Participating in beer competitions, whether as a professional or homebrewer, offers numerous reasons that encompass recognition, visibility, and valuable feedback from the community. Achieving that coveted medal is surely one of the objectives. Many are the incentives for brewers to take part in these events.

Creativity plays a pivotal role in beer competitions, with some of them dedicated to special categories or experimental editions designed to celebrate distinct beverage styles. These kinds of competitions encourage brewers to push the boundaries of traditional styles. An example of this is the Best of Craft Beer Awards, which features the special edition "Early and Late Harvest Fresh Hop Categories." In this context, 'fresh hops' refer to recently harvested, non-dried hops, used at various stages of beer production alongside dried hops. The goal is to attain the optimal representation of the characteristics of fresh hops, in harmony with the base beer.

Ryan Sharp, the organizer of this event, describes it as follows:
"We're fortunate to hold our main competition in the Pacific Northwest, where most US hops are grown and new varieties are developed. Our main competition is held in the Spring, but hop harvest in the Fall is on every local beer geek's radar as a special time to enjoy a unique offering: beers made with unprocessed, fresh hops. Before drying for preservation, hops are like other fresh produce, prone to spoilage in a relatively short period. Also like other fresh produce, "fresh is best" in terms of getting the full spectrum of aromas and flavors. So it made sense to hold a separate event for this special ingredient when Nature dictates."
In addition to being an enriching experience for participants, who can broaden their creativity in production, competitions like this also provide significant benefits for the judges. They are challenged to discern the numerous nuances that these creations and ingredients can offer, as Sharp emphasizes:
"The sensory experience of fresh hop beers is ephemeral and subtle, like the difference between orange juice fresh squeezed vs. from concentrate. Used improperly, fresh hops can contribute vegetal and/or overly chlorophyllic notes. We need Judges who know what to look for in Fresh Hop beers because they've sampled many; fortunately, these Judges are readily found across our region. While the categories are familiar to other competitions (IPA, Hazy Pale Ale, etc.), both Entrants and Judges know the additional layer of "fresh hop character" must be present too. This competition is about recognizing that character and rewarding beers which best demonstrate it in harmony with the base beer."

Do you want to be a part of this competition? The BOCBA - Early Harvest Fresh Hop Categories has its registrations open until September 16th. For more information, click here.

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Participating in beer competitions, whether as a professional or homebrewer, offers numerous reasons that encompass recognition, visibility, and valuable feedback from the community. Achieving that coveted medal is surely one of the objectives. Many are the incentives for brewers to take part in these events.

Creativity plays a pivotal role in beer competitions, with some of them dedicated to special categories or experimental editions designed to celebrate distinct beverage styles. These kinds of competitions encourage brewers to push the boundaries of traditional styles. An example of this is the Best of Craft Beer Awards, which features the special edition "Early and Late Harvest Fresh Hop Categories." In this context, 'fresh hops' refer to recently harvested, non-dried hops, used at various stages of beer production alongside dried hops. The goal is to attain the optimal representation of the characteristics of fresh hops, in harmony with the base beer.

Ryan Sharp, the organizer of this event, describes it as follows:
"We're fortunate to hold our main competition in the Pacific Northwest, where most US hops are grown and new varieties are developed. Our main competition is held in the Spring, but hop harvest in the Fall is on every local beer geek's radar as a special time to enjoy a unique offering: beers made with unprocessed, fresh hops. Before drying for preservation, hops are like other fresh produce, prone to spoilage in a relatively short period. Also like other fresh produce, "fresh is best" in terms of getting the full spectrum of aromas and flavors. So it made sense to hold a separate event for this special ingredient when Nature dictates."
In addition to being an enriching experience for participants, who can broaden their creativity in production, competitions like this also provide significant benefits for the judges. They are challenged to discern the numerous nuances that these creations and ingredients can offer, as Sharp emphasizes:
"The sensory experience of fresh hop beers is ephemeral and subtle, like the difference between orange juice fresh squeezed vs. from concentrate. Used improperly, fresh hops can contribute vegetal and/or overly chlorophyllic notes. We need Judges who know what to look for in Fresh Hop beers because they've sampled many; fortunately, these Judges are readily found across our region. While the categories are familiar to other competitions (IPA, Hazy Pale Ale, etc.), both Entrants and Judges know the additional layer of "fresh hop character" must be present too. This competition is about recognizing that character and rewarding beers which best demonstrate it in harmony with the base beer."

Do you want to be a part of this competition? The BOCBA - Early Harvest Fresh Hop Categories has its registrations open until September 16th. For more information, click here.

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