Announcing the WHO’s first-ever, multi-round challenge!

The idea for this challenge came from an article I read in an old print issue of Brew Your Own magazine called “7 Great Group Projects.” The original competition, credited to the Barely Legal Homebrewers club in southern New Jersey, was an elimination type competition with participants slated into brackets and competing against one another over the course of the year until there was a last brewer standing.

While I loved the concept, in discussing with other members of the WHO board, we wondered if there was a way to adapt the idea so that participants wouldn’t be discouraged by being eliminated early in the game. The solution was devising a point-earning system and for us to consider this more of a challenge than a competition.

As a new club president, my hope is to see more members inspired to brew more frequently and become better brewers by sometimes stepping outside of their comfort zone and attempting something different. My personal brew-goal for 2023 is to brew three styles I haven’t attempted before. I thought a little healthy competition, I mean challenge, among friends would give me the added incentive to achieve that goal and hopefully inspire others to do the same. And so…

Our version of Last Brewer Standing will consist of four open rounds and one final round. The open rounds are spaced out to allow participants time to plan their brew, acquire ingredients, brew, ferment, and carbonate. On the night of each open round, participating beers will be judged by meeting attendees and points will be earned by participating brewers based on certain criteria. A running tally will be kept and at the conclusion of Round 4 in October, the top four brewers (or brew teams) will advance into the final round. The final round of judging will take place at the WHO Holiday Party in December where one brewer (or brewing team) will become the Last Brewer Standing for 2023.

Other than bragging rights, what is the prize, you ask? The winner will receive credit toward their 2024 WHO membership dues.

Participants are expected to bring enough of their entry beer to allow a sample for every meeting attendee. Expect this to be the same as for any showcase, approximately one 64 oz. growler or the equivalent of five 12 oz. bottles.

Participants will earn points on the following basis: 

• • 5 points for entering a beer in a round
  • Flavor/Aroma (3, 2, 1 scale — 3 = damn good; 2 = okay; 1 = not so good)
  • Appearance (3, 2, 1 scale)
  • Body (3, 2, 1 scale)
  • Rank (attendees will rank their “top three” beers from that round based upon drinkability, flavor, and overall quality)
    • (#1 – 3 points; #2 – 2 points; #3 – 1 point)

Judging will take place as follows:

• • Attendees will judge the participating beers and tally scores
  • Participants will not score their own beers
  • Score sheets will be collected and final results tallied for each round
  • A running scorecard will be posted on the WHO site
  • Volunteer stewards appreciated (from among non-participating attendees)

Schedule:

• • Round 1 – March 27 meeting (British or Irish style brew)
  • Round 2 – May 22 meeting (North American ale styles)
  • Round 3 – July 24 meeting (fruit beer, open style, must contain fruit)
  • Round 4 – October 23 meeting (German style brew)
  • Final Round – December, Holiday Party (holiday spiced beer, open style)

Additional rules:

Participation is open to dues paying members of Westchester Homebrewers Organization.

You may particpate as an individual or as a brewing team…but not both.

Only one entry by a partipating individual or brewing team per round.

Participants will abide by an honor system and not enter a beer that does not meet the criteria for that specific round. For example, your NEIPA that has wonderful tropical fruit aromas, but did not incorporate any actual fruit or fruit-based product, would be better suited to our IPA Smackdown or to showcase at any meeting than it would to Round 3 of Last Brewer Standing. It simply wouldn’t qualify to compete in that category.*

*Somebody could make a motion at a future meeting that a rule similar to this might be applied to other club run competitions. Ahem.