2020 California State Fair Homebrew Competition

Thanks to all who participated in the 2020 California State Fair Homebrew Competition.

There were 647 entries judged and 265 registered participants, judges, and stewards.

Best of Show Winners

Best of Show – Beer

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Brian Rower Co-Brewer: Amber Rower	This Beer Is Bananas!	10A: Weissbier

Best of Show – Mead

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Michael Riddle Co-Brewer: Alex Riddle	Blueberry Blossom Mead	M1B: Semi-Sweet Mead	HOME

Best Club of Show (46 Participating Clubs)

Place	Club	1st	2nd	3rd	Score
1st	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]	11	11	7	62.00

Scores and tie-breakers have been applied in accordance with the scoring methodology. Numbers reflected are rounded to the hundredth place. Hover over or tap the question mark icon () for the actual calculated value.

Winning Entries

Table 1: Standard American Beer (13 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Jim Riffe	Cagey	1B: American Lager
2nd	Jim Riffe	Lost In Taste	1A: American Light Lager
3rd	Oscar Lemus	Drink Now, Smile Later	1B: American Lager	831Locos

Table 2: International Lager (16 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Nick Wilson	Lager	2A: International Pale Lager	QUAFF (Quality Ale and Fermentation Fraternity)
2nd	Paul Brown	Darkness Imprisoning Me	2C: International Dark Lager	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
3rd	Jim Riffe	Black Blade	2C: International Dark Lager

Table 3: Czech Lager (8 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Josh Baas Co-Brewer: Jeff Rorison	It's A Pilsner	3B: Czech Premium Pale Lager
2nd	Jonathan Hernandez	Boogie's Pils	3A: Czech Pale Lager	Bakerfield FOAM
3rd	Trevor McGuire	Tmavy Lezak	3D: Czech Dark Lager	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]

Table 4: Pale Malty European Lager (12 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style
1st	Thomas Atkinson	Skyler	4A: Munich Helles
2nd	Virgil Redman	Batch 301	4B: Festbier
3rd	George Schuster Co-Brewer: Jordan Germyn	Helles	4A: Munich Helles

Table 5: Pale Bitter European Beer (18 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Andrew Simsak	Inner Sunshine	5C: German Exportbier	San Francisco Homebrewer's Guild
2nd	Tj Shively	Swingshift	5B: Kolsch
3rd	Andrew Simsak	Atmospheric River	5D: German Pils	San Francisco Homebrewer's Guild

Table 6: European Amber (17 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Jim Riffe	Bierbauch	6A: Marzen
2nd	Michael Riddle Co-Brewer: Alex Riddle	Here's Looking At You, Kid	6C: Dunkels Bock	HOME
3rd	Chester Simocko	Marzen	6A: Marzen	Silicon Valley Sudzers

Table 8: Dark European Lager (6 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Terrell Hillard	Munchausen's Moustache	8A: Munich Dunkel	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
2nd	Virgil Redman	Batch 309	8B: Schwarzbier
3rd	Bryce Hunter	Schwarzbier	8B: Schwarzbier	QUAFF (Quality Ale and Fermentation Fraternity)

Table 9: Strong European Beer (10 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Tj Shively	Piper's Got Pipes!	9A: Doppelbock
2nd	Brett Higham Co-Brewer: Hirendu Vaishnav	Hirendu's Previous Doppelbock Was Better	9A: Doppelbock	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
3rd	Gordon Mauger	For Tim O.	9A: Doppelbock	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]

Table 10: German Wheat Beer (11 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Brian Rower Co-Brewer: Amber Rower	This Beer Is Bananas!	10A: Weissbier
2nd	Christopher Weiss	Rabenweizen	10B: Dunkels Weissbier	Greenbelt Brewers Association
3rd	David Avila	Hammer Down Dunkel	10B: Dunkels Weissbier

Table 11: British Bitter (10 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Nick Wilson	Esb	11C: Strong Bitter	QUAFF (Quality Ale and Fermentation Fraternity)
2nd	Chris Papazian	Bb8.2	11B: Best Bitter
3rd	Ben Sookying	Big Ben Strong	11C: Strong Bitter	Brew Knights [CA]

