Winners Announced in Sam Adams Homebrew Contest
BOSTON -- Two consumers have won the 2006 Samuel Adams American Homebrew Contest. Announced at the 25th Annual Great American Beer Festival, Don Oliver of California won for his "Little Beast" Old Ale-style beer and Bruce Scott of Massachusetts won for his Dortmunder Export. Both beers will achieve national distribution in the Samuel Adams LongShot six-pack mix.
The consumer's homebrews were judged by an expert panel, including Samuel Adams' founder and brewer Jim Koch; Todd Alstrom of BeerAdvocate; William Brand, a beer columnist for The Oakland Tribune; Tony Forder of Ale Street News and Gary Glass of the American Homebrewers Association. The judges determined the winners based on AHA/Beer Judge Certificate Program guidelines. Both beers were evaluated within their respective styles, based on how well each represented specific characteristics for its category. The two winners were chosen out of 1,500 other entries that were brewed and sent to regional chapters for judging.
In addition, Ken Smith's Wheat with BOY-senberry was chosen as a winner from the employees' homebrew competition. Smith's brew was chosen out of three finalists who served their beers at the festival for attendees to taste and vote. As the winner, the Wheat with BOY-senberry nailed the third spot in the LongShot pack.
The contest is a tribute to the company's beginnings, when founder Jim Koch began brewing the first batch of Samuel Adams Boston Lager in his kitchen.
"It was tough choosing the winners, but our panel of judges decided that Little Beast and the Dortmunder Export stood apart from the rest in quality and taste. As for the employee homebrew winner, I am pleased with the palette selection of the festival goers; Ken's Wheat with BOY-senberry is truly exceptional," said Koch. "I'll never forget the feeling I had when Samuel Adams Boston Lager was first sold on shelves nationwide, and I'm excited to share that experience with all three winners."
The LongShot six-pack will be available nationwide beginning February 2007 for a suggested retail price between $6.99 and $7.99. The mix pack will contain two bottles each of the winning consumer's beer and two bottles of the winning employees brew.
The consumer's homebrews were judged by an expert panel, including Samuel Adams' founder and brewer Jim Koch; Todd Alstrom of BeerAdvocate; William Brand, a beer columnist for The Oakland Tribune; Tony Forder of Ale Street News and Gary Glass of the American Homebrewers Association. The judges determined the winners based on AHA/Beer Judge Certificate Program guidelines. Both beers were evaluated within their respective styles, based on how well each represented specific characteristics for its category. The two winners were chosen out of 1,500 other entries that were brewed and sent to regional chapters for judging.
In addition, Ken Smith's Wheat with BOY-senberry was chosen as a winner from the employees' homebrew competition. Smith's brew was chosen out of three finalists who served their beers at the festival for attendees to taste and vote. As the winner, the Wheat with BOY-senberry nailed the third spot in the LongShot pack.
The contest is a tribute to the company's beginnings, when founder Jim Koch began brewing the first batch of Samuel Adams Boston Lager in his kitchen.
"It was tough choosing the winners, but our panel of judges decided that Little Beast and the Dortmunder Export stood apart from the rest in quality and taste. As for the employee homebrew winner, I am pleased with the palette selection of the festival goers; Ken's Wheat with BOY-senberry is truly exceptional," said Koch. "I'll never forget the feeling I had when Samuel Adams Boston Lager was first sold on shelves nationwide, and I'm excited to share that experience with all three winners."
The LongShot six-pack will be available nationwide beginning February 2007 for a suggested retail price between $6.99 and $7.99. The mix pack will contain two bottles each of the winning consumer's beer and two bottles of the winning employees brew.