2013 Door County Beer Festival Homebrew Competition
by Jim Vondracek on 06/29/13
Two of our beers won medals at the 2013 Door County Beer Festival's Homebrew Competition.
Cherub Nectar, a Belgian Golden Strong Ale, won the gold medal in its category and then went on to win the bronze medal (third place) in the overall Best of Show. Cherub Nectar is a very dry, easy-to-drink beer combined with a high abv. This is achieved by using low mash temps, using sugar (which paradoxically dries out a beer), making two yeast starters, and ramping the fermentation temps up over the course of the fermentation.
Midnattssol IPA won the silver medal in its category. Featuring Summit, Amarillo and Mosaic hops, it has the typical fruity aroma of an American IPA, especially mango.
The gold medal in the IPA category went to my friend and fellow homebrew club member Mark Westmeyer. Mark served for the past two years as president of the Brewers of South Suburbia (BOSS) and his IPA was outstanding. I think its fun that the two IPAs entered by BOSS members took gold and silver!
Nancy and I took a five-day holiday in Door County and on Saturday, I judged at the competition. I judged three flights - pale ales, wheat/rye beers, and spice/herb/vegetable beers. I was scheduled to judge in the Best of Show round, but because one of my beers was in that round, I didn't, of course. All judging at competitions like this is anonymous - the judges don't know who brewed which beer - and judges don't judge in the categories in which they have beers entered.
The competition was in Bailey's Harbor, on the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula, as part of a large (and very fun) craft beer festival. The competition's director, the one who organized it, was Taylor Schultz, a 22 year-old who just graduate from college! He did an exceptional job, it was very well-run.
Nancy and I stayed on the other side of the peninsula, on Green Bay, in a small and picturesque village called Ephraim. We were there for the Norwegian celebration of the midsummer, called Fyr Bal, which included lighting of giant bonfires along the bay side, quite lovely.
We highly recommend the quiet bed and breakfast we stayed in, the French Country Inn. Walt and Joan, the hosts, joined us along with other guests, for our daily happy hour, which we supplied with our handmade beer, cider and wine! Its a pretty inn that is tidy but not fussy and just about perfect for us.
We spent a lot of time biking,hiking, eating and on the water. Above is Nancy at the helm on Green Bay. Lots to recommend, but some highlights are Peninsula State Park, the lighthouse and hiking at Rock Island State Park, Wickman House, and Schoolhouse Artisanal Cheese.
