2025 Between the Bluffs Homebrew Competition
Awards
Judges
Bryan Antoniuk, Colin Crowley, Scott Estlund, Brad Frahm, Chris Gerold, Anthony Hazlett, Jeremy Lawson, John Montet, Bob Paolino, Colin Poe, Todd Rieck, Haven Schultz, Rod Swerman, Tim Virnig, Lee Weis, Greg Wilhelmi
Judges - Best of Show
Colin Crowley, Scott Estlund, Anthony Hazlett, Bob Paolino, Haven Schultz, Tim Virnig, Greg Wilhelmi
Stewards
Kraig Brownell, Tim Miehe, Michelle Montet, Hertz Skaer, Bruce Vande Zande
Staff
Organizer
Todd Shea
By the Numbers
162 Entries
48 Entrants
16 Judges
5 Stewards
31 Placing Entries
Table 1: Pale Lagers & Pilsners
24 entries
Judges: Colin Crowley, Todd Rieck, Rod Swerman, Tim Virnig
1st
Ross Stuart
The Brü Club
Czech Premium (3B: Czech Premium Pale Lager)
2nd
Ross Stuart
The Brü Club
American Lite (1A: American Light Lager)
3rd
Matthew Mead
PrimeTime Brewers
Helles (4A: Munich Helles)
Table 2: Amber & Dark Lagers
20 entries
Judges: Brad Frahm, Chris Gerold, Anthony Hazlett, Bob Paolino
1st
Jeff Curtis
The Brü Club
A Day At The Beech (6B: Rauchbier)
2nd
Robert Abbott
The Brü Club
IDL (2C: International Dark Lager)
3rd
Trevor Mack
The Brü Club
St. Stephen's Lager (7A: Vienna Lager)
HM
Robert Abbott
The Brü Club
IAL (2B: International Amber Lager)
Table 3: Bocks & Browns
13 entries
Judges: Todd Rieck, Greg Wilhelmi
1st
Stephen Schmitt
The Brü Club
Leverkusen (10C: Weizenbock)
2nd
Eric Hagen
The Brü Club
Frosted Felony (9B: Eisbock)
3rd
Cheyne Harvey
The Brü Club
Dark Desires (6C: Dunkels Bock)
Table 4: Pales, Wheat, & Other Lights
29 entries
Judges: Scott Estlund, John Montet, Colin Poe, Haven Schultz, Lee Weis, Greg Wilhelmi
1st
Matthew Mead
PrimeTime Brewers
German Banana Hammock (10A: Weissbier)
2nd
Matthew Mead
PrimeTime Brewers
Belgian Blonde Ale (25A: Belgian Blond Ale)
3rd
Guy Grady
Central Arkansas Fermenters
When The Kolsch Is Clear... (5B: Kölsch
)
HM
Timothy Wicklund
Keepers of Craft
Saison (25B: Saison)
Table 5: IPAs
21 entries
Judges: Bob Paolino
1st
Todd Rieck
La Crosse Area Grain Enthusiasts...
Sweep The Leg (21A: American IPA)
2nd
Stephen Schmitt
The Brü Club
Boston Rob (21C: Hazy IPA)
3rd
Todd Rieck
La Crosse Area Grain Enthusiasts...
Reindeer Games (21B3: Brown IPA)
HM
Preston Booth
The Brü Club
Mountain Haze (21C: Hazy IPA)
Table 6: Amber Ales
18 entries
Judges: Chris Gerold, Haven Schultz, Tim Virnig
1st
Stephen Schmitt
The Brü Club
William Wallace (14C: Scottish Export)
2nd
Todd Rieck
La Crosse Area Grain Enthusiasts...
Rue The Day (19A: American Amber Ale)
3rd
Tim Miehe
La Crosse Area Grain Enthusiasts...
