The Portland Fruit Beer Festival continues its ongoing partnership with the Oregon Brew Crew through the PFBF Homebrew Competition proudly sponsored by Burnside Brewing. This is a non-BJCP style competition open to all homebrewers regardless of location or club affiliation.
Entries will be divided into five categories:
1. Light Colored (12 SRM and lower)
2. Dark Colored (greater than 12 SRM)
3. Sour / Wild Fermentation
4. Spice / Herb
5. Cider / Perry
RULES/PRIZES/COMPETITION ENTRY: Your entry must use real fruit be it whole, pureed, dried or juiced. No artificial extracts or flavorings are allowed. If using fresh unpeeled fruit, please ensure the skin is clean and free of contaminants, wax, and/or pesticides before use.
The Best of Show will then be determined from the winners of those categories. Your beer will be judged with simple sensory analysis sheets designed to give feedback without regard to total overall score. The best of your best is what we're looking for.
Each category winner receives a $20 gift certificate to Burnside Brewing. The Best of Show grand prize wins an additional $50 gift certificate! The winners will be announced on Saturday, June 13th at 2pm during the festival.
Official drop off locations are Burnside Brewing and FH Steinbart Co. from May 11th (Monday) to May 29th (Friday) by 5:p.m. Judging will commence on May 31st (Sunday) …and judges will be needed! If you wish to judge, please email Jeremie Landers at PFBFComp@gmail.com.
For each $7 entry, you receive will three PFBF taster tickets (taster cups are not included) awarded upon entry to PFBF (not beforehand); simply give your name to the festival entry gate regarding the homebrew competition ("I'm on the homebrew list.") for your bonus tickets.
Entry payments may be made via check or money order only (any cash received will be considered not a payment but a tip, and thank you!). Please make out check or money order to “Oregon Brew Crew” with a memo of “PFBF Entry Fee”. Payment MUST BE ATTACHED TO YOUR ENTRY; use only rubber bands to attach. You may submit as many entries as you wish so long as any one entry is entered into only one category. This promotes fairness by preventing the spamming of multiple categories by one entry. Please submit two clean and unmarked 187mL or 11 – 22 oz. bottles per entry with a bottle identification form affixed to each bottle using a rubber band. On the form, please specify all the fruit(s) used and (if applicable) all spice/herb(s) used. Recipes are not necessary. You must also specify the category you are entering or it may be miscategorized. Entries missing forms, missing payment, or using tape/stickers of any kind are automatically disqualified without refund. Thank you in advance for your understanding!
PFBF HOMEBREW DINNER: Returning this year, the PFBF Dinner features a specially crafted menu to compliment the homebrews selected for it. If you would like your beer to be considered for this dinner, and receive free entry to it (a minimum $50 value) if your beer is selected, please mark in BIG BLOCK LETTERS at the top of your entry form “PFBF DINNER ENTRY.” If your beer is selected, you must be willing to donate at a minimum 3 gallons (or 32 x 12oz. bottles) of said beer. You do not need to enter the homebrew comp in order to be considered for the PFBF Dinner, though you may enter both if desired.
VOLUNTEER POURERS/JUDGES: Burnside Brewing generously donates all competition entry fees to the Oregon Brew Crew homebrew club, the state’s oldest and largest; a non-profit dedicated to increasing knowledge and improving homebrewing techniques through ongoing educational opportunities, sensory education, craft beer appreciation, and volunteerism. You can show your support and thanks if you are a licensed OLCC server by volunteering for a shift to pour beer during the festival. Contact Ezra Greenough for more information. You can get an OLCC server permit ONLINE here. If you have any questions about the competition, or would like to judge, please email Jeremie Landers at PFBFComp@gmail.com.