IBRU Bottle Cap Brew Off
Awards
Judges
Dan Acheson, John Allison, Michael Beck, Sandy Cockerham, Bryan Dixon, Derek England, David Fetty, Keith Goldstein, Pete Graham, Michael Helzer, Paul Isaacson, Dan Janiczek, Siobhan Janiczek, Joseph Krause, Kelly Krause, Matthew Mead, Kimberly Neal, Bradley Pausha, Mike Pelter, Aaron Pigors, Linda Swihart, Brett Vodicka, Jim Vondracek, Jeff Whelpley, Kevin Wojdak, Eric Wood
Judges - Best of Show
Dan Acheson, John Allison, Sandy Cockerham
Stewards
Colin Brandon, Cody Brite, Cameron Butler, BJ Davis, Laura Dixon, Jess Hase, Martin Hassink, Caroline Herrera, Robert Mann, Megan Mele, Timothy Mele, Bruce Myhre, Andre Nelson, Steve Williams
Staff
Michael Beck, Dan Janiczek, Siobhan Janiczek, Robert Mann, Megan Mele, Andre Nelson, Aaron Pigors
Organizer
Art Kim
By the Numbers
171 Entries
75 Entrants
26 Judges
14 Stewards
7 Staff
77 Placing Entries
Table 1: Pils & Light Lagers
9 entries
Judges: Derek England (Head Judge), Keith Goldstein, Matthew Mead, Kimberly Neal
1st
Rodney Kibzey
Oregon Brew Crew
Mini Pils (5A: German Leichtbier)
2nd
Ross Stuart
Arizona Society of Homebrewers
Japanese Rice Lager (2A: International Pale Lager)
3rd
Jim Richter & Michael Wulff
INSTABHility
Manada de Lobos (2A: International Pale Lager)
Table 2: Pale Lagers & Ales
12 entries
Judges: David Fetty (Head Judge), Pete Graham, Bradley Pausha, Eric Wood
1st
Scott Pointon
Brewers of South Suburbia...
Hop Cream (1C: Cream Ale)
2nd
Rodney Kibzey
Oregon Brew Crew
Can of Corn (1C: Cream Ale)
3rd
Dan Janiczek
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Strawberry Blonde (18A: Blonde Ale)
Table 3: Munich Helles
5 entries
Judges: Michael Helzer (Head Judge), Siobhan Janiczek
1st
Pete Graham
Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI)
Heaven Beside You.. Helles Within (4A: Munich Helles)
2nd
Steve Ristau
Ale Riders Homebrew Club
New Hope Hellesfest (4A: Munich Helles)
3rd
Martin Hassink
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Danke (4A: Munich Helles)
Table 4: Czech & International Dark Lagers
7 entries
Judges: Michael Beck, Mike Pelter (Head Judge)
1st
Dirk Montgomery
Red Earth Brewers
Czech Chad Out! (3D: Czech Dark Lager)
2nd
Danny Sack
Evanston Homebrew Club
Wrecking Ball (3D: Czech Dark Lager)
3rd
Matthew McDowell & Mark Wilkins
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Dad and Grandpa's Dark Lager (2C: International Dark Lager)
Table 5: Oktoberfest Beer
8 entries
Judges: Siobhan Janiczek, Linda Swihart (Head Judge)
1st
Bryan Antoniuk
Madison Homebrewers &...
Better Late Than Never (6A: Märzen)
2nd
Jim Richter & Michael Wulff
INSTABHility
Friendsgiving (6A: Märzen)
3rd
Jonathan Marut
Horsemen of the Hopocalypse
Maisy's Marzen (6A: Märzen)
Table 6: Dark German Lagers
6 entries
Judges: Sandy Cockerham (Head Judge), Paul Isaacson
1st
Danny Sack
Evanston Homebrew Club
Wbil (8A: Munich Dunkel)
2nd
Robert Parks
Oak Park Homebrewers
Dark Night (8B: Schwarzbier)
3rd
Mike Lawler
North Urban Brewing Society...
4th Kind (8B: Schwarzbier)
HM
Pete Graham
Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI)
Sleepless In the Onyx Night (8A: Munich Dunkel)
Table 7: Bocks
6 entries
Judges: Michael Beck (Head Judge), Mike Pelter
1st
Bill Goetz
Brewers of South Suburbia...
Billy Goetz Bock (6C: Dunkels Bock)
2nd
Dominick Dufner
STLBrewhogs
Hellraiser (9A: Doppelbock)
3rd
Taylor Shastid
Diablo Order of Zymiracle...
Predestinator (9A: Doppelbock)
Table 8: Rye & Wheat Beer
6 entries
Judges: Dan Janiczek, Jim Vondracek (Head Judge)
1st
Joseph Lynch
The Brü Club
Wit Thanks From Mo (24A: Witbier)
2nd
Art Kim
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Occam's Razor (27A8: Roggenbier)
3rd
Dave Maurer & Angelique Connor
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Hoosier Hefe (10A: Weissbier)
HM
Mike Pelter
Brewers of South Suburbia...
