BOTY Competition Rules
Each year members of the Hogtown Brewers are encouraged to compete for the honor of Hogtown Brewer of the Year (BOTY). The winner is awarded a $100 gift certificate and possession of the BOTY Keg for the year. Additionally the BOTY will have their name permanently affixed to the BOTY Keg for all to revere. The Second place finisher receives a $75 gift certificate; third place receives a $50 gift certificate. A $30 gift certificate will be awarded to the brewer who has won the most medals (not necessarily one of the 1st, 2nd or 3rd place BOTY brewer). A $30 gift certificate will also be awarded to the brewer who won medals with the most variety of different styles (includes substyles). Gift certificates are redeemable at Hoggetowne Ale Works.
To encourage member participation in the BOTY program, additional prizes of lesser value may be awarded to BOTY participants finishing outside the top three. The number and value of these prizes are at sole discretion of the Executive Committee and will be determined at the end of the competition year.
Event Participation Requirement
Starting 2006 a new requirement has been added for BOTY participants. Each BOTY competitor must participate in a minimum of one homebrew competition as judge, steward, event organizer or general participant. Participation in our own Hogtown Brew Off or any of several In-club Open competitions provides brewers with many opportunities to meet this requirement. This requirement may also be met by participation in any American Homebrewers Association (AHA) sponsored homebrew competition if so desired.
Hogtown Brewers Intraclub Open Competitions
Starting in 2018, a set of rules to limit spamming and padding of points for BOTY, yet give the brewer an opportunity to earn BOTY points in a fair fashion for intraclub placement.
- 3 entry cap per brewer per intraclub comp (still a limit of 2 entries per subcat). (to limit any spamming)
- If intraclub receives less than 12 total entries: award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for BOS; But only 1st BOS gets BOTY points (3 points)
- If intraclub receives 12-19 entries: award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for BOS; all BOS winners receive BOTY points: beautiful gold (3 points), so-so silver (2 points), and proud shameful bronze (1 point)
- 20+ entries (which allows for at least 4 5-beer flights): award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd per grouping (if three worthy beers), and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for BOS; however only BOS winners receive BOTY points: beautiful gold (3 points), so-so silver (2 points), and proud shameful bronze (1 point)
- an overall intraclub winner will be awarded separate from the BOTY award. This award will be a $10 gift certificate. Beginning in 2021, the winner will be determined by total number of intraclub points, not just intraclub Best of Show points.
AHA/BJCP Sanctioned Competitions
In order to qualify for the Brewer of the Year award, brewers must enter at least one of the many AHA/BJCP sanctioned competitions held throughout the year. In all likelihood points will need to be earned at many of these events to win the coveted BOTY honor. Club members are responsible for reporting participation and winnings to the Competition Czar and for guaranteeing their cumulative point earnings are accurate.
Brewers are encouraged to visit the Competition Calendar page often to learn about regional competitions and to allow sufficient time for brewing, bottling and conditioning your wares.Brewers are also encouraged to visit the AHA and BJCP calendars of sanctioned competitions, which list upcoming competitions throughout the United States and Canada.
AHA National Homebrew Competition (NHC)
The NHC is the world's largest international competition that recognizes the most outstanding homebrewed beer, mead and cider being produced by amateur brewers in the Untied States and Canada.
The first round of the competition is judged at multiple regional sites. The best of beer and mead entries by homebrewers advance to the second round of the competition where they're judged at the AHA National Homebrewers Conference. Winners of the competition are awarded gold, silver or bronze medals in various style categories.
BOTY points may be earned by medaling in the first and second rounds of this competition. Second round winners will receive an additional bonus point for recognition of their superior achievement at Nationals.
Masters Championship of Amateur Brewing (MCAB)
The Masters Championship of Amateur Brewing exists to advance the art and science of amateur brewing, by:
1. Identifying and recognizing excellence and achievement among amateur brewers.
2. Promoting and encouraging high-quality, locally-run amateur brewing competitions and events in all regions of North America.
