Wortapalooza

Awards

Sponsors

Judges

Mark Abermoske, Dan Acheson, John Dalton, Andy Denton, Kevin Drees, Gregory Ellwanger, Summer Ferguson, Tom Ferguson, Zach Fritts, Jennifer Gimmell, Jonathan Greene, John Guilfoil, Eric Hammel, Daniel Hayosh, Tom Hayosh, Michael Helzer, Jim Johnston, Chris Knight, Roger Masson, Steve McKenna, Mark Niemczewski, Ross O’Neill, Brad Ramsey, Jason Rohloff, Dennis Sage, Edward Salse, Gregory Sanial, Megan Sawa, Calvin Seith, Sebastian Seith, Alexander Sliz, Jeff Sparrow, Ryan Tracy, Dmitri Tymos, Eileen Uchima, Mike Uchima, Leah Vaid, Ryan Walker, David Warner, Kevin Wojdak, Mica Zaragoza

Judges - Best of Show

Zach Fritts, Tom Hayosh, Michael Helzer, Jeff Sparrow, Eileen Uchima

Staff

Gregory Ellwanger, Tom Hayosh

Organizer

Jim Silverstein

By the Numbers

251 Entries 86 Entrants

41 Judges 2 Staff

103 Placing Entries

Table 1: American Lawnmower Beers

12 entries

Judges: Andy Denton, John Guilfoil, Steve McKenna (Head Judge), Ross O’Neill, Edward Salse, Gregory Sanial

1st
Jim Silverstein
Club Wort
Jim's High Life (1B: American Lager)
2nd
Chad Faulstick
Wheeling Alers
Chettyweiser (1A: American Light Lager)
3rd
Gillian Muller-Greyz
Evanston Homebrew Club
Never Drank Beer In College (1B: American Lager)

Table 2: International Lagers

5 entries

Judges: Roger Masson (Head Judge), Megan Sawa

1st
Dirk Montgomery
Red Earth Brewers
Czech It Out! (2C: International Dark Lager)
2nd
Jonathan Marut
Horsemen of the Hopocalypse
Bonus Nachos (2A: International Pale Lager)
3rd
Tom Luers
Butler County Brewing Society...
Kickin' Back International Lager (2A: International Pale Lager)

Table 3: Czech Pale Lagers

4 entries

Judges: Eric Hammel, Michael Helzer (Head Judge), Sebastian Seith

1st
Kyle Ernsberger
Cider, Homebrew, And Mead...
Mean Brews Czech Premium Pale Lager (3B: Czech Premium Pale Lager)
2nd
Adam Skjefstad
River City Brewers [MN]
Czech Please Pils (3A: Czech Pale Lager)
3rd
Eric Dolen
Club Wort
King Me (3B: Czech Premium Pale Lager)

Table 4: Czech Amber and Dark Lagers

4 entries

Judges: Mark Abermoske, Zach Fritts (Head Judge)

1st
Eric Hammel
Vltavou Lager (3C: Czech Amber Lager)
2nd
Gregory Sanial
PrimeTime Brewers
Why Is Appearance Only Worth Three Points? (3C: Czech Amber Lager)
3rd
Eric Hammel
Hnoza Koza Dark (3D: Czech Dark Lager)

Table 5: Munich Helles

7 entries

Judges: Tom Hayosh (Head Judge), Kevin Wojdak

1st
Brett Vodicka
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Chicken Lollipop (4A: Munich Helles)
2nd
Dirk Montgomery
Red Earth Brewers
Helles Belles (4A: Munich Helles)
3rd
Mike Neville
LagerBoyz
PizzaBier (4A: Munich Helles)

Table 6: Strong German Pale Lagers

7 entries

Judges: Kevin Drees, Tom Hayosh (Head Judge)

1st
Daniel Kukuk
Lagerboyz
Walleye Run (4C: Helles Bock)
2nd
David Banks
Club Wort
Festbier (4B: Festbier)
3rd
Marc Riordan
Hunny Bunny (4C: Helles Bock)

Table 7: German Pale Bitter Beers

5 entries

Judges: Chris Knight (Head Judge), Mark Niemczewski, Alexander Sliz

1st
Bryant Jurgensmeyer
The Brü Club
Zisch! (5A: German Leichtbier)
2nd
Jason Musgrave & Caleb Dunn
Busty Bee (5B: Kölsch)
3rd
Paul Smietana
Club Wort
Paul SMIETANA (5B: Kölsch)

