From the early days as the original brewers in ancient societies like Egypt through to today’s craft beer scene, women have and still play a large part in the making of our favorite libation. Sadly, in today’s society, females’ roles are often overlooked or even worse diminished to stereotypes.
Inspired by our very own Regional Manager Heather’s dissatisfaction with the current state of acknowledgement (or lack there of) for women in the beer world NJCB has decided to hold a Ladies Only Homebrew Contest.
Together with 2011 Philly Beer Geek/NJ Weyerbacher Regional Sales manager, Natalie DeChico and The Copper Mine Pub’s owner, Vito Forte we have come up with an event to pay homage to all the ladies that deserve that much more recognition. On Thursday, November 15th we will crown our “Queen of Hops” and celebrate the women in our Craft Beer Community. This event is for all levels of female homebrewers. Whether you’re an avid brewer or brewing for your first time, whether you’re doing this alone or together with another female or with a father, brother, friend, significant other… this is for YOU! The contest will be open to any style. In staying with the theme, we will have an all female judging panel including Heather and Natalie along with other important and highly regarded women in the craft beer scene.
We will be giving out some exciting prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. We’ll also have some fun giveaways for runner ups and guests (female or male) at our award ceremony on 11/15!
The winner and newly crowned 2012 “Queen of Hops” will be awarded the opportunity to make their own beer-based ice cream flavor with The Bent Spoon, NJ’s top artisanal ice cream shop PLUS The Brewer’s Apprentice has offered up another winning idea. JoEllen one of the owners says “we can offer a prize of brewing the wining batch (15 gallon) at The Brewer’s Apprentice.” NOW all your friends can enjoy the beer! We will also have a NJCB release party with the winning recipe at The Brewer’s Apprentice. This will be coordinated after the event.
For starters, love2brew in North Brunswick, NJ is hosting a Free Homebrew Class on Thursday, August 30th at 7pm for females only. Heather from NJCB will be on hand to talk beer, homebrewing and of course NJCB.
A special thank you to all of our sponsors who are donating time and prizes:
Wine, Barley & Hops Homebrew Supply
*anyone else interested in becoming a sponsor, please email us at QOH AT newjerseycraftbeer DOT com
Sign-up information:
Sign up is open to any female in the NJ/PA area. If you have any questions about eligibility, please email us at QOH AT newjerseycraftbeer DOT com Please remember that you must have done the brewing (with or without help is acceptable).
Sign up is really simple. Please fill out the the form here. Please fill out a separate entry form for each different beer you are entering.
We are no longer accepting entries online. If you have questions, please contact us using the info above.
Print out and fill out these labels that should correspond with the online form for each beer.
A $5 entry fee (per entry) should be sent via PayPal to beermail AT newjerseycraftbeer DOT com. *Please be sure to include the name of the homebrewer when making the PayPal transaction so we can note that the entry fee has been paid.
We ask that you supply 4x 12oz bottles or 2x 22oz bottles. Swingtops are acceptable. No growlers please. Also, be sure to have a copy of the form wrapped as a label on each bottle with a rubber band and remove any old labels that may have been on these bottles before. Don’t glue or tape the labels on, please.
Multiple entries per brewer are allowed. *Remember each entry requires 4x 12oz or 2x 22oz and a $5 entry fee.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEND THE PARTY TO ENTER THE CONTEST.
Drop Offs – (absolutely no mail-ins) ARE NOW CLOSED!
The Copper Mine Pub – entries accepted no later than 11/4
323 Ridge Road
North Arlington, NJ 07031
http://www.thecopperminepub.com/
love2brew – entries accepted no later than 11/4
1583 Livingston Ave – Unit 2
North Brunswick, NJ 08902
The Pour House – entries accepted no later than 11/2
124 Haddon Ave
Westmont, NJ 08108
Keystone Homebrew Supply – entries accepted no later than 10/30
435 Doylestown Road
Montgomeryville, PA 18936
http://www.keystonehomebrew.com/
Barry’s Homebrew Outlet – entries accepted no later than 10/30
1447 North American Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
http://www.barryshomebrew.com/
Wine, Barley & Hops Homebrew Supply – entries accepted no later than 10/30
248 Bustleton Pike
Feasterville, PA 19053
http://www.winebarleyandhops.com
Home Sweet Homebrew – entries accepted no later than 10/30
2008 Sansom St.
Philadelphia PA 19103
Princeton Homebrew – entries accepted no later than 10/30
208 Sanhican Dr
Trenton, NJ 08618
Barley Legal Homebrewers – entries accepted on 9/4 & 10/2 at the monthly meetings.
Contact Barley Legal @ http://www.barleylegalhomebrewers.com
The Brewer’s Apprentice – entries accepted no later than 10/30
865 Route 33 #4
Freehold, NJ 07728
732-863-9411
Judges:
Below is the current list of judges. We will be announcing more judges shortly.
Heather Berz – New Jersey Craft Beer Regional Manager and Cicerone Certified Beer Server
Natalie DeChico– Weyerbacher New Jersey Sales Manager, President of the ALEiens Homebrew Club in Bucks County, PA. and 2011 Philly Beer Geek
Tara Nurin – Freelance journalist who writes an Ale Street News column about women and beer. She’s the founder of Beer for Babes, a New Jersey-wide women and beer group, and the historian for the Pink Boots Society, an international organization for females in the brewing industry.
Nancy Rigberg – Owner of Home Sweet Homebrew.
Kristen Sykes – Certified Beer Judge (Beer Judge Certification Program), long time homebrewer and beer-vangelist. Founder and President of the Boston Area Beer Enthusiasts Society (BABES).
Rebecca Flynn – Carton Brewing
Nikki Cavanaugh – Sales & Marketing, Rushing Duck Brewery & Bartender, Copper Mine Pub
Most important of all, please join us to for the awards ceremony, taste each other’s homebrews, meet other women homebrewers and celebrate Women in Craft Beer on Thursday, November 15th at 6:00pm at The Copper Mine Pub in North Arlington, NJ. You will have a chance to get some free swag, meet some of the judges, Natalie from Weyerbacher and Team NJCB. Men are also welcome at the QOH Award Ceremony to come drink, celebrate and meet some great female homebrewers.
Again, any questions should be sent to QOH AT newjerseycraftbeer DOT com
Cheers!
QOH artwork designed in conjunction with morganpalmedo.com