BASSMAN (11C: Strong Bitter)
Table 7: Porters & Stouts
12 entries
Judges: Colin Crowley, Colin Poe, Rod Swerman
1st
Jeffrey Ryan
Robust Porter (13C: English Porter)
2nd
Trevor Mack
The Brü Club
Galaxy Far Away (20B: American Stout)
3rd
Patrick Carey
Upstate NY Homebrewers Assn
Coffee Kiss (16A: Sweet Stout)
Table 8: Strong Ales
8 entries
Judges: Colin Crowley, Rod Swerman
1st
Phillip Abbott
Johnson County Brewing Society
Isolationist (17B: Old Ale)
2nd
Frank Osborne
The Brü Club
Finnian And The Quad AVGBRU (26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale)
3rd
William Allwardt
The Brü Club
AvgBru Quad (26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale)
HM
Todd Rieck
La Crosse Area Grain Enthusiasts...
Mistaken Identity (17C: Wee Heavy)
Table 9: Specialty Beers
20 entries
Judges: Brad Frahm, Anthony Hazlett, John Montet, Greg Wilhelmi
1st
Jay Wilkes
DC Homebrewers
Number Of The Beast (32A: Classic Style Smoked Beer)
2nd
John Luhmann
Iowa Brewers Union
Lemon Meringue Pie Sour (29C: Specialty Fruit Beer)
3rd
Scott Estlund
The Brü Club
To The Moon Avgbru (LSX5: New Zealand Pilsner)
Best of Show
Beer
Judges: Colin Crowley, Scott Estlund, Anthony Hazlett, Bob Paolino, Haven Schultz, Tim Virnig, Greg Wilhelmi
1st
Ross Stuart
The Brü Club
Czech Premium (3B: Czech Premium Pale Lager)
2nd
Jay Wilkes
DC Homebrewers
Number Of The Beast (32A: Classic Style Smoked Beer)
3rd
Phillip Abbott
Johnson County Brewing Society
Isolationist (17B: Old Ale)
Heavy Medal Brewer
48 Participating Brewers [Scoring Methodology]
| Place | Brewer | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | HM | Score | Club |
|---|
| 1st | Stephen Schmitt | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 65.0302000 | The Brü Club |
| 2nd | Ross Stuart | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 65.0302000 | The Brü Club |
| 3rd | Todd Rieck | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 46.0301000 | La Crosse Area Grain... |
| 4th | Matthew Mead | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 45.0301000 | PrimeTime Brewers |
| 5th | Jay Wilkes | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40.0201000 | DC Homebrewers |
| 6th | Phillip Abbott | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30.0201000 | Johnson County Brewing... |
| 7th | Jeffrey Ryan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.0101000 | |
| 8th | Jeff Curtis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.0101000 | The Brü Club |
| 9th | Trevor Mack | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20.0200000 | The Brü Club |
| 10th | Robert Abbott | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16.0100000 | The Brü Club |
Overall Club Winner
15 Participating Clubs [Scoring Methodology]
| Place | Club | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | HM | Score |
|---|
| 1st | The Brü Club | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 237.1505000 |
| 2nd | La Crosse Area Grain Enthusiasts and Related Specialties | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 51.0401000 |
| 3rd | PrimeTime Brewers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 45.0301000 |
| 4th | DC Homebrewers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40.0201000 |
| 5th | Johnson County Brewing Society | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30.0201000 |
| 6th | Iowa Brewers Union | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15.0100000 |
| 7th | Central Arkansas Fermenters | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5.0100000 |
| 8th | Upstate NY Homebrewers Assn | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5.0100000 |
| 9th | Keepers of Craft | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0000000 |
Scoring Methodology
Each placing entry is given the following points:
- 1st Place: 25
- 2nd Place: 15
- 3rd Place: 5
- HM: 1
The following tie-breakers have been applied, in order of priority:
- The highest total number of first, second, and third places.
- The highest number of first places.
- The highest average score.
- The highest maximum score.
Thank You
Congratulations to All Medal Winners