Table 8: Pilsners

8 entries

Judges: Zach Fritts (Head Judge), John Guilfoil, Edward Salse

1st
Bryant Jurgensmeyer
The Brü Club
Grandpa's Pils (5D: German Pils)
2nd
Wayne Doucette
River City Brewers [MN]
Ex-Schaumburg Resident's German Pils (5D: German Pils)
3rd
Marc Riordan
No Frills Pils (5D: German Pils)

Table 9: German Amber and Dark Beer

10 entries

Judges: Ross O’Neill, Dennis Sage, Megan Sawa, Jeff Sparrow (Head Judge)

1st
Brandon Edwards
Lagerboyz
The Schwartz Is Strong... (8B: Schwarzbier)
2nd
Brian Carpenter
Brewing Innovators and Enthusiasts...
10 (6A: Märzen)
3rd
Derek England
Club Wort
März Madness (6A: Märzen)

Table 10: German Wheat and Rye

6 entries

Judges: John Guilfoil, Daniel Hayosh (Head Judge)

1st
Dan Acheson
Urban Knaves of Grain
The Wise Ram (10C: Weizenbock)
2nd
Art Kim
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Lee Elia And The Multi-Fold Of Madness (27A8: Roggenbier)
3rd
Dirk Montgomery
Red Earth Brewers
El Jefe (10A: Weissbier)

Table 11: British Ales

14 entries

Judges: Mark Abermoske, Jonathan Greene (Head Judge), Eric Hammel, Brad Ramsey, Ryan Tracy, Leah Vaid

1st
Sebastian Seith & Calvin Seith
Brixie's Brewers
So (Low) Bitter (11C: Strong Bitter)
2nd
Joe Skiles
Urban Knaves of Grain
Team America (12A: British Golden Ale)
3rd
Edward Salse
North Urban Brewing Society...
Edward's Best Bitter (11B: Best Bitter)

Table 12: Irish and Scottish Ales

5 entries

Judges: Gregory Ellwanger, Gregory Sanial (Head Judge)

1st
Ben Nelson
Highland Braw (14C: Scottish Export)
2nd
John Guilfoil
Club Wort
Red Headed Stepchild (15A: Irish Red Ale)
3rd
Stephen Schmitt
Evanston Homebrew Club
William Wallace (14C: Scottish Export)

Table 13: Porters

4 entries

Judges: Mark Abermoske, Sebastian Seith, Jim Silverstein (Head Judge)

1st
Bill Ports & Billy Ports
WC Porter (9C: Baltic Porter)
2nd
Scott Estlund
The Brü Club
So...I Got A Thing For Feet! (20A: American Porter)
3rd
Zach Fritts
Club Wort
Obituary (13C: English Porter)

Table 14: Stouts

6 entries

Judges: Gregory Ellwanger, Zach Fritts (Head Judge), Sebastian Seith

1st
Scott Estlund
The Brü Club
Footsteps In The Night! (16A: Sweet Stout)
2nd
Daniel Kukuk
Lagerboyz
Midnight Island (16C: Tropical Stout)
3rd
Dirk Montgomery
Red Earth Brewers
Old Walking Stick (15C: Irish Extra Stout)

Table 15: American Blonde and Pale Ales

14 entries

Judges: Michael Helzer, Jim Silverstein (Head Judge), Alexander Sliz, Leah Vaid

1st
Steven Offutt
Ozark Zymurgists
479 Blonde (18A: Blonde Ale)
2nd
Jason Musgrave & Caleb Dunn
Defend The West (18B: American Pale Ale)
3rd
Brett Vodicka
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Murder Hornet (18B: American Pale Ale)

Table 16: American Amber and Brown Ales

5 entries

Judges: Jim Johnston, Jim Silverstein (Head Judge)

1st
Marc Riordan
3 Second Amber (19A: American Amber Ale)
2nd
Steven Offutt
Ozark Zymurgists
Sierra's Brown (19C: American Brown Ale)
3rd
John Guilfoil
Club Wort
John Brown's Body (19C: American Brown Ale)

