer of complexity. A memorable drink that should be enjoyed as a completely unique offering" (source).
• Lagunitas Sucks, $1.99/12oz (No Limit!) - "Originally brewed in 2011 as a Brown Shugga’ substitute, due to construction-induced capacity issues. But we liked it so much it had to make a return trip" (source). 
• Bloom Ferments Ginger Kombucha (Non-alcoholic), $3.99/16oz - "Bloom kombucha is 100% raw and free of any artificial additives, colorants, sweeteners, and preservatives. Although the term "lacto-fermentation" may seem to convey that lactose in the form of whey is in BLOOM's kombucha, we do not use any animal ingredients in any of our flavors" (source).

Video of the Week | "The Michigan Beer Film" Trailer

The Michigan Beer Film Trailer from Rhino Media Productions on Vimeo.

Cheers!

Meet Mike Carr, Brewer of Siciliano's Best in Show for 2013

Mike Carr, 2013 Best in Show Winner

By Steve Siciliano

When Mike Carr was notified that he won Best in Show in the 2013 Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition for his American IPA he was sure there had been a mistake.

“I honestly thought someone had entered a wrong email address,” he said. “I have entered many competitions over the last five years and while I have done fairly well, my ratio of beers entered to medals won has not been great.”

While he has been homebrewing for about ten years, Carr said the quality of his beers began improving about five years ago after he joined the Cass River Homebrew Club and began judging and entering competitions. He brews five gallon batches about twice a month on a custom-made HERMS system that is a “constant work in progress.”

Carr enjoys brewing a wide range of styles. “I keep telling myself that I’m going to choose two or three styles and brew them over and over again to gain consistency but it never happens,” he said. “I keep looking at the 100 plus styles and sub-styles and I can’t help but try something new.”

Carr said the formulation of his winning recipe was the result of a mini competition among himself and two fellow brewers. They individually brewed a session IPA using the same ingredients and then each entered their respective beers in the Siciliano’s competition. “We came up with a very simple grain bill and then had some fun picking the hops. I wanted to use amarillo and citra but one of the other brewers suggested that we use simcoe. I’m glad he did as the simcoes are the key to the hop flavor and profile.”

Carr lives with his wife and two children in Port Huron, Michigan and works as a project manager for the federal government in the construction of roads, bridges and “the occasional building.” His extensive travel allows him to visit breweries across the country and sample a wide range of craft beers.

“Trying to balance work and family makes finding time to brew quite challenging,” he said. “I have begun brewing after the kids have gone to bed and often I don’t finish until 4 a.m. But who needs a full night’s sleep anyway?”

Congratulations to Mike Carr and a big thank you to all all homebrewers who entered Siciliano's homebrew competition in 2013.

Siciliano's '13 Hombrew Competition: Judging Complete!

By Steve Siciliano

The 229 entries in the 2013 edition of the Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition were judged this past Sunday at the Community Cabin in beautiful downtown Rockford by BJCP certified judges, award-winning homebrewers and craft beer professionals. Nine of those entries were deemed worthy of being included in the judging for this year’s Best of Show.

One of the many judges' tables

The announcement of the Best of Show winner and the presentation of the prestigious Siciliano’s Cup will take place at the Tenth Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Party on Saturday, May 11th at the enclosed pavilion at Johnson Park. Medals and/or feedback forms will also be available for pickup at that time. Those not attending the party may pick up medals and feedback forms at Siciliano’s Market beginning on Sunday, May 12th.

A steward preparing entries for the judges

I would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s judging. Special thanks to Siciliano’s staffer Greg Johnson for once again organizing and running this annual competition. Special thanks also to Prime Time Brewers member Mike Johnson for helping us to obtain the Rockford location.

Siciliano's Homebrew Contest Update: Record Entries, Newly Designed Medals

Alexa Seychel from Imperial Brands
posing with redesigned contest medal 

By Steve Siciliano

This past Sunday, April 14, was the deadline for submitting beers into the 2013 Siciliano’s Homebrew Contest. We are pleased to report that we have received 229 entries, the highest total ever submitted in our annual homebrew competition. This was the first year that registration was conducted online and we would like to extend a special thanks to Dan Frechette for graciously allowing us the use of the Beers To Fear competition center and online registration website.

