Contest
2024 Best Bridge Brews Winners
We are hosting a Home Brew contest that will be held on Friday, September 20. Any home brewers (whether they are affiliated with a club or not) are invited to submit their brews for feedback from a panel of pro brewers and experienced judges.
Entering This Competition
The entry fees are $6 per entry.
Online registration will take place between the following dates:
Open: Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Close: Thursday, September 12, 2024
All registration and fees will be taken through the Oswegoland Park District.
If you plan on submitting multiple entries, please complete them on the same transaction. If you complete a transaction and decide later that you would like to add an additional entry, you will need to contact a Customer Service Representative at 630.554.1010 to help you (due to the nature of our registration software).
Open to any home brewers (age 21 or older) who brew on home equipment.
A limited number of entries will be allowed in the competition.
Entrants may update/edit their entries by emailing the Competition Coordinator until the end of day on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
Entry Location Information
Entries will be accepted at our drop-off and shipping locations between the following dates:
Open: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Close: Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Fox Bend Golf Course Pro Shop
3516 US-34
Oswego, IL 60543
Bottle Acceptance Rules
Each entry will consist of two (2) capped bottles or corked bottles (12 oz through 22 oz bottles accepted). All bottles should not include any identifying information, including labels and embossing. Printed caps are allowed, if they are blacked out completely.
Bottles will not be returned to contest entrants.
Best Bridge Brews Entry Forms must be submitted with all entries, and can be printed here. Entry Forms should be attached to bottles with a rubber band only. Glue and/or tape are not allowed. We recommend placing entry forms in a plastic sandwich bag before rubber banding to the bottles.
The competition organizers are not responsible for mis-categorized entries, entries that are not received by the entry deadline, or entries that arrived damaged.
Categories & Judging
This is not a BJCP sanctioned contest. We will be accepting entries in 6 different categories:
- Belgians
- Hoppy Beers
- Light Ales & Lagers
- Ambers & Browns
- Dark Beers
- Fruit Beers
Beers will be scored on qualities like color, clarity, carbonation, and how well they represent their style.
All entries will be judged by a panel of pro-brewers and experienced judges in a closed session on Friday, September 20.
Awards
Best Oswego Home Brew- The Best Oswego Home Brew judging will be determined by a Best of Show panel based on a second judging of the top winners.
1st, 2nd, 3rd place prizes will be awarded in each category.
Scoring Limits- Only one entry per brewer per category is eligible for a prize.
Winners will be announced on Saturday, September 21 at Brew at the Bridge.
Competition Coordinator
Please contact Jaclyn Eidukas at jeidukas@oswegolandpd.org with any questions.
2024 Winners
2024 Best Bridge Brews Winners For Web Post Event
Best Bridge Brew (Best of Show)
Frank Juplo Corn Rules Everything Around Me (Enhanced Remix) Cream Ale Plainfield, IL
Plainfield Ale & Lager Enthusiasts (PALE)
Belgians (4 entries)
1st Michael Jacobs Confident but Incorrect Saison Plainfield, IL
Plainfield Ale & Lager Enthusiasts (PALE)
2nd Jim Richter Schnoodle Belgian Farmhouse/Saison Oswego, IL
iNSTABHility
3rd Steve Thanos Tastes Like TV Static Trappist Single Darien, IL
Plainfield Ale & Lager Enthusiasts (PALE)
Hoppy (6 entries)
1st Brett Tibbets Inclination Spruce Tip Black IPA Colorado Springs, CO
iNSTABHility
2nd Adam Musser Hop Gazer Neipa Yorkville, IL
Aurora Brew Crew
3rd Bryan Whitaker Happiness in Your Household American Pale Ale Oswego, IL
iNSTABHility
Light Ales & Lagers (10 entries)
1st Frank Juplo Corn Rules Everything Around Me (Enhanced Remix) Cream Ale Plainfield, IL
Plainfield Ale & Lager Enthusiasts (PALE)
2nd Brian Whitaker Smoke & Mirrors Rauchbier Oswego, IL
iNSTABHility
3rd Michael Wulff Ope Hefeweizen Montgomery, IL
iNSTABHility
Ambers & Browns (4 entries)
1st Jim Richter Mustache Ride Brown Ale w Coffee + Maple Oswego, IL
iNSTABHility
2nd Steve Thanos Hurlele Darlzle Scottish Export Darien, IL
Plainfield Ale & Lager Enthusiasts (PALE)
3rd Michael Mann Bobby the Bone 14 L Naperville, IL
Plainfield Ale & Lager Enthusiasts (PALE)
Dark (4 entries)
1st Michael Jacobs Clysesdale Dry Stout Plainfield, IL
Plainfield Ale & Lager Enthusiasts (PALE)
2nd Jim Richter It’s Frustrating Porter Oswego, IL
iNSTABHility
3rd Michael Mann The Assassin 33B Naperville, IL
Plainfield Ale & Lager Enthusiasts (PALE)
Fruit (5 entries)
1st Jim Richter Catching Clouds Fruited Sour Oswego, IL
iNSTABHility
2nd Frank Juplo Pick Me Up Coffee Blonde Plainfield, IL
Plainfield Ale & Lager Enthusiasts (PALE)
3rd Bryan Whitaker Shandy Season Lemonade Wheat Ale Shandy Oswego, IL
iNSTABHility