This past weekend, the DC State Fair took place during a street festival on Barracks Row. In addition to street food, frolicking, ribaldry, and of course, competitions. In addition to competitions for best honey, biggest vegetables, etc. there was also a homebrewing competition. Congratulations to Pete Jones and Cody Gabbard for taking home first place with their pilsner. The champs were kind enough to answer some questions about their award-winning brew with DCBeer via email. Here's how it went!
DCBeer: Can you describe your beer for our readers?
Boil additions:
Mike Reinitz, the organizer of the DC State Fair homebrew competition, told DCBeer via email that he recalled, "rich, Pils-malt on the nose, slightly sweet and grainy, with a pleasant noble hop aroma–some floral notes and a touch of black pepper. The beer was firmly bitter, but with enough malt backbone for a near perfect balance. Well-attenuated, the beer was malty, but certainly not sweet, and some of that noble hop character came through in the flavor as well. An impeccably brewed Pilsner, there was no question in my mind that Cody's beer should take first place."
Best of Show: Cody Gabbard (Copy Cat Pils)
BOS 2nd Place: Lisa Dettling (Funkel Weizen)
BOS 3rd Place: Chas Ballew (Belgian Dubbel)
Best Malt: Cody Gabbard (Copy Cat Pils)
Best Hop: Chris Colwell (Emo's Brew D'état)
Best Fruit & Spice: Lisa Dettling (Funkel Weizen)
Best Yeast: Chas Ballew (Belgian Dubbel)
Best Roast/Smoke/Wood: Brooke Heaton (American Bourbon Oaked Barleywine)