Table 12: Pale Commonwealth Beer (9 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Brent Hull Co-Brewer: Paul Buller	Ariel 1	12A: English Golden Ale	Fairfield Fermentors Brew Club
2nd	Justin Clayden	Gondwana Sparkling	12B: Australian Sparkling Ale
3rd	Michael Stanish	Golden Bitter	12A: English Golden Ale

Table 13: Brown British Beer (13 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Mike Silva	Mild Mannered	13A: Dark Mild	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
2nd	David Jacoby	Aiming Fluid	13A: Dark Mild	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
3rd	Fred Brophy Co-Brewer: Paul Duddles	Naughty Boy	13B: English Brown Ale	Mash Heads

Table 14: Scottish and Irish (17 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Ben Sookying	Happy St. Pappy	15A: Irish Red Ale	Brew Knights [CA]
2nd	Jared Rowley	Dublin Dry Irish Stout	15B: Irish Stout	QUAFF (Quality Ale and Fermentation Fraternity)
3rd	John Orcutt	Red Alert	15A: Irish Red Ale	Brewins

Table 16: Dark British Beer (17 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Jason Justeson Co-Brewer: Ralph Carrasquillo, Gabe Padilla	Sweeeeet!	16A: Sweet Stout	Brewing Borrachos
2nd	Roland Montgomery	Hotz Oats	16B: Oatmeal Stout	The Brü Club
3rd	Eli Palma	Why Are You Hitting Yourself	16D: Foreign Extra Stout	QUAFF (Quality Ale and Fermentation Fraternity)

Table 17: Strong British Ale (15 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Kenneth Berry	The Older I Get	17B: Old Ale	Humboldt Homebrewers
2nd	Jim Riffe	Barry Bez	17C: Wee Heavy
3rd	Robbie Proctor	Granny’s Tipple	17D: English Barleywine	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]

Table 18: Pale American Ale (22 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Matt Miller	The Beer Dreams From the Tap	18B: American Pale Ale	Greenbelt Brewers Association
2nd	Brent Hull Co-Brewer: Paul Buller	Hopthology	18B: American Pale Ale	Fairfield Fermentors Brew Club
3rd	Mike Neice	Mike's Pale Ale	18B: American Pale Ale	Phantom Homebrew

Table 19: Amber and Brown American Beer (18 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Gordon Mauger	Time To Rake Leaves	19C: American Brown Ale	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
2nd	Mike Durrant	Brown Otter Ale	19C: American Brown Ale	MASH831
3rd	Ben Sookying	Happy In Common	19B: California Common	Brew Knights [CA]

Table 20: American Porter and Stout (41 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Michael Riddle Co-Brewer: Alex Riddle	Tricentennial Stout	20C: Imperial Stout	HOME
2nd	Jared Rowley Co-Brewer: Chris Swanson	Star Destroyer Stout	20B: American Stout	QUAFF (Quality Ale and Fermentation Fraternity)
3rd	Kenneth Berry	Robust Rye Porter	20A: American Porter	Humboldt Homebrewers

Table 21: American IPA (34 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Craig Nolan Co-Brewer: Ken Hendrix	Shut Out IPA	21A: American IPA
2nd	Mike Neice	Piggy Can't See	21A: American IPA	Phantom Homebrew
3rd	Sean Bush	Just Clowning IPA	21A: American IPA	Society of Barley Engineers

Table 22: Strong American Ale (17 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Robert Rimar	Double Duchesses	22A: Double IPA
2nd	Michael Riddle Co-Brewer: Alex Riddle	Wheatwine	22D: Wheatwine	HOME
3rd	Steven Padfield	Liability Waiver	22A: Double IPA

Table 23: European Sour Ale (17 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Brett Higham Co-Brewer: Kyle Busald	Inca Gueuze(r)	23E: Gueuze	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
2nd	Vito Delucchi	East Heather	23F: Fruit Lambic	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
3rd	Brett Higham	Odotelik Flanders 2017	23B: Flanders Red Ale	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]

