Breweries In PA Homebrew Invitational FAQ/ Guidelines

Please refer to the rules and guidelines below for any questions regarding this competition. If you have any additional questions please contact us directly.

• This is a Pennsylvania statewide competition that is open to any amateur homebrewer 21 years of age or older.
• We will accept only one beer (of your choice) for official judging. However, each homebrewer is welcome to bring as many beers as they would like for the festival portion of these events.
• We will not accept any submissions of beer made using commercial equipment/ facilities of any kind.
• We will accept any beer based on the 2021 BJCP style guideline. You can refer to the official style guidelines here.
  
• All participants must be able to hand-deliver the beer they choose to be judged to the regional event of their choice (we will not accept any remote mail-in entries).
• Breweries In PA (here on referred to as competition organizers/ BIPA) is not responsible for entries that are miscategorized
• We request a minimum of 2 bottles or cans per entry, and a minimum of 24 oz of beer. (This means two cans/ bottles of the same beer as only 1 beer is officially submitted for judging)
  
• Homebrewers will be allowed to submit one entry in only one of the regional events. We will not accept submissions from the same homebrewer for multiple regional events. Participants are welcome to submit to the region of their choice.
• All entries must be dropped off at the regional event of their choice on the day of the event. We will not allow proxies for drop-off, the beer must be delivered by the brewer who entered the competition. (Dates and locations below).
• All submissions will need to be made with ingredients available to the public using personal equipment by hobbyist brewers.
• Competition organizers reserve the right to combine styles based on the number of entries.
• We ask all homebrewers to arrive one hour before the events for official judging.
• A panel of judges will review and score each entry. At least one BJCP judge (if not more) will be represented for each flight.
• The average score by each judge will determine the rank in every category.
• The submissions with the three highest scores will be deemed the top three winners for the region. And will move on to the championship round.
• If you move on to the championship round, you are not required to submit the same beer as you did in the regional competition.
• The competition organizers have the option to limit the number of style categories in an effort to keep the competition as organized as possible.
• The top three winners will be announced at the culmination of each regional event.
• We’ve teamed up with Deer Creek Malthouse to add a special “PA Preferred” element piece to this year’s event. If your beer is brewed primarily with PA ingredients you’re eligible to win. This does not change what beer you submit. You’re still welcome to submit to any 2021 BJCP category. In order to qualify your beer needs to be made with the following: (You are not required to brew to this standard, this is up to you if you’d like to be considered for this).
  
  • • >75% more PA grain/malt (and/or)
    • >75% or more PA hops (and/or)
    • 100% PA fruit/adjunct
• Each of the three winners from every region will be asked to compete at the grand championship on October 21^st, 2023. A one-night hotel stay will be provided by the competition organizers for each homebrewer who qualifies for the championship

If you are participating in the festival portion:

• We ask that you provide whatever it is you need to pour. Whether that’s a jockey box, buckets for cans, etc. We also ask you to bring a table to pour. Each event location will have a limited number of tables in the event you need one, so we do ask you to bring your own. 
• You are welcome to pour as many beers as you would like. You can even pour the beer you plan to submit for entree, but please make sure you have enough to enter the competition.
• Just about all of these events are being held indoors, so a tent is not needed
• We will provide you with one large bag of ice. (Please prepare accordingly if you require more than that)
  
• If you are participating in the festival portion you are welcome to bring three guests in for free to support your table. (This means a maximum of four people per table will be granted access to the event. Non ticketed guests will not be given tasting glasses)
• Alcohol sales are strictly prohibited at any of the Homebrew Invitational events. Anyone caught selling alcohol will immediately be disqualified from the competition and removed from the event

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The dates of all events will be as follows:

• • July 8^th, 2023; Susquehanna Brewing – Pittston, PA
    
  • July 22^nd, 2023; Necromancer Brewing – Pittsburgh, PA
  • July 29^th, 2023; Von C Brewing – Norristown, PA
  • August 5^th, 2023; Englewood Brewing – Hummelstown, PA
  • August 19^th, 2023; Lavery Brewing – Erie, PA
  • October 21^st, 2023; Floating Feathers Brewing – Mill Hall, PA