Indiana State Fair Brewer's Cup 2007

July 17, 2007

by Bob Ostrander

The State Fair Brewers Cup Judging is in. Here's the complete results and some highlights.

  • Smoothness was the word of the day. There were enough judges and stewards. Everything ran on time. Heck, the staff did everything perfectly. Anita, Dave, Don, Tom, Brian, Matt, everybody really have their act together.
  • Stats: 631 entries (26% up from last year). 444 amateur, 187 professional.
  • Mark Shiess entered 25 beers, Michael Pearson and Bill Ballinger each entered 24.
  • There were 33 amateur American Ales entered and 32 Belgian Strong ales.
  • Judges came from as far away as Huntington, WV.
  • It was international this year. An entry from Brazil came from an IU student who met the Bloomington Hop Jockeys and sent in his beer when he got home. And it got a blue ribbon.
  • Scott Kincaid also entered one beer and won a 1st. Plus Ted Miller (Brugge Brasserie) entered just one beer which won a 1st.
  • The newest and smallest Indiana brewery, Powerhouse Brewing, entered their first two professional batches of beer and won a 3rd for their first (a Brown) and 2nd  for their Hefeweizen which isn't even being poured at the brewpub yet.
  • Amateur Blue Ribbon winners each got a $50 gift certificate from Quality Wine & Ale Supply in Elkhart. Red Ribbons earned a $35 certificate from Crown Liquors. 3rd place winners got a $25 certificate from Great Fermentations.
  • The food supplied by the State Fair staff was, as always, ample and excellent.





Homebrew Results

Scottish (21 Entries)
Scott Kincaid Indianapolis   Strong Scotch Ale 1
Bill Ballinger Shelbyville, IN Highland Honey Scottish 80 Scottish 80/- 2
Mike Heckman Ossian, IN 101 Ways to Start a Fight Irish Red Ale 3
Strong Ales (10 Entries)
Ricardo Rosa Rio de Taneiro, BR   English Barleywine 1
Andrew Lewis Kokomo, IN   American Barleywine 2
Thomas Wallbank Indianapolis Old Walter Old Ale 3
Smoke and Wood Aged (13 Entries)
Michael Pearson Anderson, IN   Other Smoked Beer 1
Michael Pelter Schererville, IN Smoked Porter Other Smoked Beer 2
Jerry Sadowski Crete, IL   Wood-Aged Beer 3
Bock (21 Entries)
Michael Pearson Anderson, IN   Maibock 1
Randy Wasmuth Indianapolis   Doppelbock 2
Brian Steuerwald Brownsburg, IN Borrowed Bock Traditional Bock 3
Specialty (21 Entries)
Thomas Altstadt Indianapolis Bourbon Vanilla Porter Specialty Beer 1
Steve Yarbery Indianapolis Rye IPA Specialty Beer 2
Mark Mahon Danville, IN Batch #10 Specialty Beer 3
Fruit (18 Entries)
John Morrical Indianapolis Cherry-O-Stout Fruit Beer 1
Bill Ballinger Shelbyville, IN Kiwi Pils Fruit Beer 2
Mike Crowell ,   Fruit Beer 3
Spice/Herb/Veg and Christmas (17 Entries)
Sean Tucker Pendleton, IN Mo's Spring Ale Spice, Herb, Vegetable Beer 1
Bill Ballinger Shelbyville, IN Grey Hawk Vanilla Stout Spice, Herb, Vegetable Beer 2
Eric Jones Indianapolis Dead Eye Spice, Herb, Vegetable Beer 3
Altbier (11 Entries)
Michael Pearson Anderson, IN   Northern German Altbier 1
Scott Courtney Indianapolis   California Common Beer 2
Aaron Evilsizor Noblesville, IN   California Common Beer 3
Light Lager (14 Entries)
Jeffrey Brungard Fishers, IN   Standard American 1
Bill Staashelm Indianapolis   Premium American 2
Randy Wasmuth Indianapolis   Munich Helles 3
European Amber Lagers (10 Entries)
Tom Ferguson Greentown, IN   Vienna Lager 1
Michael Pearson Anderson, IN   Oktoberfest 2
Paul Till Fort Wayne, IN Till's Octoberfest Oktoberfest 3
Light Hybrids (27 Entries)
Bill Staashelm Indianapolis   Kölsch 1
James Matt Fishers, IN Bald Guy Blonde Blond Ale 2
Jason Burk Indianapolis Corn Cream Ale Cream Ale 3
English Pale Ale (18 Entries)
Brian Pickerill Muncie, IN   Ordinary Bitter 1
Michael Pelter Schererville, IN Summer Bitter Special/Best/Premium Bitter 2
Lloyd Chatham Lafayette, IN Broad Sword Bitter Special/Best/Premium Bitter 3
Brown Ales (22 Entries)
Mark Schiess Carmel, IN   Northern English Brown 1
Chris Ingerman Muncie, IN   Mild 2
Carl Saxby Newburgh, IN   Southern English Brown 3
German Wheat and Rye (22 Entries)
Brian Steuerwald Brownsburg, IN 70-30 Classic Weizen 1
Mark Fisher Avon, IN Dot's Double-Take Dunkel Dunkelweizen 2
Thomas Grembowicz Fishers, IN Grembo-wheat Weizen 3
American Ales (33 Entries)
Bill Ballinger Shelbyville, IN Serenity Now Pale Ale American Pale 1
BOS
Mike Crowell     American Pale 2
Chris Ingerman Muncie, IN   American Amber 3
Belgian & French Alses and Sour Ales (31 Entries)
Mark Schiess Carmel, IN Pucker Berliner Weisse 1
Darren Connor Indianapolis Batch #6,953 Witbier 2
James Matt Fishers, IN Lupulin L'Amour Belgian Specialty 3
Dark Lagers (8 Entries)
Bill Ballinger Shelbyville, IN River's Bend Schwarzbier Schwarzbier 1
Chris Ingerman Muncie, IN   Munich Dunkel 2
Robert Heinlein Crown Point, IN Mr. Schwartz Schwarzbier 3
Porters (20 Entries)
Jerry Sadowski Crete, IL   Baltic Porter 1
Bruce Deters Angola, IN   Brown Porter 2
Paul Till Fort Wayne, IN Plum But Boozie Baltic Porter Baltic Porter 3
Dry, Sweet, and Oatmeal Stout (18 Entries)
Mike Heckman Ossian, IN The Right Thing to Brew Dry Stout 1
Jason Rich Claypool, IN   Sweet Stout 2
Brent Chapman Indianapolis Marquee Moon Dry Stout 3
Foreign, American, and Imperial Stout (12 Entries)
Andy Greenlee Columbus, IN   Foreign Extra Stout 1
Chris Ross Indianapolis   Russian Imperial Stout 2
Aaron Evilsizor Noblesville, IN   Russian Imperial Stout 3
IPAs (22 Entries)
Mike Heckman Ossian, IN Simcoe Slam American IPA 1
Neil Rowe Westfield, IN Three Amigos IPA American IPA 2
Kenny Lucas Evansville, IN Blockhead IPA American IPA 3
Imperial IPAs (8 Entries)
Michael Pearson Anderson, IN   Imperial IPA 1
James Mulcare Westbury, NY Jimbo's IPA Imperial IPA 2
Andrew Lewis Kokomo, IN   Imperial IPA 3
Belgian Strong Ales (32 Entries)
Greg Christmas Fishers, IN No-name Dubbel Belgian Dubbel 1
James Matt Fishers, IN Tripel Wordskor Belgian Tripel 2
Mark Schiess Carmel, IN St. Indianus II Belgian Dark Strong Ale 3
Pilsners (14 Entries)
Brian Pickerill Muncie, IN   Classic American Pilsner 1
Bill Ballinger Shelbyville, IN The Crimson Chin Bohemian Pilsner 2
Mark Schiess Carmel, IN Bo Pe Bohemian Pilsner 3

Professional Results

Stouts (11 Entries)
Barley Island Brewing Noblesville, IN Brass Knuckles Oatmeal Stout 1
Bell's Brewery Galesburg, MI Double Cream Stout Sweet Stout 2
Back Road Brewery La Porte, IN Belle Gunness Stout Dry Stout 3
Belgian & French Ales & Strong Ales (12 Entries)
Brugge Brasserie Indianapolis Diamond Kings of Heaven Belgian Specialty 1
Oaken Barrel Brewing Greenwood, IN Epiphany Tripel Belgian Tripel 2
Oaken Barrel Brewing Greenwood, IN Saison Saison 3
Scottish and Irish Ales (11 Entries)
Rock Bottom College Park Indianapolis   Scottish 80/- 1
Ram Restaurant Indianapolis 90 Schilling Scottish 80/- 2
Oaken Barrel Brewing Greenwood, IN Auntie Connar's Scottish Ale Scottish 70/- 3
IPAs (15 Entries)
Bell's Brewery Galesburg, MI Two-Hearted Ale American IPA 1
Barley Island Brewing Noblesville, IN Barfly IPA American IPA 2
Mad Anthony Fort Wayne, IN IPA American IPA 3
Porters (12 Entries)
Back Road Brewery La Porte, IN Christmas Ale Baltic Porter 1
Ram Restaurant Indianapolis Total Disorder Brown Porter 2
Oaken Barrel Brewing Greenwood, IN Snake Pit Porter Robust Porter 3
Light Lagers and Pilsners (12 Entries)
Two Brothers Brewing Warrenville, IL Dog Days Dortmunder Lager Dortmunder Export 1
Mad Anthony Fort Wayne, IN Gabby Blonde Premium American 2
Ram Restaurant Indianapolis Bighorn Light Bohemian Pilsner 3
Light Hybrids (19 Entries)
Rock Bottom College Park Indianapolis   Koelsch 1
BOS
Rock Bottom Orland Park Orland Park, IL   Koelsch 2
Broad Ripple Brew Pub Indianapolis   Blond Ale 3
American Pale Ales (15 Entries)
Mad Anthony Fort Wayne, IN Ol' Woody Pale American Pale 1
Broad Ripple Brew Pub Indianapolis   American Pale 2
Ram Restaurant Indianapolis #71 American Pale 3
American Ambers (8 Entries)
Ram Restaurant Indianapolis Old Jack's Blizzard Ale American Amber 1
Bell's Brewery Galesburg, MI Amber Ale American Amber 2
Back Road Brewery La Porte, IN Red Ale American Amber 3
German Wheat and Rye (10 Entries)
Rock Bottom Lombard Lombard, IL   Weizen 1
Powerhouse Brewing Columbus, IN   Weizen 2
Rock Bottom Orland Park Orland Park, IL   Weizen 3
Sour Ales, Fruits and Specialties (12 Entries)
Dark Horse Brewing Marshall, MI Tres Blueberry Stout Fruit Beer 1
Alcatraz Brewery Indianapolis Chibuku Specialty Beer 2
Upland Brewing Bloomington, IN Upland Raspberry Lambic Fruit Lambic 3
Bocks (8 Entries)
Back Road Brewery La Porte, IN Aviator Doppelbock Doppelbock 1
Ram Restaurant Indianapolis Maibock Maibock 2
Broad Ripple Brew Pub Indianapolis   Maibock 3
English Pale Ales (7 Entries)
Rock Bottom Lombard Lombard, IL   Extra Special/Strong Bitter (EPA) 1
Ram Restaurant Indianapolis Busted Nut ESB Special/Best/Premium Bitter 2
Rock Bottom Brewery Downtown Indianapolis Indianapolis   Extra Special/Strong Bitter (EPA) 3
Brown Ales (9 Entries)
Ram Restaurant Indianapolis Brute IBA American Brown 1
Rock Bottom Orland Park Orland Park, IL   Schwarzbier 2
Powerhouse Brewing Columbus, IN   American Brown 3
S/H/V, Smoked and Wood Aged (9 Entries)
Barley Island Brewing Noblesville, IN Bourbon Barrel Stout Wood-Aged Beer 1
Breckenridge Denver, CO Vanilla Porter Spice, Herb, Vegetable Beer 2
Rock Bottom Brewery Warrenville Warrenville, IL   Wood-Aged Beer 3
Strong Ales (6 Entries)
Rock Bottom Brewery Downtown Indianapolis Indianapolis   Old Ale 1
Upland Brewing Bloomington, IN Upland Winter Warmer English Barleywine 2
Bell's Brewery Galesburg, MI Third Coast Old Ale American Barleywine 3
European Amber and Hybrid Lagers (11 Entries)
Lafayette Brewing Lafayette, IN Tippecanoe Common Ale California Common Beer 1
Rock Bottom Lombard Lombard, IL   California Common Beer 2
Alcatraz Brewery Indianapolis Naptown Alt Northern German Altbier 3

And for the big finish

  • The Amateur Best of Show is Bill Ballinger's American Pale Ale.
  • The Homebrew Club Award went to MECA. More explanation below.
  • The Professional Best of Show is Liz Laughlin's Kolsch - Rock Bottom, 86th St.
  • The Professional Brewery Award went to the Ram.

The Homebrew Club Award goes to the club who's members rack up the most points on a 1st = 3, 2nd = 2, 3rd = 1, BOS = 5 system. Similarly with the Professional Brewery Award. The Ram won 2 golds, 4 silver, and 2 bronze medals.

MECA was started by Bill Ballinger on the south side of Indy as an alternative club to the FBI. This is their first year and obviously doing quite well.