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Rules

The Dominion Cup is the homebrew competition hosted by the James River Homebrewers every year. This is our 30th year putting on what we hope is one of the best homebrew competitions in the region.  Please read carefully to the rules for this year.

We plan to do in-person judging again for both First Round and Best of Show this year. We will continue to take precautions and ask that those volunteering abide by all safe precautions as specified by the competition coordinator.

We are limiting the total entries to 500. We will return to requiring 2 bottles per entry. The cost per entry is $10. Note that you must pay for your entry in order to reserve your spot.  We will not be issuing refunds for entries that are paid for but not received. As our competition fills up quickly, you are taking someone else's spot if you don't get your entries in, so it is important to enter what you plan to send.  For extraordinary circumstances, contact the competition organizer.

All entries should be in 12 oz brown glass bottles, however green and clear glass will be accepted. We cannot accept larger bottles or swing-type caps due to the need to have uniform storage for the beers. We will also accept cans this year as long as there are no identifying marks on the cans and they take up the same space as a 12 oz bottle.

Exception: Mead and Cider ONLY may also use up to 750mL wine bottles in addition to the above.

The competition will be open to all Beer Styles, as well as Mead and Cider from the 2021 BJCP Guidelines.

Winners will be announced on the website and through social media after the Best of Show round is complete. Score sheets will be scanned into the website, but will not be delivered in person unless picked up during the competition final round.

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BJCP 2021 Judging Styles

If a style's name is hyperlinked, it has specific entry requirements. Select or tap on the name to view the subcategory's requirements.

1A American Light Lager1B American Lager1C Cream Ale
1D American Wheat Beer2A International Pale Lager2B International Amber Lager
2C International Dark Lager3A Czech Pale Lager3B Czech Premium Pale Lager
3C Czech Amber Lager3D Czech Dark Lager4A Munich Helles
4B Festbier4C Helles Bock5A German Leichtbier
5B Kölsch5C German Helles Exportbier5D German Pils
6A Märzen6B Rauchbier6C Dunkels Bock
7A Vienna Lager7B Altbier8A Munich Dunkel
8B Schwarzbier9A Doppelbock 9B Eisbock
9C Baltic Porter10A Weissbier10B Dunkels Weissbier
10C Weizenbock 11A Ordinary Bitter11B Best Bitter
11C Strong Bitter12A British Golden Ale12B Australian Sparkling Ale
12C English IPA13A Dark Mild13B British Brown Ale
13C English Porter14A Scottish Light14B Scottish Heavy
14C Scottish Export15A Irish Red Ale15B Irish Stout
15C Irish Extra Stout16A Sweet Stout16B Oatmeal Stout
16C Tropical Stout16D Foreign Extra Stout17A British Strong Ale
17A1 Burton Ale17B Old Ale17C Wee Heavy
17D English Barley Wine18A Blonde Ale18B American Pale Ale
19A American Amber Ale19B California Common19C American Brown Ale
20A American Porter20B American Stout20C Imperial Stout
21A American IPA21B Specialty IPA 21B1 Belgian IPA
21B2 Black IPA 21B3 Brown IPA 21B4 Red IPA
21B5 Rye IPA 21B6 White IPA 21B7 Brut IPA
21C Hazy IPA22A Double IPA22B American Strong Ale
22C American Barleywine22D Wheatwine23A Berliner Weisse
23B Flanders Red Ale23C Oud Bruin23D Lambic
23E Gueuze23F Fruit Lambic 23G Gose
24A Witbier24B Belgian Pale Ale24C Bière de Garde
25A Belgian Blond Ale25B Saison 25C Belgian Golden Strong Ale
26A Belgian Single26B Belgian Dubbel26C Belgian Tripel
26D Belgian Dark Strong Ale27A Historical Beer 27A1 Kellerbier
27A2 Kentucky Common27A3 Lichtenhainer27A4 London Brown Ale
27A5 Piwo Grodziskie27A6 Pre-Prohibition Lager27A7 Pre-Prohibition Porter
27A8 Roggenbier27A9 Sahti28A Brett Beer
28B Mixed Fermentation Sour Beer 28C Wild Specialty Beer 28D Straight Sour Beer
29A Fruit Beer 29B Fruit and Spice Beer 29C Specialty Fruit Beer
29D Grape Ale 30A Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer 30B Autumn Seasonal Beer
30C Winter Seasonal Beer 30D Specialty Spice Beer 31A Alternative Grain Beer
31B Alternative Sugar Beer 32A Classic Style Smoked Beer 32B Specialty Smoked Beer
33A Wood-Aged Beer 33B Specialty Wood-Aged Beer 34A Commercial Specialty Beer
34B Mixed-Style Beer 34C Experimental Beer C1A New World Cider
C1B English Cider C1C French Cider C1D New World Perry
C1E Traditional Perry C2A New England Cider C2B Cider with Other Fruit
C2C Applewine C2D Ice Cider C2E Cider with Herbs/Spices
C2F Specialty Cider/Perry LSX1 Dorada PampeanaLSX2 IPA Argenta
LSX3 Italian Grape Ale LSX4 Catharina Sour LSX5 New Zealand Pilsner
M1A Dry Mead M1B Semi-Sweet Mead M1C Sweet Mead
M2A Cyser M2B Pyment M2C Berry Mead
M2D Stone Fruit Mead M2E Melomel M3A Fruit and Spice Mead
M3B Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Mead M4A Braggot M4B Historical Mead
M4C Experimental Mead   

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Number of Bottles Required Per Entry: 2

Judging Sessions and Dates

Tuesday Night Judging
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 6:00 PM, EDT

Wednesday Night Judging
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 6:00 PM, EDT

Thursday Night Judging
Thursday, August 10, 2023 6:00 PM, EDT

Friday Night Judging
Friday, August 11, 2023 6:00 PM, EDT

Saturday Morning Session
Saturday, August 12, 2023 8:30 AM, EDT

Saturday Afternoon Session
Saturday, August 12, 2023 12:30 PM, EDT

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Best of Show

First, second, and third place Best of Show medals will be awarded this year. The first place will receive their name on coveted Dominion Cup. Limited additional prize packages will also be awarded to the BOS winners.

Mead and Cider will be combined into one Best of Show round with a First Place medal awarded.

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Awards

Winners will be announced on the website and through social media after the Best of Show round is complete.

Medals and Prize packages will be awarded to the top 3 entries for each table. The top beer from each table will go to the best of show round. Additional medals and prize packages will be awarded for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place best of show beers. Mead and Cider will be combined and have 1 best of show winner. We will work to arrange pickup locations for medals and prizes in the local area. Shipping will be provided for non-local winners.

Stay tuned for some Brewers Choice awards - chances for various breweries to pick your beer to brew in collaboration!

The Plato Award is Back! This prize goes to the brewer with the most 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes from the first round of competition. Points are awarded: 5pts for 1st place, 3pts for 2nd place, and 2 pts for 3rd place.

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Awards Ceremony

Online
Saturday, August 12, 2023 8:00 PM, EDT

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Circuit Qualification

The Dominion Cup is a Southeastern Homebrewers Association Circuit Event

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