Table 24: Belgian Ale (7 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Matthew Carroll	Belgian Wit	24A: Witbier	Placer Ultimate Brewing Society (PUBS)
2nd	Robert Casey	Belgian Pale Ale	24B: Belgian Pale Ale	Marin Society of Homebrewers (MaSH)
3rd	Marcos Santanna	Wit's End	24A: Witbier

Table 25: Strong Belgian Ale (22 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Joshua Adams	Belgian Blonde	25A: Belgian Blond Ale
2nd	Robert Casey	Belgian Saison	25B: Saison	Marin Society of Homebrewers (MaSH)
3rd	Josh Baas Co-Brewer: Jeff Rorison	Golden Strong Boi	25C: Belgian Golden Strong Ale

Table 26: Trappist Ale (22 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Josh Baas Co-Brewer: Jeff Rorison	Ultimate Alf	26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale
2nd	Josh Baas	Baby Alf	26B: Belgian Dubbel
3rd	Kenneth Berry	Devil On the Dark Horizon	26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale	Humboldt Homebrewers

Table 27: Historical (10 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Eric Ruff	Rhb Gose	27A1: Gose	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
2nd	Javier Alderete Co-Brewer: Steve Samoulides And Damien Clauson	What Do You Mean By Light Beer	27A7: Pre-Prohibition Lager	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
3rd	Michael Lenhares	Long Rifle Ale	27A6: Kentucky Common

Table 28: American Wild Ale (21 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Vito Delucchi	Faux'foune	28C: Wild Specialty Beer	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
2nd	Edward Demayo	Xlii Forty Two	28B: Mixed Fermentation Sour Beer	Marin Society of Homebrewers (MaSH)
3rd	Edward Demayo	Mostly Harmless	28C: Wild Specialty Beer	Marin Society of Homebrewers (MaSH)

Table 29: Fruit Beer (22 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Brett Winquest	Apricot Saison	29A: Fruit Beer	Levee Road Brewing
2nd	Javier Alderete Co-Brewer: Brett Higham	You Fruity Imperialist	29C: Speciality Fruit Beer	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
3rd	Brandi Flanagan	Pop! Berliner Weisse	29A: Fruit Beer	Undecided Homebrew Club

Table 30: Spiced Beer (31 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Vito Delucchi	Thiccc Mint	30C: Winter Seasonal Beer	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
2nd	Mark Agan	Paisanos Coffee Stout	30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
3rd	Paul Brown	Taste Me You Will See	30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]

Table 31: Specialty & Alternative Fermentables (11 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Christos Renner Co-Brewer: John Stumph	Gypsie In the Woods	34C: Experimental Beer	QUAFF (Quality Ale and Fermentation Fraternity)
2nd	Michael Skelton	Ochre Skelter	31B: Alternative Sugar Beer
3rd	Carl Townsend	Gluten Reduced Pale Ale	31A: Alternative Grain Beer	Pacific Gravity Home Brewers Club

Table 32: Smoked Beer (8 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Jason Satern	O-Smo-Po	32B: Specialty Smoked Beer	Sonoma Beerocrats
2nd	Paul Brown	Your Life Burns Faster	32A: Classic Style Smoked Beer	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
3rd	Bill Benson Co-Brewer: Roger Dunham	Big Wood Porter	32B: Specialty Smoked Beer	Fairfield Fermentors Brew Club

Table 33: Wood Beer (22 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Eli Palma	The Monchichi	33B: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer	QUAFF (Quality Ale and Fermentation Fraternity)
2nd	Michael Riddle Co-Brewer: Alex Riddle	Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout	33B: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer	HOME
3rd	Thomas Kwasniewski	Motor Oil	33B: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer

Table 35: Standard Cider and Perry (20 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Robbie Proctor	Ruddy Pommes	C1B: English Cider	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
2nd	Hirendu Vaishnav	Mariposa English	C1B: English Cider	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
3rd	Brett Winquest	Apple Cider	C1A: New World Cider	Levee Road Brewing