The job of sorting the entries and organizing the judging now goes to Siciliano’s staff member Greg Johnson. Judging will be held Sunday, April 21, at the Rockford Community Cabin in Rockford, Michigan. Anyone wishing to participate either as a judge or steward may still contact Greg at greg@sicilianosmkt.com.

The winner of Best in Show will be announced at the 10th Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Party on Saturday, May 11, at the enclosed shelter at Johnson Park. The best-in-show winner will have his/her name etched on the prestigious Siciliano’s Cup and will receive a $500.00 gift certificate to spend at Siciliano's. Also, as in years past, the winner will have the chance to brew the winning recipe at a local brewery—this year that brewery is Perrin.

The newly designed Siciliano’s Homebrew Contest medals (see picture) will also be awarded at the party and feedback forms will be available for pick up. Those not attending the May 11 festivities may pick up their medals and/or feedback forms at Siciliano’s Market beginning on Sunday, May 12.

Good luck to all who submitted homebrew to the competition!

Siciliano's 2013 Homebrew Competition: Enter Now!

Important update! Be sure to check your spam folder for your confirmation email if it does not appear in your inbox after registration.

By Greg Johnson

Now that the competition is upon us, I would like to detail our new online registration process. On Monday, March 25th, homebrewers will be able to submit their entry information on the website, which can be found here: www.beerstofear.com. Individuals who have entered beers for previous Homebrew at the W.E.B. and Michigan Beer Cup competitions will be able to use their already existing log in information. Those who are new to the website will need to register with the website before submitting an entry.

Once registered and entry submission is open, a “+” button should appear on the “Entries” on the homepage of the competition portal. To submit a beer, click on the “+” button. A submission form should appear on the webpage asking for information regarding the Entry Name, Assistant Brewer, and BJCP Style. Fill out all applicable information and select the BJCP style that most appropriately fits the beer being entered. In Categories 20-23 (except 22-A Classic Rauchbier), the form will ask for any Special Ingredients and the Base Style of the beer being entered. Providing relevant information will help the judges with the evaluating the entered beer, hopefully, helping the performance of that beer in the competition as well. After all the information is inputed into the form, select the "Add New Entry" button then select the "Finished" button.

The beer should be listed under the “Entries” tab on the website. There, select the check box next to the beer and click on the printer icon underneath. This will download the bottle ID labels which can then be printed out and attached to the bottles with rubberbands.

Once the registration process has been completed and bottle labels printed off, entries can be dropped off at the store or mailed directly to the store along with the $5 entry fee (cash or check only). Mail entries to:

Siciliano's Market
Attn: Greg Johnson
2840 Lake Michigan Dr NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 

Deadline for submissions is April 14th or the moment we hit 250 total entries. Click here for more details. But if there are any questions about the registration process, please do not hesitate to contact me (Greg) at greg@sicilianosmkt.com or call Siciliano's Market directly at (616) 453-9674.

Good luck!

Homebrew Competition Update: Electronic Registration

The competition is now open. Please visit this contest update for the competition link and information on how to enter.  

Judging last year's competition at Vivant

By Greg Johnson

This year marks year ten of Siciliano's annual homebrew competition. First off, I want to thank everyone who has participated in past contests, whether as entrants, judges, and/or stewards. The event would not be the success it is without all of you.

This is my 4th year overseeing this event and, as in every other year, we are working to refine the processes of entry submission and entry judging in order to provide the best possible feedback for our competition entrants. This year, thanks to our friend Dan Frechette from the Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewer's (KGB), we will be using the Beers To Fear online software for entry registration. We will begin accepting entries on Monday, March 25th and will stop on Sunday, April 14th, or once we've reached a total of 250 entries (more on this below). More information about the online entry format will be detailed as we near March 25th, including the website URL, directions on how to enter your beer, and label printing, which this website will fully facilitate.

The contest this year will be capped at 250 entries, with one entry per person, so that the judging load remains manageable. If we were to allow more than 250 entries, the amount of time we would need to judge the beers would increase significantly. Increased judging time means asking our volunteer judges and stewards to take more time out of their weekends than they already so graciously give us. So to help provide the best experience for our judges and ultimately provide the best possible feedback for our participants, we have chosen to keep the competition on the smaller side. There are other, larger competitions in the state that we help sponsor throughout the year for anyone looking to receive more feedback on their beer, namely the Michigan Beer Cup and Homebrew at the World Expo of Beers.

