The Nottingham and National Open Home Brew Competition is back!

Hop Idol 2024 is a home brewing competition open to all amateur brewers across the UK. As we are a Nottingham-based competition, the brewing prize will be awarded to a brewer with an NG postcode. All other entrants are eligible for all other prizes. 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!

Full terms and conditions can be found here

Entering the competition will cost £6 per beer. You may enter as many beers as you wish. Entry forms can be found by following the link below and information on how to pay will follow:

Entry is now closed!

Prizes up for grabs

For All Entrants:

G30 Grainfather v3

Vouchers for Brew Day homebrew supplies.

Goodies from Charles Faram and Crisp

This prize is open to entrants with a Nottinghamshire (NG) postcode:

The opportunity to brew your beer with head brewer Jack Winter at Lenton Lane Brewery and the beer to be launched at the Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival in October 2024. You will receive complimentary entry to the Festival.

Lenton Lane Brewery have a great reputation across Nottinghamshire for their consistently well-executed premium cask ales and have twice been awarded Champion Beer of Nottinghamshire. Always a good choice when spotted on the bar. Head Brewer Jack has the reputation for being one of the nicest brewers in Nottingham and always open to collaborating with others.

The first NG runner up will receive a bespoke Let’s Beer tasting event for up to 4 people

The competition judging will be taking place on Saturday 29th June at The Gladstone pub, Carrington, Nottingham. Members of the judging panel will include representatives from: Brew Day, Let’s Beer, Lenton Lane Brewery, The Abdication Micropub, CAMRA, Nottingham Craft Beer Festival, Murphys and Sons and other breweries, pubs and bars across Nottingham.

Winner Announcement

The winners will be notified by Monday 1st July 2024. The winning brewers will be announced on our websites and social media channels. Feedback to entrants on their beer will be returned as soon as possible.

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.

Exclusions: We cannot accept lagers or aged beers 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 Lenton Lane 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 prize.

Eligibility

This competition is only open to residents of the UK aged 18 or over who are amateur brewers. Entries will not 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 2nd June 2024 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, corked or swing-top bottles or 2 x 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 no later than Wednesday 26th June 2024 and can either:

Be dropped off at The Abdication micropub between 12th-26th June 2024 (check opening hours here)

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]

Terms and Conditions