Table 36: Specialty Cider and Perry (19 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Pavel Anisimov	Specialty Cider Is Very Complicated Category... You Never Know What To Expect.	C2F: Specialty Cider/Perry	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
2nd	Tim O'Brien	Plumtastic	C2F: Specialty Cider/Perry
3rd	Bruce Wilson	Redrum	C2D: Ice Cider	Maltose Falcons

Table 37: Traditional Mead (12 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Michael Riddle Co-Brewer: Alex Riddle	Blueberry Blossom Mead	M1B: Semi-Sweet Mead	HOME
2nd	Ryan Jones	Blackberry Honey Session Mead	M1B: Semi-Sweet Mead
3rd	Hirendu Vaishnav	Sweet Raspberry Blossom	M1C: Sweet Mead	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]

Table 38: Fruit Mead (20 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Pavel Anisimov	Where Do Bugs Go To Watch The Big Game? Apple-Bees.	M2A: Cyser	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
2nd	Pavel Anisimov	How Many Cherries Can You Fit In One Bottle? 72. I Had To Count That.	M2D: Stone Fruit Mead	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
3rd	Michael Riddle Co-Brewer: Alex Riddle	Cherry Mead	M2D: Stone Fruit Mead	HOME

Table 39: Spiced Mead (5 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Jim Price	Coffee Mocha	M3B: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Mead	Hangtown Association of Zymurgy Enthusiasts (HAZE)
2nd	Pavel Anisimov	Chocolate! Yah! More Chocolate! This Is Awesome!!! I Might Have A Sugar Shock, But Who Cares?	M3A: Fruit and Spice Mead	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
3rd	Roger Taylor	Rogers Apple Pie	M3A: Fruit and Spice Mead	Maltose Falcons

Table 40: Specialty Mead (7 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Pavel Anisimov	Here's Another One, Brochet!!! I Can't Hear You... Louder!	M4C: Experimental Mead	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
2nd	Damien Clauson	Briars, Bees and Beer	M4A: Braggot	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]
3rd	Pavel Anisimov	What Is A Dwojniak? I Don't Know But Judges Love It.	M4B: Historical Mead	Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE) [CA]

Table 42: Specialty IPA (47 entries)

Place	Brewer	Entry Name	Style	Club
1st	Scott Grove Co-Brewer: Hunter Grove	Red Rye IPA	21B5: Rye IPA
2nd	Brett Winquest	Hop On the Juice Wagon	21B: Specialty IPA	Levee Road Brewing
3rd	Rhett Bond	Killer Dana White IPA	21B6: White IPA

Judging Session Locations and Dates

Cal Expo Thursday afternoon
02/27/2020 6:00 PM, PST

Cal Expo Friday morning
02/28/2020 9:00 AM, PST

Cal Expo Friday afternoon
02/28/2020 12:30 PM, PST

Cal Expo Saturday morning
02/29/2020 9:00 AM, PST

Cal Expo Saturday afternoon
02/29/2020 12:30 PM, PST

Cal Expo Sunday morning
03/01/2020 9:00 AM, PST

Account Registration Closed

Account registrations accepted 01/02/2020 12:00 AM, PST through 02/28/2020 11:59 PM, PST.

Entry Registration Closed

Entry registrations accepted 01/03/2020 12:01 AM, PST through 02/14/2020 7:00 PM, PST.

Entry Drop-Off Closed

Entry bottles accepted at drop-off locations 02/01/2020 9:00 AM, PST through 02/15/2020 12:00 PM, PST.

Please pay attention to the notes provided for each drop-off location. There could be earlier deadlines for some drop-off locations listed, particular hours when entries are accepted, certain individuals to leave your entries with, etc. All entrants are responsible for reading the information provided by the organizers for each drop-off location.

Entry Shipping Closed

Entry bottles accepted at the shipping location 02/10/2020 9:00 AM, PST through 02/15/2020 12:00 PM, PST.