Blacksburg, Virginia, October 12, 2017– The 9th annual Blacksburg Brew Do Homebrew Competition drew 51 entries in four categories. The competition, sponsored by Starr Hill Brewery, is unique in the New River Valley and was organized in conjunction with Blacksburg Brew Do, a craft beer festival that took place on October 7th at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.
The four categories that were judged were light, amber, dark and specialty. Homebrewers were allowed to submit up to three entries and each was judged by a panel of craft brew experts: Jeff Bowles, from Huck’s Beer Buzz; Sean O’Keefe, Virginia Tech; Evan Graham, Lefty’s and Right Mind Brewing; Dave Younger, Valley Distributing; and the Starr Hill Brewery Brewing Team.
The winners in each category had their entries judged a final time to determine “Best of Show.” Michael Czernicki with Raspberry Beret, a brett beer, was determined the winner. He won the right to brew and serve his winning beer at the Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage as a seasonal selection.
Winners in each category are as follows:
Light
1st Place: Rodger Thurlow, “Guava Gose” (Fruit Beer)
2nd Place: Ken Knott & Jen Sharp-Knott “Our Orange President” (New England IPA)
3rd Place: David & Kelli Wheeler, “Bastogne Blonde” (Belgian Blonde)
Amber
1st Place: Steve Lusk, “Jim’s Special Amber” (American Amber)
2nd Place: Jason Cromer, “Jean-Claude Van Dubbel (Belgian Dubbel)
3rd Place: Curtis Shupe & Jayson Shirey, “Citra-A$$ Down” (American Pale Ale)
Dark
1st Place: Justin & Carrie Cox, “Nyet My President” (Whiskey Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout)
2nd Place: Beth Durham, “Baba Yaga” (Russian Imperial Stout)
3rd Place: Ken Knott & Jen Sharp-Knott, “Black Hops” (Black IPA)
Specialty
1st Place: Michael Czernicki, “Raspberry Beret” (Raspberry Brett)
2nd Place: Trevor Doyle & Brandon Shaver “Yes Wheat Pecan” (Barrel Aged Wheatwine with Toasted Pecans)
3rd Place: Doug & Sara Urquhart, “Hibiscus Berliner Weisse” (Berliner Weisse)
For information about Blacksburg Brew Do, visit www.blacksburgbrewdo.com or follow Brew Do on facebook and twitter at www.facebook.com/blacksburgbrewdo and @bburgbrewdo.