Important points for the 10th Annual Homebrew Competition:

• 1 entry per person
• 250 entry cap (NEW!)
• Entries accepted March 25th – April 14th (or until 250 entries is reached)
• $5 per entry, cash or check only
• BJCP Style Guidelines for categories 1-23 will be used
• Beer submission & bottle label printing will be web based (NEW!)

Good luck to all who enter!

2013 Homebrew Seminar, Party, Competition Updates

By Steve Siciliano

We are very pleased to announce that Stan Hieronymus, author of For the Love of Hops, Brew Like a Monk and Brewing With Wheat, will be the keynote speaker at the 2013 Siciliano’s Homebrew Seminar scheduled for Friday, May 10, at the enclosed pavilion at Johnson Park.

Stan will be arriving in Grand Rapids on Thursday, May 9, in order to have time to visit a few of our “Beer City, USA” breweries. In addition to giving a presentation on hops at the Friday seminars, Stan will also be holding a book signing at Siciliano’s on Friday afternoon and will be attending the Saturday party.

Other highlights of the 2013 seminars will be a Belgian beer tasting and a presentation by Walter Catton, formerly of New Holland Brewing, on distilling.

In other news, this year’s winner of Best of Show will have the opportunity to brew his/her winning recipe at Perrin Brewing Company and will receive a gift certificate in the amount of $500.00 from Siciliano’s Market. Just a reminder, this year’s competition will be capped at 250 entries. Refer to this Buzz post—Siciliano's 10th Annual Homebrew Contest: It Begins!—for more information on the competition and party.

Siciliano's to Publish Annual Homebrew Recipe Book

By Steve Siciliano

Starting this year, homebrewers receiving the highest scores in the Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition will be given the opportunity to see their award-winning recipes in print. Beginning with the 2013 competition, Siciliano’s Market Press will publish—with the brewers’ permission—the recipes of gold and silver medalists' in an annually produced, high-quality publication.

The Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition has grown steadily over the years with last year’s competition drawing 220 entries. Entries are judged according to BJCP style guidelines by certified judges, brewing professionals and hobby enthusiasts.

The tentative blueprint for the annual, large-format paperback will include a short introduction and a discussion of brewing styles (all grain, partial mash, extract with specialty grains) followed by the recipes for each of the three techniques. Bios and photos of the award-winning brewers will also be included. Please stay tuned to The Buzz for more information. Updates will be posted as warranted.

Siciliano's 10th Annual Homebrew Contest - It begins!

It's that time of year again. Time to get your oak-aged, dry-hopped, brett-infused, maple-flavored, spruce-tip, double-imperial, pale-porter hybrid into the bottle—the Siciliano's Market 10th Annual Homebrew Contest is right around the corner. See below for contest rules and regulations.

Is '13 your lucky year?

1. Every homebrewer is allowed one (1) beer entry. All entries must be brewed by the person named on the entry form. Please do not submit beers under the names of significant others, children, dogs, cats, parakeets, and/or imaginary friends. 
2. Beers are submitted according to the BJCP Stye Guidelines. Ciders and meads are excluded from this contest. If you're not sure which is the correct style category for your beer, contact us and we can help you.
3. Entries require two (2) plain, unlabeled/unmarked 12oz amber bottles. Please no clear bottles or bottles of any other size.
4. Entries must be submitted with the correct paperwork (entry form), and with competition bottle ID forms rubber-banded to the bottle. Find the entry form here and the bottle-ID form here. Contact Siciliano's if you have trouble downloading these files.
5. The entry fee is $5.
6. NEW RULE FOR 2013: The total number of contest entries will be capped at 250. Don't delay in submitting your entry. Once the magic number is reached, no additional entries will be accepted.
7. Entries will be accepted from Monday, March 25, through Sunday, April 14, or until 250 entries are submitted, whichever happens first. If mailing in an entry, please include paperwork and submission fee. Ship in a well-packed box to:

Siciliano's Market

2840 Lake Michigan Dr. NW

Grand Rapids, MI 49504 

The Siciliano's homebrew contest is a prime opportunity for beginner and seasoned homebrewers alike to receive constructive feedback on their efforts. All entries will be judged impartially by industry professionals and/or trained judges according to the standards of style and not in comparison to one another (with the exception of Best in Show). As in previous years, the brewer of the beer named Best in Show will have the opportunity to brew his/her winning recipe at a local brewery. This year we are also awarding the winner a $500 Siciliano's gift card.

