Date: November 8th, 2008

Location: Great Dane, Fitchburg, 2980 Cahill Main, Fitchburg, Wisconsin 53711.

The Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild are pleased to announce the 2008 Franco-Belgian Challenge Cup.

This contest is an attempt to encourage the homebrewing of French- and Belgian-style beers. As such, only French- and Belgian-style beers (BJCP categories 16-18) will be judged. The competition is sanctioned by AHA and BJCP. AHA/BJCP Style Guidelines will be used. Awards will be issued to first, second and third place beers for each of the three categories. MHTG reserves the right to consolidate categories based on the number of entries. The competition will be held Saturday, November 8th 2008, The Great Dane, Fitchburg, WI. Rules and entry information is provided below. Feel free to contact the contest organizers, Mark Schnepper or Mark Alfred if you would like paper copies of the registration materials. Registration forms are online.

Eligibility and Categories

1. Anyone may enter a beer from BJCP categories 16, 17 or 18.
2. Entries must be referred to by Category Number and Subcategory LETTER. See Style Guidelines for category designations and descriptions.
3. Commercially brewed beers are ineligible.
4. Multiple Entries in the same *category must be separate batches (i.e. same wort different yeast is not allowable). * Only 1 entry per subcategory is allowed.

How To Enter, What To Enter

1. Entry Fees $5.00 for each entry. All checks should be made payable to MHTG. Attach entry fee to registration form(s) and place inside package. Any entries not accompanied by a fee will not be judged.
2. Entry requirements: provide TWO 10- to 12-ounce BOTTLES or ONE 750ml BOTTLE for each entry. Bottles must be green or brown glass and clean and free of any labels (inked, paper, or otherwise). Bottles with formed-in-glass brand names or labels (such as Sam Adams) are prohibited. Entrants are encouraged to use brown, longneck bottles for extra protection from light and breakage. NOTE: Grolsch-type swing tops are not acceptable. Soft drink or other printed crown caps are acceptable if they are blacked-out with a black marking pen to assure anonymity in judging. Use a rubber band to attach to each bottle a bottle ID form with your name, beer designation (if multiple entries in a category), category and subcategory. The use of tape or glue to attach forms is not acceptable. NOTE: Those entering large, 750ml, bottles may wish to send TWO bottles if they believe they will be eligible for the best-of-show round and wish to have a fresh, unopened, bottle available for BOS judging.
3. Beers from a single batch may not be entered in multiple Categories. Multiple entries in a Category are acceptable but MUST be in separate subcategories.
4. Recipes need not be submitted with entry.

Where To Enter, When To Enter

1. Entries are being accepted from October 1st through October 29th . Entries must be accompanied by fees and registration information MUST be received by Wednesday October 29th, 2008 before the close of the business day following at the following location: The Wine & Hop Shop, 1931 Monroe, St. Madison, WI 53711
2. Out-of-town entries: Shipment by air freight is recommended. PACK YOUR ENTRIES WELL. Partition and pack each bottle with adequate packaging material. Boxes should weigh less than 40 pounds. Entries that are shipped must be received by Wednesday October 24th, 2008. NO EXCEPTIONS. Entries may be shipped to: The Wine & Hop Shop, 1931 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711.

Judging / Stewarding

Those interested in judging or stewarding please contact Mark Schnepper or Mark Alfred. Judging will be performed in open session on Saturday, November 8th. . Judging and the awards presentation will be held at the Great Dane, in Fitchburg, WI, immediately after the judging is completed. Decisions of the judges are final. Organizers reserve the right to combine categories if a sufficient number of entries is not received. Organizers also reserve the right to break up categories if too many entries are received in a particular subcategory.

Awards

Awards will be given for first, second and third-place winners in each Category judged. Winners will be announced immediately following judging. Winners and scores will be posted on our web site within a week of the competition. All winners will be notified. Score sheets and judges comments will be returned to all entrants. There will be first, second, and third place medals awarded in all categories.

For further information, please contact the contest organizers, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Now, break out those French and Belgians and enjoy the competition!

Cheers!

Mark & Mark