[smkranz]

The Maryland Microbrewery Festival Homebrew Competition is open for Judges/Stewards, and entry registrations..

The Festival and competition date is Saturday, September 26. Entries are due at drop-off and shipping locations by end of business on September 12.

http://mdmicrobrewfest.brewcompetition.com/

Each entry is judged by at least one BJCP-ranked judge, tho sometimes one of the pro brewers at the festival steps up if we hear from a judge at the last minute who can't make it.

It's a relatively small comp (200 entry cap), so chances of placing and winning a prize are pretty decent. This year prizes are planned for 1st, 2nd, and (depending on prize availabity) 3rd place in each prize category.  Prize categories depend on the entries received.

Best of Show winner is brewed commercially by 2-time Maryland Governors Cup winner Dog Brewing Co. of Westminster, MD for draft sales at Buffalo Wild Wings' Maryland restaurants.  (Dog also brews for its own pubs and bottled sales, under its Pub Dog and its new Rexx Reserve brands, and contract brews for the likes of  Stillwater, and an Omnipollo Agamemnon Imperial Stout with Maple Syrup, among others.)

Entries are welcome from around the globe, but to be prize-eligible an entrant must either:

1. Be a Maryland resident;
2. Be a member of a Free State Homebrew Guild member club (easy & cheap to do...see the Rules); or
3. Register to Judge the comp, regardless of residency or club affiliation.

Entrants get great feedback and win cool prizes...check the site for prize Sponsors.  Judges get the best Judges' Breakfast anywhere, free festival admission, a free Buffalo Wild Wings lunch, and possible free overnight accommodations (based on availability...there are a few spots left).  Again, check the site for Volunteers info.