Ruthless Roggen (27A8: Roggenbier)
Table 9: Bitter British Ales
5 entries
Judges: Mike Pelter, Aaron Pigors (Head Judge), Brett Vodicka
1st
Stephen Schmitt
Evanston Homebrew Club
Loftus Road (11A: Ordinary Bitter)
2nd
Joe Hughes
STLBrewhogs
Mighty Raptor's Revenge (17A: British Strong Ale)
3rd
Steve Ristau
Ale Riders Homebrew Club
Steve's Extra Special Wet-Hopped Bitter (11C: Strong Bitter)
Table 10: Brown British Beer
7 entries
Judges: Michael Helzer (Head Judge), Brett Vodicka, Jeff Whelpley
1st
Dale Haggard
Brewers of South Suburbia...
Old Town Mild (13A: Dark Mild)
2nd
Dave Oram & Mike Morel
Brewers of South Suburbia...
Brown County (13B: British Brown Ale)
3rd
Scott Pointon
Brewers of South Suburbia...
Pointon's Proper English Mild (13A: Dark Mild)
Table 11: Irish Ale
5 entries
Judges: Michael Beck (Head Judge), Dan Janiczek
1st
Brandon Christian & Chris And Diane Catanzaro
Seven City Brewers
Blackwater Stout (15B: Irish Stout)
2nd
David Galich
Chicken City Ale Raisers
Forgive Me Father, For I Have Brewed (15A: Irish Red Ale)
3rd
Cody Brite
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Churchill's Reserve (15B: Irish Stout)
Table 12: Barleywine & Wee Heavy
6 entries
Judges: Dan Janiczek, Aaron Pigors (Head Judge)
1st
Yvette Steyn
Boneyard Union of Zymurgical...
The Big Beautiful Grainbill (17C: Wee Heavy)
2nd
Gillian Muller Greyz
Evanston Homebrew Club
Hey, It's A Barley Wine! (17D: English Barley Wine)
3rd
Matthew Johnsen
Rock Hoppers Brew Club
Weapon X (17C: Wee Heavy)
Table 13: American Pale Ale
7 entries
Judges: Sandy Cockerham (Head Judge), Eric Wood
1st
Ross Stuart
Arizona Society of Homebrewers
American Pale Ale (18B: American Pale Ale)
2nd
Jay Brantley
PC Mashers
A Stop At Willoughby (18B: American Pale Ale)
3rd
Brent Anderson
Urban Knaves of Grain
Fresh Harvest Ale (18B: American Pale Ale)
Table 14: Amber Beer
6 entries
Judges: Bryan Dixon (Head Judge), Kevin Wojdak
1st
Dominick Dufner
STLBrewhogs
Neon Maniacs (19B: California Common)
2nd
Gregory Sanial
PrimeTime Brewers
Steam Power Used To Be Common (19B: California Common)
3rd
Chuck Koch
Urban Knaves of Grain
Sunset Ale (19A: American Amber Ale)
Table 15: Porter & Stout
5 entries
Judges: Mike Pelter, Aaron Pigors (Head Judge), Brett Vodicka
1st
Jonathan Lizenby
256 Brewers
American Stout (20B: American Stout)
2nd
Rodney Kibzey
Oregon Brew Crew
Centennial Me! (20A: American Porter)
3rd
Gillian Muller Greyz
Evanston Homebrew Club
The Cursed Brew (20C: Imperial Stout)
Table 16: American IPA
8 entries
Judges: Keith Goldstein, Bradley Pausha, Jim Vondracek (Head Judge)
1st
Ross Stuart
Arizona Society of Homebrewers
American IPA (21A: American IPA)
2nd
Gregory Sanial
PrimeTime Brewers
I Like My Ipas Cold (21A: American IPA)
3rd
Michael Beck
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Salad Fingers (21A: American IPA)
Table 17: Specialty IPA
7 entries
Judges: Derek England (Head Judge), Siobhan Janiczek
1st
Taylor Shastid
Diablo Order of Zymiracle...
Back To the 90s Cascadian Dark Ale (21B2: Black IPA)
2nd
Jay Brantley
PC Mashers
The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine (22A: Double IPA)
3rd
Taylor Shastid
Diablo Order of Zymiracle...
Panama Red (21B4: Red IPA)
Table 18: Hazy IPA
6 entries
Judges: Bryan Dixon, Matthew Mead (Head Judge)
1st
Jonathan Marut
Horsemen of the Hopocalypse
Don't Change Anything NEIPA (21C: Hazy IPA)
2nd
Michael Wulff & Jim Richter
INSTABHility
Growth Mindset (21C: Hazy IPA)
3rd
Yvette Steyn
Boneyard Union of Zymurgical...
