We are now accepting submissions for our 12th Annual Best of the Northwest beer competition!
All submissions are tasted blind, by a panel of the Northwest’s top palates made up of cicerones, beverage directors/buyers, beer writers, producers, bottle shop owners and beer industry professionals. The top four from each category will be awarded – Platinum, Double Gold, Gold or Silver. The larger categories will have Judges’ Picks which are the next highest-ranking beverages after the four medalists (Platinum, Double Gold, Gold and Silver). At the end of the competition readers will gain further insight into the ever-evolving Northwest beer scene and have an expertly curated shopping list of what to drink throughout the year.
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TO SUBMIT BEERS TO THE 12TH ANNUAL BEST OF THE NW, PLEASE FOLLOW THE RULES BELOW:
1. Cost of entry is $55 for each individual product submission. Payment is accepted via credit card by clicking HERE (or by copying the link below into your browser*), as well as by check via mail to 1335 N. Northlake Way, Suite 101, Seattle, WA 98103. All applicable submission fees must be paid in full by Friday, Sept. 8 (Fresh Hop beers due Friday, September 22) to be entered in the judging.
2. Please submit your beer by clicking HERE (or by copying the link below into your browser**). The submission will not be entered in the judging unless the online form is completed.
3. Send four (4) samples of each submission for 500ml or less, two (2) samples for 19oz, 22oz or 750ml bottles or one (1) 64 oz growler.
5. All products must be produced in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana or British Columbia.
6. UPDATED DATES: Ship all entries by Friday, September 8 (Fresh Hop beers only – Friday, September 22) to:
7. Shipping and drop off instructions at the bottom of the post.
*** JUDGING will take place mid-September.
Note: if you do not currently package your product and will be sending a growler, please email Melissa Miller at melissa@sippublishing.com to coordinate.
*Credit card payment link: https://shop.sippublishing.com/products/2023-beer-submission
**Submission form link: https://forms.gle/YD4Q7xTV7QNsMsQMA
2023 CATEGORIES
IN FOLLOWING THE DEFINITIONS BY THE BREWERS ASSOCIATION,
ALE STYLES
Pale Commonwealth and Golden ales – American Blonde Ale or Other Light Ales (Australian sparkling, British Golden and English IPA)
American-Style Pale Ale
Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale
American-Style India Pale Ale – Mainstay / Year-Round Offering
American-Style India Pale Ale – One Offs
West-Coast Style – Mainstay / Year-Round Offering
West-Coast Style – One offs
Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale – Mainstay / Year-Round Offering
American-Style Imperial or Double India Pale Ale (6-8.4% ABV)
Juicy or Hazy Imperial or Double India Pale Ale (6-8.4% ABV)
Strong Ale – includes Barley Wine, Triple or Quadruple Ales (new category)
European Light Ales – British Bitters, Irish Reds – (new category)
Ales – Kolsch, Altbier (new category)
Amber / Red Ale
Sour Ale
Fruited Sour Ale
Porter
Stout
Imperial Stout
LAGER STYLES – Category updated
American-Style Lager: Light lager, American Pilsner and Pre-prohibition pilsner, Standard Lagers, Amber and Dark lagers
Hoppy Lager – Dry hopped lager, New Zealand Pilsner, Italian PIlsner
International Light Lager – Japanese Lagers, Dortmunder, Helles,
International Amber/Dark – Bockbiers, Shwarzbier, Czech Amber/Dark
PILSNER STYLE – Category updated
Czech and German Style Pilsner (American-style Pilsner should enter in the American-style Lager category)
OTHER BEER STYLES
Belgian-Style
Saison
German Wheat + Rye + German Country Ales *(new category)
Brett Beer – Acidity resulting from Brettanomyces fermentation results in a complex flavor profile
Mixed Culture Beer -Acidity resulting from fermentation with Brettanomyces and bacteria results in a complex flavor profile.
Wood & Barrel Aged Beer
Wood & Barrel-Aged Sour Beer
Specialty Beer: Beers brewed with nuts, seeds, herbs including cocoa-chocolate, spices, flowers, spruce tips, vegetables (squashes or chilies, carrots, etc.). Beers brewed with fruit adjuncts will fall into either Fruit Beer or Fruited Sour Beer. *(new category)
Fruit Beer – raspberries, blueberries, watermelon, peach, etc.
Coffee
Non-Alcoholic Beer
FRESH HOP – *(new category) – NOTE, deadline for delivery of fresh hop beers is september 22nd
Pale Ale
India Pale Ale
Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
Other
*Though unlikely for most, all categories are subject to change if submissions are too low or too high. In the case of lower submissions, beer would be merged into an appropriately fitting category; for higher submissions, a category of its own would be created. Additionally, beers submitted into the wrong category will be moved to the correct category.
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SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Carefully package all glass-format beers, especially growlers, as shipping companies are not always gentle.
2) Please do not use packing peanuts or popcorn.
3) Ship all entries to the following address:
SIP MAGAZINE C/O SEATTLE WINE STORAGE
ATTN: BEST OF BEER
9401 AURORA AVE N, SEATTLE, WA 98103
In person deliveries can be made to Seattle Wine Storage daily from 12-6pm (excluding holidays).
*** PORTLAND PICK UP – Beer Drop location for Oregon Breweries at Threshold Brewing in Portland the weekend of August 25th, find all the details here.
Sip Magazine is an award-winning publication covering the wine, beer, spirits and cider of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
To view the complete list of winners from the 11th Annual Best of the Northwest Beer click here.
