Hop Idol 2023: The Nottingham Homebrew Competition is Back!
UPDATE – The competition is now closed for new entries. Good luck everyone!!
Hop Idol was launched in 2021, as part of Nottingham Craft Beer Week, to offer a contest to local homebrewers. We wanted to encourage Nottingham’s homebrewing community with feedback from experienced brewers/beer judges on every beer entered and offer the chance for one contestant to brew their beer on a commercial scale with one of our local breweries.
In 2023, the competition is being widened with entries accepted from all over the UK while retaining the commitment to the local homebrewing community. The opportunity to brew with a commercial brewery is only on offer to a homebrewer with a Nottinghamshire (NG) postcode. All other prizes can be won by entrants from any part of the UK. We will be limiting the number of entries to 100 beers, so that each beer gets the full attention it deserves.
We invite you to submit your interest and get brewing!
Entering the competition will cost £4 per beer. You may enter as many beers as you wish. Entry forms can be found by following the link below (information on how to pay will follow):
Prizes
For All Entrants:
A WilliamsWarn 25l Brew Keg and accessories (Value approximately £800) – Visit the WilliamsWarn website here
Vouchers for the Brew Day homebrew supplies.
Merchandise from our sponsors including backpack of goodies from Charles Faram, T-shirts from Grainfather, beers from local breweries, goodies from Murphys and Sons.
This prize is open to entrants with a Nottinghhamshire (NG) Postcode:
The opportunity to brew your beer on the Castle Rock 1BBL Pilot Project kit alongside their team.
The opportunity to have your beer available to buy at Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival in October 2023.
Two tickets for Nottingham’s Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival 2023.
Members of the judging panel will include representatives from: Brew day, Let’s Beer, Castle Rock, The Abdication Micropub, Black Iris Brewery, Nottingham Craft Beer Festival, Totally Brewed brewery, Lenton Lane Brewery, Navigation Brewery, Blue Monkey Brewery, CAMRA and other breweries, pubs and bars across Nottingham.
The use of specific brands as prizes does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of such brands.
The prize is non-transferable and non-exchangeable, and no cash alternatives will be provided.
We reserve the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value if circumstances beyond our control require doing so.
The organisers decision on any aspect of the competition is final and binding, and no correspondence will be entered into about it.
Winner Announcement
The judging will be taking place on 13/6/23.
The winners will be notified by 16/6/23, Brew-Day will make two attempts to contact the winner via email.
Feedback on all the entries will be returned as soon as possible.
The organisers will take reasonable steps to contact the winner. If the winner does not respond to the emails informing them of their win within 14 days of the second email, they forfeit their right to the prize, and the organisers reserves the right to select and notify a new winner.
Delivery of the Prize
The winner will allow 14 days for the prize to be delivered, otherwise alternative collection or delivery arrangements can be made through mutual agreement.
The Rules
- Beer styles
We will accept beers in the following styles:
- Bitter/Amber ales
- Export & Imperial Porters & Stouts
- Fruit & Wheat beers
- IPAs, including New England, Double and Triple IPAs
- Milds, Stouts and Porters
- Pale ales
- Other speciality beers such as Kettle Sours, Smoked beers and Table Beers
Please note: these are NOT the judging categories: these will be decided after the competition entry closing date.
We cannot accept lagers or aged beers this year (because we do not have the facility or time to brew them to be ready for RHBACF) or wild/spontaneously fermented beers.
We will not be able to accept beers with nuts or nut related products.
The winning beer will need to be commercially viable at a larger scale. Cost and availability of the ingredients will need to be taken into account. The final decision on recipe and ingredients will be with Castle Rock Brewery. Please make sure you list all special ingredients.
Judging processes will be informed by BJCP beer style descriptions and beers will be assessed on five main characteristics: Appearance, Aroma, Flavour, Mouthfeel and Aftertaste.
You can enter as many beers as you like, but each beer will only be considered for one main prize.
- Eligibility
This competition is only open to residents of the UK aged 18 or over
No entries will be accepted from professional brewers or people who work in commercial brewery production.
All entries must be handcrafted products, containing ingredients available to the general public, and made using private equipment by hobbyist brewers (i.e., no use of commercial facilities or supplies, etc.).
- How to enter
To enter you need to complete the entry form and pay the fee – we will be in touch with you within 7 days of receiving your form with information on how to pay. The competition will close to entries on Sunday 14th May OR when we reach 100 entries (whichever is sooner). Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates about the closing date.
Entry fees are not refundable.
Each entry will consist of 2 x 500ml capped bottles, corked bottles, swing-top bottles or 2x 440ml cans which are void of all identifying information, including labels and embossing, except for the entry code supplied by the competition organisers. Bottles will not be returned to contestants.
Entries must be received by no later than 8th June 2023 and can either:
- Be dropped off to us at The Abdication micropub between 1-8th June 2023
or post them to:
- Brew Day, Unit 18, Daybrook Business Centre, Sherbrook Rd, Daybrook Nottingham NG5 6AT
Please allow time for shipping. The organisers are not responsible for mailed deliveries which are late, lost or damaged.
Any questions or queries? Please get in touch with Let’s Beer – [email protected]