Feather Dust (21C: Hazy IPA)
Table 19: Belgian Beer
8 entries
Judges: David Fetty (Head Judge), Paul Isaacson, Joseph Krause
1st
Ryan Kuhn & Jack Churchill
Saison 2 (25B: Saison)
2nd
Kyle Murphy
Boneyard Union of Zymurgical...
Buzz Rules!! (25B: Saison)
3rd
Derek England
Club Wort
Bock de Garde (24C: Bière de Garde)
Table 20: Strong Belgian Beer
5 entries
Judges: Siobhan Janiczek (Head Judge), Brett Vodicka
1st
Mike Ring
Oak Park Homebrewers
Abbey Road To Nowhere (26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale)
2nd
Nathan James
Brewers And Drinkers Around...
Mephistopheles (25C: Belgian Golden Strong Ale)
3rd
Matthew Mead
PrimeTime Brewers
Belgian Gordon Strong Ale (25C: Belgian Golden Strong Ale)
Table 21: Smoke Beer
5 entries
Judges: Michael Beck (Head Judge), Dan Janiczek
1st
Gregory Sanial
PrimeTime Brewers
Smoke On the Water (32A: Classic Style Smoked Beer)
2nd
Bryan Antoniuk
Madison Homebrewers &...
Grow-Jee-Ski-Uh (27A5: Piwo Grodziskie)
3rd
Kevin Lewis
Puck (27A3: Lichtenhainer)
Table 22: Wild, Funky & Sour
7 entries
Judges: Michael Beck (Head Judge), Pete Graham
1st
Jay Brantley
PC Mashers
Quality of Mercy (23A: Berliner Weisse)
2nd
Matthew Mead
PrimeTime Brewers
Straight Sour (28D: Straight Sour Beer)
3rd
Michael Wulff & Maeve Wulff
INSTABHility
Maeve (LSX4: Catharina Sour)
Table 23: Fruit Beer
8 entries
Judges: Michael Helzer (Head Judge), Kelly Krause, Brett Vodicka
1st
Jonathan Rollins
Horsemen of the Hopocalypse
Pica Pica! (23F: Fruit Lambic)
2nd
Joe Hughes
STLBrewhogs
Grandma's Blueberry Pie Sour (29C: Specialty Fruit Beer)
3rd
Dan Acheson
Urban Knaves of Grain
Birra Vinifico (LSX3: Italian Grape Ale)
Table 24: Spiced, Herb & Vegetable Beer
12 entries
Judges: Kimberly Neal, Mike Pelter, Linda Swihart (Head Judge), Kevin Wojdak
1st
Brandon Christian & Carla Christian
Seven City Brewers
El Diablo de Chocolate (30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer)
2nd
Jim Richter & Michael Wulff
INSTABHility
Mad Marzen (30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer)
3rd
Joe Hughes
STLBrewhogs
Spice Odyssey (30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer)
Table 25: Wood Aged Beer
5 entries
Judges: Michael Helzer (Head Judge), Siobhan Janiczek
1st
Brian Bilow & James Bilow
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Bbq (33B: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer)
2nd
Dan Acheson
Urban Knaves of Grain
A Goat Walks Into A Bar (33A: Wood-Aged Beer)
3rd
Art Kim & Aaron Pigors & Mike...
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Cerberus (33B: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer)
Best of Show
Beer
Judges: Dan Acheson, John Allison, Sandy Cockerham
1st
Taylor Shastid
Diablo Order of Zymiracle...
Back To the 90s Cascadian Dark Ale (21B2: Black IPA)
2nd
Rodney Kibzey
Oregon Brew Crew
Mini Pils (5A: German Leichtbier)
3rd
Gregory Sanial
PrimeTime Brewers
Smoke On the Water (32A: Classic Style Smoked Beer)
HM
Jonathan Lizenby
256 Brewers
American Stout (20B: American Stout)
Bottle Cap Brewer Of The Year
75 Participating Brewers [Scoring Methodology]
| Place | Brewer | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Score | Club |
|---|
| 1st | Ross Stuart | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8.0302000 | Arizona Society of Homebrewers |
| 2nd | Gregory Sanial | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7.0301000 | PrimeTime Brewers |
| Rodney Kibzey | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7.0301000 | Oregon Brew Crew |
| Jay Brantley | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7.0301000 | PC Mashers |
Bottle Cap Club Of The Year
38 Participating Clubs [Scoring Methodology]
| Place | Club | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | HM | Score |
|---|
| 1st | Illiana Beer Rackers Union (IBRU) | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 12.0901000 |
| 2nd | Brewers of South Suburbia (BOSS) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12.0503000 |
| 3rd | Evanston Homebrew Club | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11.0502000 |
Scoring Methodology
Each placing entry is given the following points:
- 1st Place: 3
- 2nd Place: 2
- 3rd Place: 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.
Thank You
Congratulations to All Medal Winners