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Thank you for your interest in the 31st Annual Spirit Of Free Beer (SOFB) 2025 Homebrew Competition organized by Brewers United For Real Potables (BURP), Siver Branch Brewing Company, Rockville, MD.

You only need to register your information once and can return to this site to enter more brews or edit the brews you've entered. You can even pay your entry fees online if you wish.

Judge and Steward Registration is Open

If you have not registered and are willing to be a volunteer, please register.

If you have registered, log in and then choose Edit Account from the My Account menu indicated by the icon on the top menu.

Rules

  • This year's competition will only accept BEER.
  • On-line registration is required.
  • More than one entry may be made per sub-category, however they must be from different fermentations or of different ingredients. Identify the different entries on the entry form and bottle labels (for example, IPA#1, IPA#2, etc.).
  • Please list any and all Co-Brewers under the "General" heading on the "Add an Entry" page.
  • BEER entries shall consist of (2) two 10-12 oz. capped bottles, or (2) two 10-12 oz aluminum cans. DO NOT submit a combination of one bottle and one can for an entry. An entry must be two bottles OR two cans.
  • All BEER entries will be transported in standard 4x6-pack case boxes.
  • Bottles may be brown or green glass and must be free of any labels. In addition, these should not have raised glass designs, etched logos, or any other identifying marks. Bottle caps must be either plain or blacked out with a magic marker. Attach the bottle label to each bottle with a rubber band.
  • Cans should be aluminum cans and must be free of any labels, designs, logos, or any other identifying marks. Attach the can label to each can with a rubber band.
  • Note: Irregular shaped bottles require special handling and increase the risk of accidental mishandling.
  • All entries must be brewed at home.  Beer brewed in a Brew on Premise is acceptable, but beer brewed in a commercial brewery will not be accepted.
  • All entries become the property of Brewers United for Real Potables.
  • It is the entrant's responsibility to enter his or her BEER in the proper category, as specified in the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines. No entry will be reclassified.
  • While it is not necessary to provide full recipe information for each entry, those wishing to qualify for the Bill Moe Award for the best extract-based (at least 50%) BEER should specify that their entry is extract-based and include recipe information.Entries do not have to be completely extract based. 
  • Entries in some BEER categories/sub-categories need to specify special ingredients and/or classic style information on the entry form and bottle labels. See the 2021 BJCP guidelines for more info.
  • The entry fee is ten dollars ($10) per entry. Payment will only be accepted using PayPal (which also accepts credit cards). When dropping off or sending bottles, please attach your PayPal or credit card receipt.
  • Registration deadline is Thursday, March 27th. All entry drop-offs must be received by 1 pm on Friday, March 28th.
  • Winners will be posted on this site by 12:00 PM on April 12th. Scoresheets will be available on the website as soon as possible thereafter. Ribbons and prizes will be distributed at a later date.
  • Any questions about the competition regulations, procedures, awards, etc., should be directed to the organizer (see under Contacts).

Number of Bottles Required Per Entry: 2

Competition Officials

You can send an email to any of the following individuals via Contact.

  • Chuck Hughes — Competition Organizer
  • Mark Raker — Steward Coordinator
  • Mike Reinitz — Judge Coordinator
  • Bob Rouse — Registrar

Sponsors

Brewers United For Real Potables (BURP) is proud to have the following sponsors for the 31st Annual Spirit Of Free Beer (SOFB) 2025 Homebrew Competition.

BeerSmith Home Brewing Software
 
BeerSmith Home Brewing Software
Software to make outstanding Beer, Mead, Wine and Cider
Briess Malt & Ingredients Co.
Chilton, WI
Briess Malt & Ingredients Co.
Cairo Wine & Liquor (DC Wine Guy.Com)
Washington, DC
Cairo Wine & Liquor (DC Wine Guy.Com)
Denizens Brewing Co
Riverdale Park, MD
Denizens Brewing Co
Local, Independent, and family-owned since 2014
Five Star Chemicals
Commerce City, CO
Five Star Chemicals
Manufacturers of Homebrew Cleaning & Sanitizing Products
Imperial Yeast
Philadelphia, PA
Imperial Yeast
Keeping homebrewing simple, accessible, and fun!
INKBIRD
Shenzhen, China
INKBIRD
Smart devices for smart home living
LD Carlson Co
Kent, OH
LD Carlson Co
The oldest independent beer & wine making supplies wholesaler in the country
Lone Oak Farm Brewing Co
Olney, MD
Lone Oak Farm Brewing Co
Great Brews, Historic Views and Spirits too. Welcome to the farm!
Maryland Homebrew
Columbia, MD
Maryland Homebrew
Celebrating 25 years serving the needs of the homebrewing community - the difference is service!
Silver Branch Brewing Co
Silver Spring, MD
Silver Branch Brewing Co
Brewing and serving excellent beer inspired by classic European and American beer traditions. Experience Gemütlichkeit!
Spike Brewing
Milwaukee, WI
Spike Brewing
Premium equipment at a fair price. It's Brew Day!
Tilt Hydrometer
Santa Rosa, CA
Tilt Hydrometer
A free floating digital hydrometer and thermometer for continuous real-time monitoring
Zinnia
Silver Spring, MD
Zinnia
Bringing a modern American menu to an iconic Silver Spring restaurant.