After a one-year hiatus, the Door County Homebrewing Championships returned as part of the Door County Beer Festival in 2016. More than 95 beers were entered in the contest, organized by brewing enthusiast Justin Minikel.
“The focus of this competition is to provide good feedback to all entrants and reward talented brewers making great beer,” said Minikel, a resident of Oak Creek and certified BJCP Beer Judge who got his start judging at the 2013 Door County Homebrew Championship.
Judging took place May 21st in Baileys Harbor, with 24 judges and stewards donating their time to judge and provide feedback on this year’s entries.
Minikel rounded up great swag for the judges from generous breweries and brewing stores throughout Wisconsin, including: Badger State Brewing Co., Titletown Brewing Co., Door County Brewing Co. Hop to It, Northern Brewer, The Wine and Hop Shop, Five Star Chemicals, and HomebrewCompetitions.com. The Birchwood Lodge provided lodging and Peninsula Pulse provided judging space and materials for the contest.
2016 Door County Homebrewing Championships Winners
Each category winner listed by Brewer, Entry, and Style.
Best of Show
Mark Flynn, Belgian Chocolate, Specialty Fruit Beer
Amber and Brown Ales
Randy Pratt, California Common, California Common
Amber Lagers
Randy Pratt, I Don’t Like October, Marzen
Belgian and French
Tim Mannion, Belgian Blond Ale, Belgian Blond Ale
British Beers
Joshua Boldt, Doc Brown, English Brown Ale
Dark Lagers
Brad Pausha, DNA, Munich Dunkel
Pale Ales and IPAs
Hunter Navarro, Plug-in Baby, American IPA
Pale Lagers
Ben Young, To HELLES With the Cubs BOCK, Munich Helles
Sour Beers
Tim Mannion, Golden Sour, Mixed Fermentation Sour Beer
Specialty Beers
Mark Flynn, Belgian Chocolate, Specialty Fruit Beer
Stouts and Porters
Joshua Boldt, Gorilla Milk, Sweet Stout
Strong or Imperial Beers
Dan Schlosser, Barley Wine 2014, English Barleywine
