Registration for judging/stewarding at two of the largest competitions in the area has started.
The Drunk Monk Challenge is organized by our suburban friends in Urban Knaves of grain and is held at Two Brothers Roundhouse on March 10 and 11. Two Brothers is right next to a Metra station, so super easy to make a trip out to Aurora. Plus, you get free beer and lunch! You can get more info and register here: http://knaves.org/DMC/
BOSS will be holding the 26th annual Charlie Orr Memorial Chicago Cup Challenge on March 25th at Giovan's in Crest Hill. Again, free beer and lunch! They also have an awards dinner and this year's keynote speaker is John Mallet, head brewer at Bell's! Info and registration: http://www.bossbeer.org/competition.html
Even if you aren't into judging, these events are great ways to network with other homebrewers and homebrew clubs. Hope to see a big CHAOS showing at these events this year!
The speaker at the Chicago Cup is also the author of Malt, i'm looking forward to hearing him. I believe the awards dinner is also free for judges and stewards.
www.singingboysbrewing.com
Also, anyone who wants to judge at the Chicago.Cup and needs a ride, let me know. The competiton isn't avcessible by mass transit
www.singingboysbrewing.com
I signed up to steward for the two 3/25 sessions - would love to get a ride.
You'd be welcome to ride with us, Ben. We'll be staying for the dinner, if that's ok? Also, a friend (who is a National judge) from Lafayette is coming in to judge there and is staying with Nancy and I, so she'll be riding with us, also.
www.singingboysbrewing.com
In addition (you can tell when Chicago-area competition season is!), the first found of the Nationals is being held April 19th, 21st, 22nd also at the Roundhouse in Aurora. As Jeff mentioned, it's basically a Metra stop, so very convenient to get to (and nice if you'd like to have an additional pint or 3 before going home). Joe Formanek (National judge, Ninkasi winner, all-around great guy) organizes that and it generally attracts some top-tier level judges. I think there were 5-6 Master/Grand Master level judges there last year. It's a little different with check-box style scoresheets, but every comp is good for experience if you're interested.
I'll be judging at all 3: Drunk Monk, BOSS, AHA First Round. I can also shuttle folks to BOSS if you can get a little closer out to the near West burbs (Forest Park Blue line or a BNSF Metra stop). I'm trying to swing the dinner this year as well, but that is subject to change.
I'm going to need the Nordquist shuttle again for the BOSS competition.