Finally, what's a contest without a party? The 10th Annual Siciliano's Market Hombrew Party and Awards Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2012, at Johnson Park in Walker, MI. Be sure to keep a close eye on The Buzz for additional party and seminar details*. Happy brewing everyone, and good luck! 

*This year's homebrew seminar is scheduled for Friday, May 10, and will also be at Johnson Park. A full list of seminar topics and speakers will be announced in the near future.

Michigan Beer Cup, Recap

The Michigan Beer Cup & Homebrew Festival took place August 16-19, 2012. Here's our official recap of events.

Photo courtesy of the
MI Homebrew Fest Facebook page

By Greg 'Swig' Johnson

To fill the void left by the Michigan State Fair, several Michigan homebrew clubs and businesses have stepped in and stepped up to create the Michigan Beer Cup. Now in its third year, this is a great competition for homebrewers across the state to bring forth their best efforts and to get them in front of judges. 

Siciliano's is proud to be a part of the sponsorship for this contest as well as the resulting homebrew festival, which, speaking from experience, is a blast to attend. Think Siciliano's Annual Homebrew Party and then multiply by ten since this festival spans several days with camping and more beer from more people and even more homebrew clubs.

Generally speaking, it's an exciting time in the Michigan craft beer world. Grand Rapids is tied with Ashville, NC for Beer City USA, seemingly countless breweries are opening all around the peninsulas, and every day brings more homebrewers to the hobby all of whom are helping to advance the craft. We are extremely proud to be a part of the homebrewing and craft beer movement and look forward to even grander events to be hosted in Michigan.

With all that said, I would love point out the winners and honorable mentions from the West Michigan area. I hope I spotted them all. (For the complete list, go to this website.) But first we will honor the overall awards.

Michigan Beer Cup - Overall Award Winners

MBC Club of the Year 

Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewers 

Best of Show, Beer 

Tom Lebel

Miss the Buss Common, 07-B California Common 

Best of Show, Ciders 

Jeff Carlson

Westside New England Cider, 28-A New England Cider 

Best of Show, Meads 

Mike Winnie

Beam Mead, 26-C Open Category Mead 

West Michigan Honorees (Club affiliation in parentheses)

Jeff Carlson (Primetime Brewers) 

Peach Ridge Cider, 27-A Common Cider - 2nd Siver 

Westside New England Cider, 8-A New England Cider - 1st Gold 

Westside Cherry Cider, 28-B Fruit Cider - 2nd Silver 

Sweet Heat Jalapano Cider, 28-D Other Specialty Cider or Perry – Honorable Mention 

Westside Atomic Cider, 28-D Other Specialty Cider or Perry – Honorable Mention 

John Applegarth (Primetime Brewers) 

Common Perry – 27-D Common Perry - 1st Gold 

Joel Kamp & Chris Carr (Muskegon Ottawa Brewers) 

Berlin Burb, 23-A Specialty Beer - 3rd Bronze 

Brent Zomerlei (Primetime Brewers) 

London Calling, 08-C Extra/Special Strong Bitter – Honorable Mention 

Ross Ziegenthaler (Muskegon Ottawa Brewers): 

Willows Old Nessy, 09-C Scottish Export 80/- – Honorable Mention 

Chad Zomerlei (Primetime Brewers) 

60 Shilling Ale, 09-A Scottish Light 60/- – Honorable Mention 

Stoned Porter, 12-B Robust Porter – Honorable Mention 

Jason Warnes (Brewsquitos) 

10-A American Pale Ale – Honorable Mention 

23-A Specialty Beer - 1st Gold 

Dave Secord & Kevin Christensen (Yeast Coasters) 

14-C Imperial IPA – Honorable Mention 

14-B American IPA – Honorable Mention 

Joel Kamp (Muskegon Ottawa Brewers) 