3. Providing opportunities for all amateur brewers to advance their skills, be it through competition, judging, or education.
4. Encouraging communication and cooperation between local amateur brewing clubs.
5. Fostering understanding and advancement of the beer evaluation process, and
6. Promoting public awareness and recognition of the craft of amateur brewing.
Brewers that qualify to compete for MCAB honors will earn BOTY points plus a bonus point should they medal. The bonus point is awarded in recognition of their superior achievement at this prestigious homebrew event. MCAB is by invitation only and brewers must have won first place in a MCAB Qualifying Style Category at a MCAB Qualifying Event. For more information including a list of qualifying events and rules visit the MCAB website.
In Case of Tie
In the unlikely event of a tie for any of the first three BOTY places, the respective brewers will simply share the placement and will each receive the gift certificate award value of the tied position.
Competition Czar
In-club deadlines and submission requirements are the responsibility of the Competition Czar. These requirements shall be posted (email and web) well in advance of the competition to provide ample opportunity for club members to participate. It is also the responsibility of the Competition Czar to compile and post the competition results and to keep running records of BOTY points. It is each club member's responsibility to guarantee the accuracy of this published competition record and to notify the Competition Czar of participation and winnings from outside competitions.
Brewer of the Year point award levels:
AHA/BJCP Sanctioned Competitions
3 points for First place
2 points for Second place
1 point for Third place
1 point for Honorable Mention
Best of Show Beer Awards
3 points for First place Best In Show
2 points for Second place Best of Show
1 points for Third place Best of Show
Best of Show Mead Awards
1 point for First place Best In Show
(no points for 2nd or 3rd)
AHA National Homebrew Competition
First Round
3 points for First place
2 points for Second place
1 points for Third place
Second Round
4 points for First place
3 points for Second place
2 points for Third place
Masters Championship of Amateur Brewing (MCAB)
4 points for First place
3 points for Second place
2 points for Third place
Specialized Categories in a BJCP Sanctioned Competition (Cat 99)
e.g. Coconut (MASH), Rocket Fuel (SAAZ), Big Wood (CASK), etc.
3 points for First place
2 points for Second place
1 points for Third place
Keg Competition/Bracket Competition in a BJCP/AHA Sanctioned Competition
This category is awarded like Mead BOS due to its "people's choice" type format
1 point for First place Keg
(no points for 2nd or 3rd)
To encourage member participation in the BOTY program, additional prizes of lesser value may be awarded to BOTY participants finishing outside the top three. The number and value of these prizes are at sole discretion of the Executive Committee and will be determined at the end of the competition year.
Event Participation Requirement
Starting 2006 a new requirement has been added for BOTY participants. Each BOTY competitor must participate in a minimum of one homebrew competition as judge, steward, event organizer or general participant. Participation in our own Hogtown Brew Off or any of several In-club Open competitions provides brewers with many opportunities to meet this requirement. This requirement may also be met by participation in any American Homebrewers Association (AHA) sponsored homebrew competition if so desired.
Hogtown Brewers Intraclub Open Competitions
Starting in 2018, a set of rules to limit spamming and padding of points for BOTY, yet give the brewer an opportunity to earn BOTY points in a fair fashion for intraclub placement.
- 3 entry cap per brewer per intraclub comp (still a limit of 2 entries per subcat). (to limit any spamming)
- If intraclub receives less than 12 total entries: award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for BOS; But only 1st BOS gets BOTY points (3 points)
- If intraclub receives 12-19 entries: award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for BOS; all BOS winners receive BOTY points: beautiful gold (3 points), so-so silver (2 points), and proud shameful bronze (1 point)
- 20+ entries (which allows for at least 4 5-beer flights): award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd per grouping (if three worthy beers), and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for BOS; however only BOS winners receive BOTY points: beautiful gold (3 points), so-so silver (2 points), and proud shameful bronze (1 point)
- an overall intraclub winner will be awarded separate from the BOTY award. This award will be a $10 gift certificate. Beginning in 2021, the winner will be determined by total number of intraclub points, not just intraclub Best of Show points.
