The event will include coffee and pastry in the morning, a technical program, lunch, and a bus trip where we will visit and have the opportunity to tour local breweries and pubs.

Location: Benelux, 245 Sherbrooke ouest
Time: 9:30 am (doors open)

The schedule for the day includes:
9:30 am — Doors open
10:00 am — A beer colour technical program conducted by Michel Gautier
1:00 pm — Board the bus for La Succursale, petite brasserie du vieux-Rosement, Brasseurs du Monde, Le Bilboquet
6:00 pm — Bus returns to Benelux

Not only is this the largest competition in Canada, but it is the only way for Canadians to advance to the National Homebrew Competition, which is the largest homebrew competition in the world. Additionally, any medals won will earn you points towards the Canadian Brewer of the Year award.

Our competition is sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association and the Beer Judge Certification Program. Judging is conducted by certified BJCP judges using the 2008 Style Guidelines.

If you are interested in attending as a judge/volunteer/guest, please get in touch with us at competition@alesclub.com. There will be a full schedule of top notch social activities to partake in, including Brewers’ Dinners, one-off cask events, and guest speakers.

The competition is open to all 28 BJCP categories of homebrewed beer, mead and cider. Medals and prize packages are awarded to Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in each category. Prize packages consist of a wide variety of donated items from our many sponsors throughout North America.

The major awards are:
Best of Show – Awarded to the single best beer entry.
Homebrewer of the Year – based on total points earned from category medals (entries must score a minimum of 30 points to count towards HoY)
Rookie of the Year – all first time entrants are eligible, based on total points earned from category medals (entries must score a minimum of 30 points to count towards RoY)
Mead Maker of the Year – Awarded to the single best mead entry
Cider Maker of the Year – Awarded to the single best cider entry
Club of the Year – based on total points earned from category medals (entries must score a minimum of 30 points to count towards CoY)

Please check out our website at www.alesclub.com for full competition details. You can also contact us at competition@alesclub.com with any questions. Good luck!

This year’s CABA CABA Hey! beer is an IPA developed by Great Canadian Homebrew Competition Best of Show winner Brad Clifford and the good folks at Beau’s in Vankleek Hill, Ontario. Brad won the Best of Show award in June for Clifford’s German Pils. For his collaboration with Beau’s, he chose to make an IPA.

Doublewide IPA is an 8% ABV American-style double IPA with citrusy hops, and according to the Beau’s website, it pairs well with bold, flavourful and spicy foods.

The release will kick off the availability of the beer. Mark your calendars now and come out to congratulate Brad and Beau’s for Doublewide IPA.

Location: The Rhino, 1249 Queen St. West
Date: January 19th, 2012
Time: 7:00 – 10:00 pm

See you there.

Lagers
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Clifford’s Munich Ale
Brewer(s): Brad Clifford

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Third Stanza
Brewer(s): Victor North

Place: 1st
Entry Name: VanTober Fest Lager
Brewer(s): John VanDyk

Light/Amber Hybrids
Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Clifford’s Kolsch
Brewer(s): Brad Clifford

Place: 1st
Entry Name: 5K Kolsch
Brewer(s): Graham McGregor

English Pale Ales
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Clifford’s Best Bitter
Brewer(s): Brad Clifford

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Springer Premium Bitter
Brewer(s): Nicholas Verlane

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Extra Sexy Bitch (Batch 1101)
Brewer(s): Jonathan Thibault

Scottish/Irish Ales
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Irish Football Red
Brewer(s): Miguel Pereira/Darryl May/Andrew Pituley

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: House of Perry Irish Red Ale
Brewer(s): Nick Perry

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Finnigan’s Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale
Brewer(s): Chris Finnigan

American Pale Ales
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: All Citra APA
Brewer(s): Marc Coté/Richard Gosselin

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Clifford’s Citra Pale Ale
Brewer(s): Brad Clifford

Place: 1st
Entry Name: APA
Brewer(s): Graham McGregor

American Amber/Brown Ales
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: American Football Red
Brewer(s): Miguel Pereira/Darryl May/Andrew Pituley

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Palisades Red
Brewer(s): Marc Coté/Richard Gosselin

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Willy The Moose
Brewer(s): Marc Coté/Richard Gosselin

Brown Ales
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Brennan’s Brown Ale
Brewer(s): Paul Brennan

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Clifford’s English Brown Ale
Brewer(s): Brad Clifford

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Who’s That Brown Ale
Brewer(s): Hirsch Goodman/Kevin Snow

Porters
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Katmandu Porter
Brewer(s): Dennis Kinvig

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Working Man’s Porter
Brewer(s): Brad Clifford

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Pop’s Porter
Brewer(s): Victor North