Table 17: Barleywines and Imperial Stouts

9 entries

Judges: Jason Rohloff, Megan Sawa, Alexander Sliz, Dmitri Tymos, Mike Uchima (Head Judge)

1st
Timothy Pratt
Brew Haven
When LIFE Gives You Barleywine (17D: English Barley Wine)
2nd
Stephen Schmitt
Evanston Homebrew Club
Rancor (22C: American Barleywine)
3rd
Samuel Persichilli
Hangar 41 Brew Club
Shaolin (20C: Imperial Stout)
HM
Dirk Montgomery
Red Earth Brewers
Tsar's Choice (20C: Imperial Stout)

Table 18: American and Double IPAs

6 entries

Judges: John Dalton (Head Judge), John Guilfoil

1st
Joe Skiles
Urban Knaves of Grain
My Finger Is On The Button (21A: American IPA)
2nd
Ben Gaylord
Ultra Rare Brewers
Cleansed By Fire (22A: Double IPA)
3rd
Dmitri Tymos
Club Wort
Barney The Welder (22A: Double IPA)

Table 19: Hazy IPAs

9 entries

Judges: John Guilfoil, Jason Rohloff, Edward Salse, Gregory Sanial, Dmitri Tymos, Mike Uchima (Head Judge)

1st
Bryant Jurgensmeyer
The Brü Club
Low Visibility (21C: Hazy IPA)
2nd
Mike Lawler
North Urban Brewing Society...
You Lika Da Juice? (21C: Hazy IPA)
3rd
Nick DeFae
Slava Ukraini (21C: Hazy IPA)

Table 20: Specialty IPAs

13 entries

Judges: Gregory Ellwanger, Michael Helzer, Roger Masson, Steve McKenna (Head Judge), Alexander Sliz, David Warner

1st
Ben Nelson
Hazy Mudpuppy (21B: Specialty IPA)
2nd
Kyle Ernsberger
Cider, Homebrew, And Mead...
Mean Brews Black IPA (21B2: Black IPA)
3rd
Wayne Doucette
River City Brewers [MN]
Coldest IPA Ever! (21B: Specialty IPA)

Table 21: Lower ABV Belgian Ales

6 entries

Judges: Tom Hayosh (Head Judge), Alexander Sliz, Ryan Walker

1st
Shaun Huggins
San Antonio Cerveceros
That's No Moon (24A: Witbier)
2nd
Ben Gaylord
Ultra Rare Brewers
Wit And Wisdom (24A: Witbier)
3rd
Ron Barnes
Kansas City Bier Meisters
Da Pope (26A: Belgian Single)

Table 22: Saisons

8 entries

Judges: Tom Hayosh, Jim Silverstein

1st
Matthew Mead
LagerBoyz
GS Saison (25B: Saison)
2nd
Ryan Kuhn & Jack Churchill
Saison 2 (25B: Saison)
3rd
Ben Gaylord
Ultra Rare Brewers
Space Hippie (25B: Saison)

Table 23: Higher ABV Belgian Ales

10 entries

Judges: Andy Denton, Gregory Ellwanger, Zach Fritts (Head Judge), Eric Hammel, Ross O’Neill, Edward Salse

1st
Jim Silverstein
Club Wort
Ole' Quad (26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale)
2nd
Mark Westmeyer
Brewers of South Suburbia...
The Creeper (25C: Belgian Golden Strong Ale)
3rd
Kevin Wojdak
Urban Knaves of Grain
Elk Grove Village Zot (25A: Belgian Blond Ale)

Table 24: European Sours

5 entries

Judges: Tom Hayosh, Jeff Sparrow (Head Judge)

1st
Brian Stephens
LagerBoyz
Gose ++ (23G: Gose)
2nd
Dan Acheson
Urban Knaves of Grain
Lambicus (23D: Lambic)
3rd
Matthew Mead
LagerBoyz
Berliner Weisse (23A: Berliner Weisse)

Table 25: American Wild Ales

7 entries

Judges: Roger Masson, Steve McKenna, Brad Ramsey, Jeff Sparrow (Head Judge)

