Garden State Homebrew Competition 2026

Josh Atzert

Josh Atzert

2024 Club Member of the Year
Just got an email reminder for this, incase anyone wanted to enter (hurry). They do beers, ciders and meads.

It has filled up quickly previous years.

From the site: "25 entries have been added to the system as of 10:23 AM, EST, Saturday, January 3, 2026. There is a limit of 300 entries for this competition.

10 paid entries are in the system as of 10:23 AM, EST, Saturday, January 3, 2026. There is a limit of 300 paid entries for this competition.

Entry registrations accepted 01/02/2026 8:00 AM, EST through 02/27/2026 4:00 PM, EST."

www.gshomebrewcomp.com

8th Annual Garden State Homebrew Competition

www.gshomebrewcomp.com
 
Last edited:
Scott W said:
What do the different color check marks mean on the competition page?

Are those the 'selected' styles for entry?
View attachment 319
Click to expand...
Their are pre-qualification you must list about your brew.

For mead, it's often key characteristics or ingredients i.e. types of fruit (if applicable), strength (abv), and carbonation).

For beer, i.e. it can specifics about the style (dark or pale doppelbock) - attached.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20260103_121117_DuckDuckGo.jpg
    Screenshot_20260103_121117_DuckDuckGo.jpg
    217.4 KB · Views: 2
I don't know if you need to be an AHA member....I was in the past and my AHA number autofills in the spot, so I've never had a problem entering competitions in the past. But it's been a few years since I've entered any competitions.
 
Mtorbik said:
So we used to be Barley Legal Homebrewers....I selected that out of habit. But that's an excellent question. Is SJ fermenters how we are registered in these competitions now?
Click to expand...
I choose 'South Jersey fermenters' as well
 
Josh Atzert said:
Just got an email reminder for this, incase anyone wanted to enter (hurry). They do beers, ciders and meads.

It has filled up quickly previous years.

From the site: "25 entries have been added to the system as of 10:23 AM, EST, Saturday, January 3, 2026. There is a limit of 300 entries for this competition.

10 paid entries are in the system as of 10:23 AM, EST, Saturday, January 3, 2026. There is a limit of 300 paid entries for this competition.

Entry registrations accepted 01/02/2026 8:00 AM, EST through 02/27/2026 4:00 PM, EST."

www.gshomebrewcomp.com

8th Annual Garden State Homebrew Competition

www.gshomebrewcomp.com
Click to expand...
Scott W said:
What do the different color check marks mean on the competition page?

Are those the 'selected' styles for entry?
View attachment 319
Click to expand...
 
I just registered and South Jersey Fermentation Club is now available. You can update your account info if you log in. Click on the person and edit account info. Under club you can change it. The last few years I just chose South Jersey Fermenters.

1767619356241.png
 
As of today there are 168 entries of 300 possible, so about 1/2 filled. The drop off dates are from the 16-27th of February, so there is time to finish/package your entry. The drop off is at Brew Hardware in Whitehouse Junction (~ an hr away). I am planning to enter maybe 2 or 3 beers. I entered 2 last year and the feedback was worthwhile.

A couple of comments from my experience for those who may not have entered these types of contests:

1. The local club (Garden State Home Brewers) dominates the competition and medalists.
2. The guy at Beer Hardware told me GSHB are heavily into darks (Stouts, Porters, Doppelbocks)
3. The judging looks at everything, including the fill level of your bottles. You will get a completed BJCP scoresheet with a potential of 50 points awarded. Flavor is 40%, Aroma 24% and Overall Impression 20%
4. Beers are judged in groups of 3-4 BJCP categories as one subcompetition. I think this is in part to fill out enough entries to be able to award 3 prizes and also to keep the judges focused on very similar styles. So and IPA is not being judged with a stout in the same category.
5. Unless there are a lot of entries in a group, I believe that the order of finish in that group is based on points. However for larger groups (10+?) judges will select the top 5 or 6 and do a final ranking. Like a mini Best of Show.
6. If you are submitting more than 1 beer, you might want to avoid competing with yourself and make sure your entries are in different categories (eg Brown Ale and Porter are judged together).
7 Finally, while the beer entries are blind to the judges, I noticed all the winners had names for their beers (13B British Brown Ale winner - You're Gonna Love My Nuts). Does that add an X factor????