AHA/BJCP Sanctioned Competitions
In order to qualify for the Brewer of the Year award, brewers must enter at least one of the many AHA/BJCP sanctioned competitions held throughout the year. In all likelihood points will need to be earned at many of these events to win the coveted BOTY honor. Club members are responsible for reporting participation and winnings to the Competition Czar and for guaranteeing their cumulative point earnings are accurate.
Brewers are encouraged to visit the Competition Calendar page often to learn about regional competitions and to allow sufficient time for brewing, bottling and conditioning your wares.Brewers are also encouraged to visit the AHA and BJCP calendars of sanctioned competitions, which list upcoming competitions throughout the United States and Canada.
AHA National Homebrew Competition (NHC)
The NHC is the world's largest international competition that recognizes the most outstanding homebrewed beer, mead and cider being produced by amateur brewers in the Untied States and Canada.
The first round of the competition is judged at multiple regional sites. The best of beer and mead entries by homebrewers advance to the second round of the competition where they're judged at the AHA National Homebrewers Conference. Winners of the competition are awarded gold, silver or bronze medals in various style categories.
BOTY points may be earned by medaling in the first and second rounds of this competition. Second round winners will receive an additional bonus point for recognition of their superior achievement at Nationals.
Masters Championship of Amateur Brewing (MCAB)
The Masters Championship of Amateur Brewing exists to advance the art and science of amateur brewing, by:
1. Identifying and recognizing excellence and achievement among amateur brewers.
2. Promoting and encouraging high-quality, locally-run amateur brewing competitions and events in all regions of North America.
3. Providing opportunities for all amateur brewers to advance their skills, be it through competition, judging, or education.
4. Encouraging communication and cooperation between local amateur brewing clubs.
5. Fostering understanding and advancement of the beer evaluation process, and
6. Promoting public awareness and recognition of the craft of amateur brewing.
Brewers that qualify to compete for MCAB honors will earn BOTY points plus a bonus point should they medal. The bonus point is awarded in recognition of their superior achievement at this prestigious homebrew event. MCAB is by invitation only and brewers must have won first place in a MCAB Qualifying Style Category at a MCAB Qualifying Event. For more information including a list of qualifying events and rules visit the MCAB website.
In Case of Tie
In the unlikely event of a tie for any of the first three BOTY places, the respective brewers will simply share the placement and will each receive the gift certificate award value of the tied position.
Competition Czar
In-club deadlines and submission requirements are the responsibility of the Competition Czar. These requirements shall be posted (email and web) well in advance of the competition to provide ample opportunity for club members to participate. It is also the responsibility of the Competition Czar to compile and post the competition results and to keep running records of BOTY points. It is each club member's responsibility to guarantee the accuracy of this published competition record and to notify the Competition Czar of participation and winnings from outside competitions.
Brewer of the Year point award levels:
AHA/BJCP Sanctioned Competitions
3 points for First place
2 points for Second place
1 point for Third place
1 point for Honorable Mention
Best of Show Beer Awards
3 points for First place Best In Show
2 points for Second place Best of Show
1 points for Third place Best of Show
Best of Show Mead Awards
1 point for First place Best In Show
(no points for 2nd or 3rd)
AHA National Homebrew Competition
First Round
3 points for First place
2 points for Second place
1 points for Third place
Second Round
4 points for First place
3 points for Second place
2 points for Third place
Masters Championship of Amateur Brewing (MCAB)
4 points for First place
3 points for Second place
2 points for Third place
Specialized Categories in a BJCP Sanctioned Competition (Cat 99)
e.g. Coconut (MASH), Rocket Fuel (SAAZ), Big Wood (CASK), etc.
3 points for First place
2 points for Second place
1 points for Third place
Keg Competition/Bracket Competition in a BJCP/AHA Sanctioned Competition
This category is awarded like Mead BOS due to its "people's choice" type format
1 point for First place Keg
(no points for 2nd or 3rd)