New Beer Friday, Homebrew Competition Edition (Jan 25)

By Steve Siciliano

From its humble beginnings sixteen years ago, the Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition has developed into one of Michigan’s most respected competitive homebrewing events.

We are pleased to announce that once again, this year’s Best of Show (BOS) brewer will have the opportunity to brew his or her winning recipe at a local brewery. The BOS winner will also receive a $500.00 gift card to Siciliano’s Market and, per tradition, will have his or her name engraved on the prestigious Siciliano’s Cup. See below for contest rules and regulations for the Sixteenth Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition. Good luck, everyone!

• Every homebrewer is allowed one (1) beer entry. All entries must be brewed by the registrant on a homebrewing system. Please do not submit entries under the names of significant others, insignificant others, siblings, offspring, distant relatives, estranged roommates, pets, fictional characters, imaginary friends or anyone else. 
• Beers are submitted according to the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines. Ciders and meads are excluded from this competition. If you are unsure of which is the correct style for your beer, contact us and we will help. 
• Entries require two (2) plain, unlabeled/unmarked 12-ounce amber bottles. Please no clear bottles or bottles of any other size. 
• We are again using Reggiebeer as our competition website. Go here to enter your beer and print bottle labels. 
• The entry fee is $7.00. 
• The total number of contest entries will be capped at 200. Do not delay in submitting your entry. Once the cap is reached no additional entries will be accepted. 
• Online registration for entries will be accepted from Monday, March 18 through Sunday, April 14 or until 200 entries are submitted, whichever occurs first. 
• Entries must be received by Sunday, April 14. 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 Competitions are 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 of Show. Entries that receive scores falling within designated point totals will be awarded bronze, silver or gold medals. A reminder too that we are looking for judges and stewards to help us evaluate all that homebrew. Judging will be held on Saturday, April 27 at 17 Seward Avenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Registration for judges and stewards is now open. Please visit this page for sign-up information.

New and Returning Beer

• Batch Brewing Empire Pale, $2.79/12oz - "American Pale Ale featuring Michigan grown Empire Hops. Light and crisp with a nice floral/fruity finish" (source).
• Batch Centennial Pilsner, 2.79/12oz - "A German style pilsner brewed with whole Michigan-grown Centennial hops and Weyermann malt. Light straw colored, clear with a bright white foam. Aromas of fresh herbs, grapefruit and freshly kilned pilsen malt. Dry, crisp and lightly bitter" (source).
• Atwater Bavarian Cream VJP, 1.99/12oz - No commercial description.
• Brewery Vivant Space Queen Immortal, 5.79/16oz - "Sour Golden Ale aged in oak barrels for one year. Double dry-hopped with with Citra and Amarillo" (source).
• Brewery Vivant Nordhouse IPA, 3.79/16oz - "Juniper IPA" (source).
• Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree, 4.69/12oz - "We actually took the Crooked Tree recipe and doubled all of the ingredients except the water, just the way a DOUBLE should be made. Big hops balanced with tons of malt give this beer a huge body. Enjoy right away or let it mellow and smooth with some age" (source).
• Mitten Doc's No-No, 3.29/12oz - "Our house Double IPA showcases honey malt and a single hop varietal. This batch features Mosaic hops" (source).
• Cheboygan Cherry Chocolate, 2.99/16oz - "A cordial stout rich in malts, dark chocolate and cherries. Reminiscent of its namesake this ale is the perfect blend of decadent chocolate and tart cherry" (source).
• Perrin Soops Joos, 4.29/16oz - "Soops Joos is our first double dry hopped New England IPA. Blending an array of exotic hops, this NEIPA finishes super juicy" (source).
• Petoskey Robusta Nut, 2.79/16oz - "Robust porter, brewed with shredded coconut amd cocoa nibs, meshing nicely with the rich coffee undertones" (source).
• Pura Still Spiked Water, 1.79/12oz - "The first spiked water that doesn’t need bubbles to keep things interesting. Made with a splash of coconut water and a hint of fruit flavor" (source). Available flavors: Mandarin Orange, Blackberry and Mango.
• Dogfish Head The Perfect Disguise, 2.79/12oz - "On the surface, The Perfect Disguise looks like a straightforward Kölsch with a crisp Kölsch yeast and traditional German malts and hops … but things aren’t always what they seem. With a quick sniff and a slight sip, you’re greeted by a creamy mouthfeel and full body thanks to the addition of a unique German chit malt - the first hint that this beer may be somewhat different. Hiding deeper behind that German disguise is the double dry-hopping of an American Double IPA, with nearly 4 lbs. of German and American hops per barrel. It brings tropical flavors of citrus, tangerine, mango, gooseberries and peach" (source).
• Incline Cider, 2.79/12oz - "Utilizing only 100% fresh pressed apples as the base for ciders that stand in a category of their own." Flavors available: Scout Hopped Marionberry Cider, Explorer Hopped Cider, Compass Rosé Hibiscus Cider (source).
• New Planet Seclusion, 2.39/12oz - "An India Pale Ale brewed with light malts and dry hopped to create a hop forward citrus note. This four-times hopped IPA is robust and aromatic with just the right amount of bitterness" (source).
• New Planet Tread Lightly, 2.19/12oz - "A well balanced and easy drinking ale with subtle citrus hop character and a crisp, clean finish. As refreshing as a summer ale but made to enjoy all year" (source).
• Ommegang Saison Rosé, 5.89/12oz - "We’re pleased to announce Saison Rosé, a new limited edition blend that will make you want to “rosé all day.” This blend of saisons, one aged in oak, the other brewed with hibiscus flowers and co-fermented with chardonnay grape juice, is fruity, tart, dry, and incredibly quaffable" (source).

Image of the Week | Best of Show

Homebrewer Phil Pierce celebrates winning Best of Show
at the 15th Annual Siciliano's Homebrew Competition.

Cheers!