Because of the distance, I hope we will organize a local drop off to be taken up there. Might also be impressive to see our group with a large number of entries arriving all at one time.
 
A. I keep asking the guy who maintains the software to update our club name in the database. Still hasn't happened (or GSHB is using an older version of the software). I always do Other and enter the actual name.

B. You do not have to be an AHA member, unless there is a specific prize (like a pro-am brewing opportunity) that requires it.

C. Judges do not see the beer names. We get a numbered bottle, with the style and any special ingredients / process / allergen / etc. information.

D. The local / host club often leads the pack at any competition, but this is just a numbers game -- most of the time the host club has the most entries in their own comp. There is nothing about the process that would favor the host club.
 
Brian Pylant said:
A. I keep asking the guy who maintains the software to update our club name in the database. Still hasn't happened (or GSHB is using an older version of the software). I always do Other and enter the actual name.

B. You do not have to be an AHA member, unless there is a specific prize (like a pro-am brewing opportunity) that requires it.

C. Judges do not see the beer names. We get a numbered bottle, with the style and any special ingredients / process / allergen / etc. information.

D. The local / host club often leads the pack at any competition, but this is just a numbers game -- most of the time the host club has the most entries in their own comp. There is nothing about the process that would favor the host club.
Click to expand...
Garden State added our club name this time.
 
The results are in for Monk Melee Belgium Beer competition.
There were 73 entries (34 of whom were from members of the Masters Homebrewer Program), from 15 clubs (at least 3 were from well outside the region)
16 Medals were awarded across 5 categories

6 of 15 clubs medaled (3 won 13 of the 16)
3 brewers won 8 medals (1/2)
10 medals were won by members of MHP

I don't recall hearing about the MHP, but apparently it is a national program that brewers earn points towards a Masters HB status. They work with chapters throughout the US that coordinate competition. In NJ the NJ State Homebrewers of the Year is determined by competition at 3 participating events - GSHB competition, NJ state fair and MoTown Mash. Surprisingly, there are no PA events listed with this. Here is the website:

www.masterhomebrewerprogram.com

MHP

About the MHP
www.masterhomebrewerprogram.com www.masterhomebrewerprogram.com

As you can see, there are some serious brewers out there who obviously are quite good, even to the point of spending money to enter competitions all across the country. The next competition for NJ is the GSHB competition in March and its filling up. Absent all their entries being thrown out, GCHB will claim the Nj state title and like Monk Melee, they will dominate their sponsored event.

As Brian pointed out, its clear that number of entries will weigh a lot and I am sure the GSHB group submits a lot of entries. We make some great beer. Let's see what we can do in March.
 
I'm submitting 3 beers to this and all signed up. Only <10 entries available as of today. I was away for the last meeting so maybe this was covered, but is anyone organizing a local drop off and drive up?
 
John C said:
I'm submitting 3 beers to this and all signed up. Only <10 entries available as of today. I was away for the last meeting so maybe this was covered, but is anyone organizing a local drop off and drive up?
Click to expand...
I’ll be taking a ride up either Thursday 2/26 or Friday 2/27.
Look for a post from for a location and time to drop off with me.
 
If anyone wants me to take their entries up feel free to drop them at my house.
If I’m not home you can put them on the porch.
If you need my address please drop me a message.

I’ll be going up on Friday morning.

Cheers!
Matt
 
Sorry for late notice.. - I will be headed up to Brewhardware tomorrow...

If Burlington is closer for you.. and you can get entries to me tonight / tomorrow (by 1 pm) - I can take them up as well.

(Just message for address)
 
Scott W said:
Sorry for late notice.. - I will be headed up to Brewhardware tomorrow...

If Burlington is closer for you.. and you can get entries to me tonight / tomorrow (by 1 pm) - I can take them up as well.

(Just message for address)
Click to expand...
I have 3 beers to go. Can I get these to you Scott or Matt? Need address. Tomorrow drop off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top