The American Homebrewers Association recently posted the First Round winners from this year’s National Homebrew Competition. The NHC began in 1979 with a mere 34 entries and has grown steadily since then, with an unofficial count of 7,775 entries in 2013. Although the competition is geared toward grain-based beverages, the NHC has awarded a Meadmaker of the Year since 1981 and a Cidermaker of the Year since 1992. These awards are presented to the creators of the best-of-show mead and the best-of-show cider during the National Homebrewers Conference, held this year in Philadelphia from June 27-29.
The reigning Cidermaker of the Year, Roger Kee, has two entries that have advanced to the Final Round this year. and four-time Cidermaker of the Year winner Jeff Carlson (’00, ’01, ’08, ’09) also has two entries advancing. Other former Cidermaker of the Year winners with entries advancing include Byron Burrier (’03), John Jurgensen (’06), Edward Walkowski (’11), and Anjie Watts (’10) as a collaborator. Curiously, a number of former Meadmaker of the Year winners have entries advancing in cider categories as well, including Curt & Kathy Stock (’05), Steve Fletty (’07), and Rodney Kibzey (’10).
Of the 199 cider entries this year, 66 have advanced to the Final Round. Here’s a breakdown of the advancing entries by BJCP style:
27A Common Cider – 24
27B English Cider – 5
27C French Cider – 1
27D Common Perry – 3
27E Traditional Perry – 0
28A New England Cider – 5
28B Fruit Cider – 11
28C Applewine – 4
28D Specialty Cider or Perry – 13
And here’s a full list of cider results broken down by judging center:
Seattle – Standard Cider and Perry
1st – Tavish Sullivan of Bothell, WA with Laura Sullivan – 27A
2nd – Roger Kee of Everett, WA – 27A
3rd – Melissa Allison of Oak Harbor, WA with Jeremy Allison – 27A
Seattle – Specialty Cider and Perry
1st – David Pucci of Oak Harbor, WA – 28A
2nd – Roger Kee of Everett, WA – 28D
3rd – Marc Hayden of Sherwood, OR – 28A
Pleasanton – Standard Cider and Perry
1st – Joshua Mann of Nipomo, CA – 27B
2nd – Joshua Mann of Nipomo, CA – 27A
3rd – David Louw of San Luis Obispo, CA – 27A
Pleasanton – Specialty Cider and Perry
1st – John Boro of Encinitas, CA with Dave Fox – 28B
2nd – Larry Stein of San Diego, CA – 28C
3rd – Larry Stein of San Diego, CA – 28D
San Diego – Standard Cider and Perry
1st – Brian Trout of San Diego, CA – 27A
2nd – Jason Conrado of San Diego, CA – 27A
3rd – Jenny DuRose of San Diego, CA with Eric DuRose – 27A
San Diego – Specialty Cider and Perry
1st – Christian Banker of Encinitas, CA – 28D
2nd – Brian Trout of San Diego, CA – 28D
3rd – Jess Sullivan of Descanso, CA – 28C
Denver – Standard Cider and Perry
1st – Mark Tanner of Oak Harbor, WA – 27D
2nd – Dennis Talley of Las Cruces, NM with Misha Hasan – 27A
3rd – Don Blake of Erie, CO – 27A
Denver – Specialty Cider and Perry
1st – David Allan of Las Cruces, NM – 28D
2nd – Andrew Mitchell of Fort Collins, CO – 28D
3rd – Mark Tanner of Oak Harbor, WA – 28B
Tulsa – Standard Cider and Perry
1st – Fred Mason of Pittsburgh, PA – 27B
2nd – Michael Wilcox of Wichita, KS – 27A
3rd – Jay McEvers of Round Rock, TX – 27A
Tulsa – Specialty Cider and Perry
1st – Michael Wilcox of Wichita, KS – 28D
2nd – John Jurgensen of Alvin, TX – 27A
3rd – Chuck Lutz of Walden, NY – 28A
Kansas City – Standard Cider and Perry
1st – Jovilin Grunewald of Oak Harbor, WA with Mark Tanner – 27A
2nd – Mark Schoppe of Austin, TX – 27D
3rd – Doug Reed of Highlands Ranch, CO – 27B
Kansas City – Specialty Cider and Perry
1st – Michael Hill of Lenexa, KS – 28B
2nd – Edward Walkowski of North Abington Twp., PA – 28B
3rd – Bob Mac Kay of Carlsbad, CA – 28D
Saint Paul – Standard Cider and Perry
1st – Curt Stock of Saint Paul, MN with Kathy Stock – 27A
2nd – Will Bond of Saint Paul, MN with Bill Bond – 27A
3rd – Steve Fletty of Falcon Heights, MN – 27A
Saint Paul – Specialty Cider and Perry
1st – Steve Fletty of Falcon Heights, MN – 28B
2nd – Curt Stock of Saint Paul, MN with Kathy Stock – 28B
3rd – Brett Glenna of Lakeville, MN – 28B
Milwaukee – Standard Cider and Perry
1st – Byron Burrier of Neenah, WI with Steve Olson, & Steve Mattheeussen – 27A
2nd – Rodney Kibzey of Lombard, IL – 27A
3rd – Rodney Kibzey of Lombard, IL – 27D
Milwaukee – Specialty Cider and Perry
1st – Rodney Kibzey of Lombard, IL – 28B
2nd – Roberto Bob Rodriguez of Lake Ronkonkoma, NY – 28D
3rd – Byron Burrier of Neenah, WI with Keith Akstulewicz, Steve Olson, & Steve Mattheeussen – 28D
Atlanta – Standard Cider and Perry
1st – Josanna Dixon of Burlington, KY – 27B
2nd – Les Wright of Cumming, GA with Anjie Watts – 27C
3rd – Josanna Dixon of Burlington, KY – 27A
Atlanta – Specialty Cider and Perry
1st – Dan Schreffler of Dunmore, PA – 28D
2nd – Josanna Dixon of Burlington, KY – 28B
3rd – Jason Trafton of Strafford, NH with Jennifer Trafton – 28A
Zanesville – Standard Cider and Perry
1st – Bob Barrett of Ann Arbor, MI – 27A
2nd – Weston Sampson of Lexington, KY – 27A
3rd – Jeff Carlson of Grand Rapids, MI – 27A
Zanesville – Specialty Cider and Perry
1st – Jason Bryant of Reston, VA – 28C
2nd – Travis Hammond of Poway, CA – 28D
3rd – Jeff Carlson of Grand Rapids, MI – 28A
New York City – Standard Cider and Perry
1st – Hayley Jensen of New York, NY with Stephen Durley – 27B
2nd – Stephen Mayo of Derry, NH – 27A
3rd – David Barone of Sewell, NJ – 27A
New York City – Specialty Cider and Perry
1st – Peter Cowles of Fairfield, CT – 28B
2nd – Donald Boyle of Colonia, NJ with Stephen Boyle – 28D
3rd – Ed Ramshaw of Concord, NH – 28B
