Oktoberfest Open Competition

The Fest of Both Worlds

Eligibility

Best Florida Beer is happy to announce that this year’s Oktoberfest beer competition will be updated to an “Open” format, with entries open to both professional breweries and homebrewers!

Homebrewers, see how you stand up against the best of the best Florida breweries! Florida Breweries, better step up your game, as the state’s best homebrewers are coming for you!

(*Eligible Commercial entries must be for sale or have been poured on premise on or before September 15, 2023.)

Judging

Judging will take place on September 23-24 2023.

Each entry will be evaluated by a minimum of two judges. Judges will either be professional brewers or Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) judges ranked certified or higher. A judge cannot evaluate their own entry or an entry in which they are associated. Judging is blind without knowledge of the brewery or the brand being evaluated. There will be no ‘Small Batch’ designation for this competition. Judges will primarily be using electronic judging software through ReggieBeer to expedite the judging and registration process.

Peer Reviewed Judging

Best Florida Beer would like to remind breweries that this competition is for you. It is to recognize and hopefully reward you for your hard work and passion for craft beer in the state of Florida. We would like to encourage you to send a qualified member of your team to participate in the judging. This team member should participate in sensory meetings and have an educated vocabulary for describing and evaluating beer. Professional brewers participating in the judging will be working with BJCP judges ranked Certified or higher to offer guidance and expertise to those unfamiliar with the judging process.

Categories

All beers will be judged according to the style specified by the brewer on the Reggie entry form. BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines will be used.

Style descriptions can be reviewed here: BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines.

BJCP2021:
4A (Munich Helles), 4B (Festbier), 4C (Helles Bock),
5A (German Leichtbier), 5B (Kolsch), 5C (German Helles Exportbier), 5D (German Pils),
6A (Marzen), 6B (Rauchbier), 6C (Dunkles Bock), 7A (Vienna Lager), 7B (Altbier),
8A (Munich Dunkel), 8B (Schwarzbier), 9A (Doppelbock), 9B (Eisbock), 9C (Baltic Porter),
10A (Weissbier), 10B (Dunkles Weissbier), 10C (Weizenbock),
23A (Berliner Weisse), 23G (Gose),
30B (Autumn Seasonal Beer) styles will be accepted for this competition.

Awards & Medals

• Credit for each beer will go to both the brewery and/or to the brewer of the particular beer entry.

• Entries will be graded on a score range of 0 to 50 points.

• Entries will be judged on technical merit according to guidelines and overall drinking pleasure.

This is primarily a “bragging rights” competition, however, the best in show winners will be awarded the Gold, Silver, or Bronze Beer Award, and the category winners will receive a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal.

Requirements of Professional Medal Winners We are planning to host a Fall Festival (name and details TBD) to be held during a weekend in November. If able, please save a keg for this festival.

Cost $20 per entry. Breweries are limited to a maximum of 2 entries. The competition will have a cap of 300 entries. Entries are on a first-come-first-serve basis. (Don’t email/text/carrier pigeon us asking for a break!) Entry fees must be received before judging on September 23.

How to Enter

Entry registration will open on ReggieBeer.com on August 14th, 2023. Entry registrations must be received on or before September 10th, 2023. Please use the easy online entry form on ReggieBeer.com to submit your commercial entry. Please note that breweries are limited to a maximum of 2 entries. Paypal is also available on the web site. This is your best option. Checks should be mailed to the address below. Checks must be received before the first day of judging, no later than September 23, 2023 or entries will not be judged. Please attach a letter notating the check number and the brewery/brewer being paid for.

Three samples of beer will be required, each at least 12 ounces. Beers will be served to the judges “blind” so the type of container will not be an issue. 

Entries should be sent to arrive before the September 15th deadline to: 

Six Ten Brewing

℅ Best Florida Beer Competition

7052 Benjamin Rd

Tampa, FL 33634

Send checks to: (**PayPal is preferred)

Linda - BFB Treasurer

℅ Best Florida Beer Competition

3007 W Leila Ave

Tampa, FL 33611