Wild Chunky Monkey, 16-E Belgian Specialty Ale – Honorable Mention 

Super Freak Stout, 23-A Specialty Beer – Honorable Mention 

Troy Redder (Muskegon Ottawa Brewers) 

Squirrel Killer Saison, 16-C Saison – Honorable Mention 

Kevin Christensen & Trevor Delabare (Yeast Coasters) 

B3, 18-C Belgian Tripel – Honorable Mention 

I would like to take this moment to congratulate all who participated. Awards or no, your participation helps to ensure that events like this continue to to happen in the future. I especially would like to commend those who received medals: your diligence and due process has proven fruitful. I tried to list all who were mentioned from West Michigan. However, if I have missed someone from our region, please inform me and we'll update the list.

For more information on these awesome events, please check out the links below:

• Michigan Homebrew Festival Website
• Michigan Beer Cup Website

Finally, a big thanks to all the organizers for putting this even together. Thank you for your continuing and relentless commitment to homebrewing in the state of Michigan.

To the brewer goes the spoils

By Chris Siciliano

Winning an all-expense paid trip to Sierra Nevada Beer Camp is cool and all, but it isn't the only perk of having your beer named Best of Show in the 9th Annual Siciliano's Market Homebrew Contest.

As in previous years, the winner of our current contest will take custody of the coveted Siciliano Cup. For a predetermined number of days the top homebrewer is free to involve the trophy in any activity he/she chooses, providing said activity is (a) legal; (b) more or less in line with prevailing social norms; and (c) generally within the bounds of common decency.

Last year's Best of Show winner Ross Ziegenthaler converted the trophy for a few days into a glorious cereal bowl. It's true what they say, you know—bran flakes just taste better when imbibed from the Siciliano Cup.

Rather than finding a prize in his cereal,
Ross finds cereal in his prize. 

Open wide!

Safety first

Cheers!

Homebrew contest update: Judging complete!

By Steve Siciliano

Judging for the 9th Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition was held yesterday from noon to three in the brew house at Brewery Vivant. There were 220 entries this year, the most ever, and from that number the winner of Best of Show was determined from among the eight entries that received the highest scores. The lucky (talented) brewer of that beer will not only have his/her name inscribed on the prestigious Siciliano’s Cup, they will also be receiving an all-expenses paid trip to a future Sierra Nevada Beer Camp in Chico, California. Competition results, including Best of Show, will be announced at the Ninth Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Party on Saturday, May 5th in the enclosed pavilion at Johnson Park. (Tickets are still available.) Anyone not attending the party may pick up score sheets and medals at Siciliano’s beginning on May 6th.

I would like to express my appreciation to the judges and stewards and to all those who contributed their time in helping make this a smooth-running event. Special thanks to Brewery Vivant owner Jason Spaulding for allowing us the use of his facilities, to head brewer Jacob Derylo who made room for us in his brew house and to pub general manager Lauron Turnipseed who presented us with a wonderful patio lunch.

I would also like to recognize the great job that Siciliano’s staffer Greg Johnson did in organizing this year’s competition.

One final note. In my opinion the word “competition” does not accurately describe the overall spirit of this event. Brewers do, of course, ultimately compete for Best of Show, but just as importantly they receive personal recognition in the form of medals for entries that are competently brewed to style. In addition to this, they receive constructive comments on their score sheets that will enable them to hone their craft and become better brewers. I would like to come up with a better moniker than "competition". Any suggestion would be appreciated.

Special thanks to...

Brewery Vivant

Judges and stewards like Matt

Greg (left) for organizing the event,
and Jason Spaulding (right) for letting us use his brewery

And the (April) winner is...

Thanks to everyone who participated in the latest cartoon caption contest. Top honor this month goes to Jon VanderMolen, whose timely caption relates a conversation we hope none of you experience this tax season.

Jon should contact the Buzz editors for details on claiming his prize (a Ricki's cheese making kit for Ricotta and Mozzarella). Everyone else will have another shot at comedy glory starting May 7, when the next caption contest is scheduled to begin.

The April Winner

"You forgot to attach the 1099 for your hunting and gathering income Mr. Ug.
Looks like we'll have to audit you."

