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Thanks to all who participated in the 30th Spirit Of Free Beer (SOFB) 2024 Homebrew Competition.

There were 207 entries judged and 174 registered participants, judges, and stewards.

Best of Show Winners

Best of Show – Beer

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
1stCole Christian
Co-Brewer: Paulette Palacios
Porter Alfredson13C: English PorterDC Homebrewers
2ndMark HogenmillerLe Petit Bouffon28B: Mixed Fermentation Sour BeerBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
3rdMatthew PyleWorthy19B: California CommonBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)

Bill Moe Award

The Bill Moe Award is given for the best extract-based beer. Entries do not have to be completely extract based. However, at least 50% of the fermentables must be based on malt extract.

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
1stKeith BlanchardReturn Of The Highwayman25B: SaisonMorris Area Society of Homebrewers

Winning Entries

Table 1: Light American Beer (12 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stGavin GrahamUp The Yard18A: Blonde Ale
2ndAlex Hannagan MHPHaze Of Empires1D: American Wheat Beer
3rdChad Faulstick MHPChettyweiser1A: American Light LagerWheeling Alers

Table 2: Czech Lager (11 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stWendy Aaronson
Co-Brewer: Bill Ridgely
Suave T'Mave3D: Czech Dark LagerBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
2ndRobert StevensRoAnne Cerne3D: Czech Dark LagerBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
3rdWendy Aaronson
Co-Brewer: Bill Ridgely
Bohemian Rhapsody3B: Czech Premium Pale LagerBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)

Table 3: Pale Malty European Lager (7 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stRoss Stuart MHPFestbier4B: FestbierArizona Society of Homebrewers
2ndJavier MurilloMunich Hello4A: Munich HellesThe Brü Club
3rdEvan BrillLittle Lost Slone2A: International Pale LagerLouisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society, LTD

Table 4: Pale Bitter European Beer (7 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stEdward Bielaus
Co-Brewer: Boris Barrere
Barnaby Struve And Menninger Memorial Dortmunder5C: German Helles ExportbierBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
2ndTracy Pratt MHPGood Day On The Rhine5B: KölschBattleground Brewers Guild
3rdGreg LeiferFarewell Old Friend5B: KölschBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)

Table 5: Amber European Lager (17 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stJohn Douglass
Co-Brewer: Jim Oneal
Douglass Dunkel6C: Dunkels Bock
2ndKenneth ChristianSchneeballschl-Alt7B: AltbierZymurnauts
3rdAnthony ErdmanRauchbier6B: Rauchbier

Table 6: Dark & Strong European Beer (6 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stNathan JamesShenani-Goats9A: Doppelbock
2ndGregory Sanial MHPCzarina's Nectar9C: Baltic PorterPrimeTime Brewers
3rdDave StordahlThor's Winter8B: SchwarzbierRimrock Brewers Guild

Table 7: Pale British Beer (11 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stGreg LeiferEspeciale11B: Best BitterBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
2ndWendy Aaronson
Co-Brewer: Bill Ridgely
Raccoon Redux11C: Strong BitterBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
3rdRobert StevensRoAnne Bitter11A: Ordinary BitterBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)

Table 8: Scottish Ale & Irish Beer (10 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stRobert StevensRoAnne Scottish Heavy14B: Scottish HeavyBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
2ndColby Black320 Irish Red15A: Irish Red AleWheeling Alers
3rdRoss Stuart MHPIrish Red15A: Irish Red AleArizona Society of Homebrewers

Table 9: Stout (21 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stColleen Cannon
Co-Brewer: Tom Cannon Cindy Duerr
Gaping Bunghole Stout15B: Irish StoutBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
2ndMatt HartogSummertime Imperial Stout20C: Imperial Stout
3rdPatrick Smith MHPTSAR20C: Imperial StoutSeven City Brewers

Table 10: American Amber & California Common (8 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stMatthew PyleWorthy19B: California CommonBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
2ndDavid WhiteCally Common19B: California CommonBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
3rdEvan BrillRed Mosquito19A: American Amber AleLouisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society, LTD
HMDave TaylorAngler's Steam Beer19B: California CommonKeystone Hops

Table 11: American Pale (7 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stMatt Peppe MHPNight Owl18B: American Pale AleBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
2ndBrian GrayHearse-Quencher18B: American Pale Ale
3rdBrian GrayLunchpale Ale18B: American Pale Ale

Table 12: Brown Ale (6 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stColby Black320 Brown Ale19C: American Brown AleWheeling Alers
2ndJim WilliamsonDarby Day13B: British Brown Ale
3rdJim WilliamsonWill's Brown Ale19C: American Brown Ale
HMWendy Aaronson
Co-Brewer: Bill Ridgely
Miner's Light13A: Dark MildBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)

Table 13: Porter (9 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stCole Christian MHP
Co-Brewer: Paulette Palacios
Porter Alfredson13C: English PorterDC Homebrewers
2ndEdward Bielaus
Co-Brewer: Boris Barrere
Blau Schmillcus And Ferdinand Sheep Memorial English Porter13C: English PorterBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
3rdJim ClappPatriot Porter20A: American PorterKeystone Hops

Table 14: IPA (18 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stJim ClappPoke You In The21A: American IPAKeystone Hops
2ndRoss Stuart MHPHazy IPA21C: Hazy IPAArizona Society of Homebrewers
3rdRoss Stuart MHPEnglish IPA12C: English IPAArizona Society of Homebrewers

Table 15: Sour, Wild, Historic & Specialty Ale (9 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stMark HogenmillerLe Petit Bouffon28B: Mixed Fermentation Sour Beer Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
2ndSean KeeganGłęboki Fiolet27A5: Piwo GrodziskieFredericks Original Ale Makers (FOAM)
3rdDominick Dufner MHPCalvaire23B: Flanders Red AleSTLBrewhogs

Table 16: Belgian Ale & German Wheat (12 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stKeith BlanchardReturn Of The Highwayman25B: Saison Morris Area Society of Homebrewers
2ndJim WilliamsonLippihefe10A: Weissbier
3rdCarter ChapmanHousewarming Hefe10A: WeissbierDC Homebrewers

Table 17: Monastic Ale (13 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stTracy Pratt MHPShimae All Day26B: Belgian DubbelBattleground Brewers Guild
2ndJeanie OsburnSingle Late Start26A: Belgian SingleBrewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
3rdJim ClappDirigible26D: Belgian Dark Strong AleKeystone Hops

Table 18: Fruit Beer (7 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stRichard SizemoreApricot Kolsch29A: Fruit Beer Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
2ndMark Hogenmiller
Co-Brewer: Bud Hensgen
Devil's Elixar Wineberry Framboezen29A: Fruit Beer Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
3rdColleen Cannon
Co-Brewer: Tom Cannon Cindy Duerr
Cherry Bomb29A: Fruit Beer Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP)

Table 19: Spice Beer (7 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stEdward Bielaus
Co-Brewer: Boris Barrere
Raisin Butt Chocolate Stout30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
2ndDennis PetersenLeslee's Beer30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP)
3rdRobert Stevens
Co-Brewer: Steve Marler
Chili Stout30D: Specialty Spice Beer Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP)

Table 20: Smoke & Wood Beer (9 entries)

PlaceBrewerNameStyleClub
1stMichael Branson10th Anniversary Rye Wine33B: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer DC Homebrewers
2ndJim Schmalbach
Co-Brewer: George Keegan III
Oaky Doaky33B: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer Keystone Hops
3rdRichard SizemoreSmoked Cherry Stout32B: Specialty Smoked Beer Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP)