This announcement came from Master Robert Ferness.

Unto all those who would compete for the position of Æthelmearc Brewing Champion: prepare your best ale, mead, wine, cider, beer, or other fermented beverages for War Practice, May 16-19.

Although only fermented alcoholic drinks are eligible for the competition, non-alcoholic and/or non-fermented beverages are welcome and encourage. There is no limit on the number or kinds of drinks that a person may enter, but enough must be provided to accommodate not only judges from the Brewers’ Guild and Their Majesties, but also tastings for the general populace who want to participate in the contest as well. If in doubt how much to bring, more is better.

Because the site is decidedly wet, and because War Practice is a multi-day event, we have an ideal opportunity for all of those who wish to taste the entries to do so and thus to indicate their favorites. The winners will be decided by a combined result of judges’ scores and populace votes. Of course, the final decision will be made by Their Majesties and announced in court.

In addition, there will be a space for brewers to bring unwanted ingredients, equipment, publications, etc., to exchange or give away to other brewers or potential brewers. Have some hops you don’t like or too many that you grew? An extra copy of a brewing book, or one you no longer consult? Too many carboys or empty bottles? Bring ’em and let ’em find a new home.

Details are still being finalized and are subject to change, but the general approach will be as follows:

Entries should be brought to the contest organizer upon arrival at the site. All entries must be received by noon on Saturday. A short form must be completed for each entry with basic details about the entrant and the beverage itself.

Label all containers if you want them returned, empty or not. Also, label all containers even if you do not want them returned so we know what’s in them and who submitted them. Also, also, entries without labels will be disqualified from competition, and may be made available to the populace for consumption on site.

There will be a formal judging by the Brewers’ Guild early Saturday afternoon. The usual judging forms for comments and scores by category, historicity, documentation, etc., will be applied. All entrants should be present and participate if possible.

The populace (of legal drinking age) will also be invited to taste starting Friday afternoon until some point on Friday night, and then continuing late Saturday morning through mid-afternoon. Each participant will be allocated a limited number of tokens to indicate their favorite entries. The entries will probably be presented anonymously.

Their Majesties will be invited to taste at their convenience.

A final score for each entry will be determined by some combination of factors based on judges’ forms and populace votes.

The results will be announced in court on Saturday night.

There will be diverse prizes for various categories or achievements, e.g., best novice entry, as well as the recognition of Æthelmearc Brewing Champion.

Brewers’ Guild members, current and past: your participation in judging will be greatly appreciated! Your help with assisting the populace with tasting will be invaluable. If the Æthelbar is on site and operating, volunteers to tend it will also be needed.

(A former version of this announcement inadvertently stated that non-alcoholic and non-fermented beverages were eligible as entries for the brewing championship. While they are certainly welcome for presentation and tasting, they would be incongruous for the competition itself. Members of the Herbal & Apothecary Guild and members of the Cooks Guild have been invited to participate alongside the brewers and we look forward to enjoying their creations as well.)