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World Class Beverage/Indiana State Fair Brewers Cup present
Indiana's Ultimate Beer Geek Challenge

Indiana's Ultimate Beer Geek Challenge is a premier homebrew competition that offers a homebrewer the opportunity to go pro! Winning beers from each of five qualifying competitions will advance to the final round to compete for the ultimate beer geek prize. The beer winning the final round will be commercially made, bottled and distributed for sale throughout Indiana. Imagine the thrill of seeing your beer on the shelf at the liquor store!

Rules:

1. The 2004 Ultimate Beer Geek Challenge will feature a single beer style, the Northern English Brown Ale. Entries will be judged according to the Beer Judge Certification Program style guidelines for Northern English Brown, category 10B, which are:

Northern English Brown Ale
Aroma: Restrained fruitiness; little to no hop aroma. May have a caramel aspect to the malt character.
Appearance: Dark golden to light brown color.
Flavor: Gentle to moderate sweetness, with a nutty character. Balance is nearly even, with hop flavor low to none. Some fruity esters should be present; low diacetyl is acceptable.
Mouthfeel: medium-light to medium body, with a dry finish.
Overall Impression: Drier and more hop-oriented than southern English brown ale, with a nutty character rather than caramel.
History/Comments: English brown ales are generally split into sub-styles along geographic lines.
Ingredients: English mild ale or pale ale malt base with caramel malts. May also have scant amounts of darker malts. English hop varieties are most authentic. Moderate carbonate water.
Vital Statistics:
IBUs: 15-30 OG: 1.040-1.050
SRM: 12-30 FG: 1.010-1.013
ABV: 4-5.0%
Commercial Examples: Newcastle Brown Ale, Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale, Adnams' Nut Brown Ale.

2. Homebrewers may enter their Northern English Brown Ale in a single qualifying competition held at any one of six World Class Alefests. Entries will be limited to one entry per person in one qualifying competition. Employees of World Class Beverage and Great Fermentations are not permitted to enter. This competition is open to Indiana residents only.

3. The 2004 Alefest schedule, locations and entry deadlines are listed below:
· Lafayette, The Maize, May 1st , entries due April 24, 2004
· Fort Wayne, Munchie Emporium Dupont Road, May 15th, entries due May 8, 2004
· South Bend, Legends of Notre Dame, June 5th, entries due May 29, 2004
· Muncie, Center Stage, June 12th, entries due June 5, 2004
· Sellersberg, Hunter Station, June 19th, entries due June 12, 2004
· Indianapolis, Oak Hill Mansion, July 10th, entries due July 3, 2004

4. Entries may be delivered in person or by parcel carrier during normal business hours to the address below. No entries will be accepted the day of the event. Please specify which qualifying competition you are entering.

Indiana's Ultimate Beer Geek Challenge
C/O Great Fermentations of Indiana
853 East 65th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46220
(317) 257-9463
1-888-463-2739

Hours: Monday-Friday 11-7 PM
Saturday 10-7PM
Sunday Noon-3:59

4. One winner from each of the Alefest qualifying competitions will advance to the final round which will be judged and announced at the Indianapolis Alefest on Saturday,
July 10, 2004.

5. Indiana's Ultimate Beer Geek will have their winning beer brewed and bottled by Upland Brewing of Bloomington, Indiana and distributed for sale throughout Indiana by World Class Beverage. Winner will receive no remuneration for their recipe.

6. Each entry must consist of two (2) brown or green glass bottles, 12 ounces in volume. Bottles must be completely free of paper labels, raised-glass, and /or inked brand-name lettering. Use plain caps or obliterate any lettering or graphics on the cap with a permanent black marker. Bottles with Grolsch-type swing tops are not allowed. Corked bottles meeting the above restrictions are acceptable, however, a crown cap must be crimped over the cork. A simple label listing the brewers name, street address, city, state, zip, phone and email should be affixed to each bottle with a rubber band.

7. Each entry should include a completed Indiana's Ultimate Beer Geek Challenge entry form and a check made out to World Class Beverage in the amount of $20.00. Each entrant will receive one complimentary ticket to Alefest.

8. Entries may not be submitted that have been brewed on equipment used for any commercial purpose, including research, production or brew-on-premise establishments. Entries suspected of being brewed commercially will be disqualified.