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You are here: Home --> Forum Home --> Brewing Forum --> Brewing Discussion --> Q&A for the 2016 BrewUnited Challenge

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homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


I'm setting up this thread to allow for a consolidated place for questions for this year's BrewUnited Challenge. I will update this post to include popular questions, but as the thread grows, it will serve as a more complete archive of all questions asked.

To start with, here is the most common question I've gotten so far:

Q:I wanted to get some exact clarification on Hop Restrictions. For example, the restrictions (for the American Division) reads: "Hop bill must be use either >= 25% Amarillo or >= 25% Cluster. The rest of hop bill must be one or more American-grown hops (brewer's choice)"

Does this mean that along with using at least 25% Amarillo/Cluster, I must use a second, different hop variety? Or can I make a single hop beer? For example, am I allowed to brew an Amber Ale with only Amarillo, or a Cream Ale with only Cluster?

A:You absolutely may use a single hop only if you so choose, provided that hop is either Amarillo or Cluster. Once you meet the minimum 25% threshold of Amarillo/Cluster, you may use any American hop that you desire - which absolutely can be the same that got you to 25%.

The same principle applies to the other Divisions. Meet at least 25% of one of the required hops, and you may use the same all the way to 100%, or use another hop from your Division's region.


Another common question:

Q: There is a seven ingredient limit.  Do I have to use seven ingredients, or can I use five or six?

A: Seven is the maximum number of ingredients, but you don't have to use that many.  Ever legal beer will have at least five ingredients (two base malts, one specialty malt, one hop, one yeast), but you don't have to use more if you don't want to.

Q:




Posted 34 days ago.
Edited 34 days ago by homebrewdad

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


Q:I have a quick question regarding the grain limitations on the American category for the competition. I noticed the hops and yeast are both required to be from the US. Other than the two 20% requirements, are the remaining grains required to be of US origin as well, or will all other grains be accepted?

A:Do note that you have to include 5% corn, as well, in the American beers. Other grains are fine once you meet the 20% requirements for each of your base malts.




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


Q:May I use DME for bottle conditioning instead of sugar. The exceptions focus on 'no additional sugars'. ~thanks

A: In the three main Divisions, you absolutely may use DME as priming sugar when bottle conditioning - understanding that DME counts as one of your seven ingredients for the recipe. Only sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), or unflavored carb tabs/drops are exempt from the seven ingredient requirement.

In the SMaSH category,
Only sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), or unflavored carb tabs/drops are legal.




Posted 34 days ago.

Chal
Wenham, MA
45 Posts


Q1: Brewer's Gold is typically listed as being from the UK, but it is a native hop from Canada, so it is from "America". Any issues is using this in the American Beers category? 






Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


A. for hops, we are using the regions where it is normally cultivated. Technically, Canada doesn't enter the equation above - is the hop typically grown in the US? If so, it's legal.




Posted 34 days ago.

Chal
Wenham, MA
45 Posts


My apologies Olan - I wasn't trying to be a smart ass, or to ask a stupid question.
I was recently chastised by a South American friend who was irate that people from the US say they are from America. I do know that we tend to think that they are synonymous, but much of the rest of the world disagrees. So for this competition American = US. Got it. Thanks! I'll use Nugget.




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


No need to apologize! I think we maybe had a failure to communicate it all.

Yes, for this competiton, American = US grown.





Posted 34 days ago.

Chal
Wenham, MA
45 Posts


Thanks for the kind reply. I do love this Challenge and have entered in all four groups. I don't know who thinks up these rules and restrictions. They seem so simple until one tries to squeeze them into a specific style and make a competitive (or in my case drinkable) beer. I wish that I could help with the competition in some way. Living northeast of Boston is a geographic challenge. Kudos and appreciation to you and all who make this happen.



Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


Thank you for your kind words!

I'm responsible for a lot of the silly rules, though I do have a fantastic group of judge directors that work with me to make sure that I stay sane, to make rulings on various questions, etc.

Your experience, of course, is the point. We don't want to be ridiculous, but we want to take you out of your comfort zone, and really challenge you to brew some great beer.




Posted 34 days ago.

Necropaw
Charter Member
Central WI
608 Posts


Hate to get off topic, but uh...we are from America...?

That'd be like someone from Germany saying the British arent European....




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


+1 pedantry for Necropaw.





Posted 34 days ago.

mchrispen
Bastrop, TX
485 Posts


+1 for not saying, by that logic all Wisconsinites  are Alcoholics. 








Posted 34 days ago.

Necropaw
Charter Member
Central WI
608 Posts


I mean, i wouldnt even argue that.

Highest binge drinking rate in the country. Over 25% IIRC




Posted 34 days ago.

rayfound
Charter Member
Riverside, CA
313 Posts


No Mike, the British said the British aren't European .





Posted 34 days ago.

CentralCalBrewer
Fresno, CA
89 Posts


Yeah, but for you guys, binge is like what, three beers?




Posted 34 days ago.

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