First Runner-up, Todd "TH" Huizingh

"What do you say after we close this deal you and I go out clubbing."

A special congrats and well-done to Todd "TH" Huizingh, who has been the first runner-up in every cartoon caption contest to date. Chin up, Todd, your time is going to come.

Cartoon Caption Contest, April Edition

Welcome to the Siciliano's Cartoon Caption Contest, April Edition! This month's comic genius wins a Ricki's Cheese Making Kit for Mozzarella & Ricotta ($22 value), because there is no better prize than cheese, not even an all-expense paid trip to Chico, California. The contest rules are simple, and as follows.

1. Study the illustration below provided by Mark Siciliano, creator of the über-funny comic strip Head Cheese.
2. Come up with a hilarious caption. In fact, come up with several. Beer or brewing (or cheese) themed captions are not mandatory, but certainly won't hurt your chances of winning.
3. Include your caption in the comments section at the bottom of the post. Be sure to also include your full name. Note: captions left by "anonymous" users are fine, but for logistical reasons, they will not be considered for the prize (I'm talking to you, TH!).
4. Wait with bated breath for the winner to be announced right here on The Buzz on Monday, April 16th, 2012.

The April Cartoon

Your hilarious caption here

Find more Head Cheese at thecartooniststudio.com, where Mark has made the finals in a cartoon contest of his own. Voting for Mark in that contest will not win you brownie points in this one (voting over there is anonymous). However, the universe surely takes note of such things and will dole out the karma accordingly.

Obligatory fine print: (1) Please use your best judgment when participating in this contest. Any caption the Buzz staff deems offensive will be deleted without warning or notice. (2) The winner will be selected by a panel of judges to be named later by The Buzz staff. (3) Siciliano's employees & family are not eligible to win this contest; they are nonetheless encouraged to participate by adding captions of their own, hopefully funny ones.

Win Best of Show, earn spot at Sierra Nevada's Beer Camp

Together at last

By Steve Siciliano

We are pleased to announce that the Best of Show winner for this year’s Siciliano’s homebrew competition will receive an all-expense paid trip to beautiful Chico, California where he/she will be an attendee at a future Sierra Nevada Beer Camp. 

Over the course of three days Sierra Nevada Beer Campers will receive tours of the brewery, be treated to meals and beverages in the taproom, participate in a course on lab work and last, but certainly not least, collaborate with other campers on the formulation and brewing of a unique beer recipe. The camper will then be able to purchase a keg of the beer that he/she helped create after it has been delivered to Siciliano’s Market.

So get those entries in, homebrewers. Beer Camping at the Sierra Nevada brewery in Chico, California just might be in your future.

9th Annual Homebrew Party - Tickets now on sale

By Steve Siciliano

Tickets are now on sale for the 9th Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Party to be held this year on Saturday, May 5th from noon to 8pm in the enclosed shelter at Johnson Park. The party sells out every year and seating is limited so if you plan on attending we encourage you to buy your tickets early. Here are the pertinent details:

• Bring some homebrew to drink and share. You certainly don’t have to be a homebrewer to attend. Simply bring a six-pack or two of your favorite beer.
• Tickets are $35.00 and must be paid in advance with cash, check or credit card either in person at Siciliano's or over the phone. Tickets purchased over the phone may be picked up on the day of the party.
• Snacks and munchies will be provided and a meal will be served at 5pm. 
• We are giving away some great prizes this year including a logoed Siciliano’s beer mug at the time of check-in.
• Entertainment will be provided by Jimmie Stagger.
• Score sheets for the 9th Annual Homebrew Competition will be available for pick-up. Medals will be presented and the Best-of-Show winner of the Siciliano’s Cup will be announced after dinner. (Score sheets for those not attending the party will be available for pick-up at the store on May 6th.) 

We think it’s fitting that the date for this year’s party coincides with the celebration of National Homebrew Day. We will be at Johnson Park at 10am in case anyone wants to bring out propane burners to do a pre-party brew. We will also be holding this year’s seminars on Friday evening, May 4th at the park. The line-up of speakers will be announced later this week. Entry fee for the seminars is $5.00 payable at the door.

One final note—we have something incredible in store for this year’s Best-of-Show winner. Stay tuned to The Buzz for further details.