Dates & Deadlines
Please reference these important Dates & Deadlines as the competition progresses. If you still have questions, check out our FAQ Page for more information.
Through January 13
Update AHA Account
Members should make sure their contact information and address is up to date on their member record prior to filling out the open enrollment application, and they must be actively subscribed to NHC emails. Subscribe to NHC emails or update it in your profile on HomebrewersAssociation.org. You may change your address in the open-enrollment application, too.
January 14 (10 a.m MST) to January 27 (8 a.m. MST)
Open Enrollment Application Window
AHA Members are emailed a username (email address) and password to enroll in the competition, request the amount of beers they’d like to enter and choose their judging centers. The confirmation email they receive does not mean you are in the competition. Please review the confirmation email to ensure all information is accurate. You may edit this application until the window closes. More likely to get in to competition if you choose all available judge centers.
By February 14
Placement Process
Entrants are placed in First Round judging centers and entry limits are determined. Entrants will be notified by February 14 of placement in competition and required to pay for their entries upon notification. Placement is based on demand of judge centers, capacity of judge centers, entry requests, and amount of chosen judge centers by applicants.
By February 14
Acceptance & Payment Period
Entrants are notified of acceptance by February 14 to the competition and should log into their brewing profile on BrewingCompetition.com. Entrants have 7 days to pay for their entries from the time they receive a confirmation email. Failing to do so will result in disqualification.
February 6
All Volunteer Sign-up Opens
If you are submitting entries to the competition, sign up to judge through your profile. If you are not entering the competition, sign up to volunteer as a judge or steward in any of the First Round competitions AND the Final Round competition.
Through March 5 (7 p.m. PST)
Entry Edits
Only available after payment. Log in to the competition website to update/edit your entries. Make sure to reprint Entry Labels to attach to your entries if you edit any of them prior to shipping or dropping off. Organizers will use the information on the Entry Label received only.
February 20 to March 5
First Round Shipping Window
Competition beers due to your respected First Round site Shipping/Drop-off location. Find your shipping or drop-off location in your First Round Brewer Profile.
March 13 to April 5
First Round Judging
First Round judging for all 13 competition sites. Check the Status Table for more information.
By April 30
First Round Results Posted
All First Round results will be posted by this date. Results will be posted as competitions conclude.
By April 30
First Round Letters, Instructions and Certificates
All entrants can access their First Round Post-Competition packet in their brewing profile, which includes results, your letter, any earned certificates, and information for those advancing to the Final Round.
By April 30
First Round Scoresheets Emailed
Entry scoresheets from First Round emailed to entrants by this date.
By May 3
First Round Ribbon Mailing
All First Round ribbons mailed out to winning entrants by this date. Please allow 7-10 business days for your ribbon(s) to arrive.
By May 31
Verify Final Round Entry & Payment
Final round entrants have until May 31 to pay for their final round entries ($9/entry). Log into your Final Round brewer’s profile to verify your entries then print Entry Labels. Entrants cannot edit entries (i.e. category, special ingredients, etc.). Recipes are only required if an entry medals in the Final Round.
June 1 to June 11
Final Round Shipping Window
Competition entries due to Final Round site Shipping/Drop-off location. Entries arriving after this date are subject to disqualification. DO NOT WAIT!
June 20
Awards Ceremony
NHC Awards Ceremony at Homebrew Con. The complete Final Round winners list will be posted after the Awards Ceremony concludes.
By July 12
Final Round Scoresheets, Letters and Prizes
All Final Round entrants’ scoresheets emailed. Post-Competition Packages are delivered to your Final Round Brewer Profile. All prizes and medals mailed. Please allow 7-10 business days for your prize package to arrive.