Stouts
Place: Honourable Mention
Entry Name: American Stout
Brewer(s): Michael Sheddon

Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Robustus Maximus
Brewer(s): Mike Bray

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Andover Stout
Brewer(s): Robert George

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Carpe Noctem Black Chocolate Stout
Brewer(s): Zack Weinburg

India Pale Ales
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Tri-Centennial Man
Brewer(s): Patrick Hirlehey

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: La Tête à Papineau
Brewer(s): Mathieu Boislard

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Imperial IPA
Brewer(s): Michael Sheddon

German Wheat/Rye Beers
Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Adolfwolfa
Brewer(s): Mike Bray

Belgian/French Ales
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Saison d’ete
Brewer(s): Kevin Freer

Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Wee Beastie
Brewer(s): Ian Mills

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Hip To Wit
Brewer(s): Kevin Freer

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Belgian IPA
Brewer(s): Andrew Rusinas

Strong Ales
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Cult of the Cthulhu
Brewer(s): Kevin Freer/Cody Nolan

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Rigo’s Barley Wine
Brewer(s): Marc Coté/Richard Gosselin

Place: 1st
Entry Name: The Rambam
Brewer(s): Hirsch Goodman/Kevin Snow

Fruit Beers
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Elderberry Stout
Brewer(s): Chris Ephgrave

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Sex Bomb-Passion Fruit Wheat Beer
Brewer(s): Peter Campagna

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Magnum PI
Brewer(s): Mike Bray

Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beers
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Fat Goblin Pumpkin Ale
Brewer(s): Marc Coté/Richard Gosselin

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Kama Sutra Indian Imperial Stout
Brewer(s): Zack Weinburg

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Carobou
Brewer(s): Victor North

Smoke Flavoured/Wood Aged Beers
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Thunder
Brewer(s): Victor North

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Fireside
Brewer(s): Victor North

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Ol Closet Clearer-Oak Barleywine
Brewer(s): Tim Gregory

Specialty Beers
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Golden Rails Honey Ale
Brewer(s): Mario Bourgeous

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Big Ms Maple
Brewer(s): Chris Ephgrave

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Lucky Loonie Black IPA
Brewer(s): Tim Gregory

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Yambier
Brewer(s): Kevin Freer

Meads/Ciders
Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Harvest Spice Cider
Brewer(s): Victor North

Place: 1st
Entry Name: 2009 Wedding Mead
Brewer(s): Tim Gregory

Best of Show
Entry Name: Extra Sexy Bitch (Batch 1101)
Brewer(s): Jonathan Thibault

Congratulations to all of the winners.

Lagers & Hybrids
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Chameleon Cream Ale
Brewer(s): Ari Gilligson (Delta, BC)

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: The Dreamer
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren (Mississauga, ON)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Clifford’s German Pils
Brewer(s): Brad Clifford (Toronto, ON)

Scotch & Irish Ales
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Danny Boy Delight
Brewer(s): Chris Bible (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: 80 Shilling Trial 2
Brewer(s): Jeremy Coghill (Toronto, ON)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Bonnie Prince Charlie
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren (Mississauga, ON)

Pale Ales
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: 2011 APA
Brewer(s): Anthony Legge (Mt. Pearl, NL)

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: The Perfect Gentleman
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren (Mississauga, ON)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Red Coat’s Revenge
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon (Mississauga, ON)

Amber & Brown Ales
Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Nutty Hoppopotamus
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren (Mississauga, ON)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Falconers Bite
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren (Mississauga, ON)

Stouts & Porters
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Sweet Jemima Jones
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren (Mississauga, ON)

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Ebony Insanity
Brewer(s): Chris Bible (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Evil Empire Russian Imperial Stout
Brewer(s): Wayne Morris (Newtonville, ON)

IPAs
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Amarillo IPA
Brewer(s): Brad Clifford (Toronto, ON)

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Imperial IPA
Brewer(s): Michael Shedden (Dundas, ON)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Hopastasy
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren (Mississauga, ON)

Belgians & Wheat Beers
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Wifey’s Wheat
Brewer(s): Andy Robinson (Amherst, NS)

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Weizen Ho!
Brewer(s): John Tyler (Toronto, ON)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: White Summer
Brewer(s): Yii-Jen Tien (Gravenhurst, ON)

Barleywines
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Stealth Bomber
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren (Mississauga, ON)

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Toke-on-Trent
Brewer(s): Craig Nichols (Toronto, ON)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Wedding Barley Wine
Brewer(s): Victor North (Toronto, ON)

Fruit/Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beers
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah Imperial Stout
Brewer(s): Craig Nichols (Toronto, ON)

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Holy Trinity Stout
Brewer(s): Adam Henderson (Toronto, ON)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Xpresso Men 3
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren (Mississauga, ON)

Smoke/Wood Aged Beers
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Smoke A Little Smoke 1.5
Brewer(s): Kevin Smith (Toronto, ON)

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: H.I.M. Smoked Imperial Oatmeal Stout
Brewer(s): Craig Nichols (Toronto, ON)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Halfway Tree Imperial Stout
Brewer(s): Michael Thompson (Toronto, ON)

Specialty Beers
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Wizard’s Sleeve
Brewer(s): Patrick Hirlehey (Waterdown, ON)

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Gotterdamerung
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon (Mississauga, ON)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Snowman Brewing Gluten Free Maple Stout
Brewer(s): Hirsch Goodman and Kevin Snow (North York, ON)

Meads & Ciders
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Country Harvest
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren (Mississauga, ON)

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Royal Oak
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren (Mississauga, ON)

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Mead 2010
Brewer(s): Jeremy Coghill (Toronto, ON)

Best of Show
Place: 3rd
Entry Name: Hopastasy
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon and Ed Koren

Place: 2nd
Entry Name: Red Coat’s Revenge
Brewer(s): Louis DeBourbon

Place: 1st
Entry Name: Clifford’s German Pils
Brewer(s): Brad Clifford

Homebrewer of the Year: Louis DeBourbon

Congratulations to all the winners.

Thanks to Spearhead Brewing Company for sponsoring both the conference and competition, as well as for providing various prizes for the winners, including a Blichman Hop Rocket for the Best of Show winner, Brad Clifford. As Best of Show winner, Brad will also have the opportunity to work with Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company to develop a professional beer as part of the CABA CABA Hey! series. Thanks to Beau’s for working with CABA on this project for the third year in a row.

Thanks to Black Oak Brewing for being the drop-off point for competition entries and for their gracious hosting on judging day. And finally, thank you to all the judges and stewards who helped to make the competition run as smoothly as possible.

Both Spearhead’s founder and brewmaster will be on hand to speak about brewing extreme beers and how the brewery went from a good idea to reality. Spearhead is officially launching its first beer, a pineapple-infused west coast pale ale named Hawaiian Style Pale Ale, at Volo in Toronto on June 16th, and on the 18th, CABA members will get an inside look into the latest brewery to set up shop in Toronto.

Founder Dimitri van Kampen is an enthusiastic beer lover and entrepreneur who, with his team, has created a brand that is sure to be the talk of the the province of Ontario this month as its beer rolls out to more than 30 bars, pubs and restaurants around Toronto and elsewhere in southern Ontario.

You didn’t think we could top last year’s GCHC, did you? This year, we have Spearhead, samples of various extreme beers (including a healthy selection of some off-the-beaten-track extreme beers), and our usual fun and merriment. Take down the details and make plans to attend this year’s GCHC.

Date: June 18th

Location: The Rhino, 1249 Queen St. West, Toronto

Time: 10:30 am to 6 pm (Doors open at 10 am)

Agenda: Spearheads brewmaster will be speaking about and providing samples of  their new beers in a collectors glass that is yours to keep. Lunch will be 3 courses with 4 tasters of extreme beers and a pint of Smash Bomb. Spearhead will come back for more Q&A and samples, the competition awards will be given out and we will head upstairs for more fun and frivolity.

Tickets are on sale now. Keep an eye on this space or follow CABA on Facebook and/or Twitter.

One of the latest upgrades to the site is checking your membership due date online, and renew all from the homebrewers.ca website. You can also reset your password if forgotten or lost.

If you do choose to renew, one year will be added to your membership starting on the last day of your membership, so don’t worry if you renew a little early, there will be no overlap period.

Please try it out, http://www.homebrewers.ca/account

Kevin

A tip I’ve learned from my new brewing buddy: If you have a local bar or pub that serves beers with swing-top bottles, talk to the manager about buying the swing-top bottles. Some are bound to let them go for the return price. That will increase your swing-top bottle collection quickly and reduce the number of bottle caps you’ll need come bottling day.

The most recent homebrewing experiment I’ve been involved with is with a new homebrewer who has taken an interest in historical beers, as well as in using ingredients from his garden. Looking into his herb garden and doing some research into historical beers, he discovered that prior to the use of hops as a bittering agent, brewers would use whatever they could get their hands on. The one that caught his interest was sage, an herb that is growing out of control in his garden.

This has rekindled my interest in historical beers. Since I started homebrewing three years ago, the one historical bittering agent I’ve really wanted to use is heather (so perhaps you can expect to hear about a heather ale experiment in a future blog post or CABA Times article).