1st
Jim Silverstein
Club Wort
Funk It Up (28D: Straight Sour Beer)
2nd
Brandon Edwards
Lagerboyz
Pit-Iful (28C: Wild Specialty Beer)
3rd
Shaun Huggins
San Antonio Cerveceros
Scruffy Lookin Nerf Herder: Blackberries & Gin (28C: Wild Specialty Beer)

Table 26: Fruit and Spice Beers

5 entries

Judges: Eileen Uchima (Head Judge), Leah Vaid

1st
Shaun Huggins
San Antonio Cerveceros
Yub Nub (29D: Grape Ale)
2nd
Matthew Mead
LagerBoyz
GRIT - WAKE UP WITH A ROAR! (30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer)
3rd
Timothy Pratt
Brew Haven
Shakin' It! (29B: Fruit and Spice Beer)

Table 27: Smoke and Wood

8 entries

Judges: Mark Abermoske, John Guilfoil, Gregory Sanial, Ryan Tracy (Head Judge)

1st
Jonathan Greene
Beer Barons of Milwaukee
And The Mountain Quaked Violently (32A: Classic Style Smoked Beer)
2nd
Joe Skiles
Urban Knaves of Grain
Oak Aged Calculating Infinity (33A: Wood-Aged Beer)
3rd
Samuel Persichilli & Devin Nelson
Hangar 41 Brew Club
Deep In Their Hearts They Remembered Hell (6B: Rauchbier)

Table 28: Historical Beers

6 entries

Judges: Michael Helzer (Head Judge), David Warner

1st
Daniel Kukuk
Lagerboyz
Cumberland Cruiser (27A2: Kentucky Common)
2nd
James Schuyler
Imperial Alt V 1.0 (27A: Historical Beer)
3rd
Brett Vodicka
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Konky Dong (27A6: Pre-Prohibition Lager)

Table 29: Mixed Style and Experimental Beers

6 entries

Judges: Dan Acheson (Head Judge), Kevin Wojdak

1st
Adam Reynolds
Miami Area Society of Homebrewers...
CItra Wow (34C: Experimental Beer)
2nd
Mark Niemczewski
Club Wort
West Coast Pils (34B: Mixed-Style Beer)
3rd
Michael Wulff
INSTABHility
Daddy Beer: Hoppy Pilsner (34B: Mixed-Style Beer)

Table 30: Standard Cider and Perry

6 entries

Judges: Jonathan Greene (Head Judge), Dennis Sage

1st
Zach Fritts
Club Wort
Brekkie Classic (C1A: New World Cider)
2nd
Edward O'Neill
STLBrewhogs
Bitter Me Timbers (C1B: English Cider)
3rd
Dan Acheson
Urban Knaves of Grain
L'Anglais (C1B: English Cider)

Table 31: Specialty Cider and Perry

7 entries

Judges: Jonathan Greene (Head Judge), Jim Silverstein, Eileen Uchima, Leah Vaid

1st
Art Kim
Illiana Beer Rackers Union...
Jerry Sider (C2B: Cider with Other Fruit)
2nd
Dennis Sage
Midnight Carboys
Raspberry Beret (C2B: Cider with Other Fruit)
3rd
Kevin Wojdak
Urban Knaves of Grain
Lemondropped (C2E: Cider with Herbs/Spices)

Table 32: Traditional Mead

5 entries

Judges: Daniel Hayosh, Mike Uchima (Head Judge)

1st
Dan Acheson
Urban Knaves of Grain
The Semi-Sweetest Of Clovers (M1B: Semi-Sweet Mead)
2nd
Ilija Melentijevic
Flagship (M1B: Semi-Sweet Mead)
3rd
Daniel Kukuk
Lagerboyz
Big Wave (M1B: Semi-Sweet Mead)

Table 33: Fruit Meads

9 entries

Judges: Zach Fritts, Daniel Hayosh, Tom Hayosh (Head Judge), Eileen Uchima

1st
Jonathan Greene
Beer Barons of Milwaukee
Let The Dead Berry The Dead (M2C: Berry Mead)
2nd
Joe Skiles
Urban Knaves of Grain
2024 Kukui Blossom Cyser (M2A: Cyser)
3rd
Mike Asquini
Club Wort
Vikings Blood Mead (M2E: Melomel)

Table 34: Spiced and Specialty Meads

10 entries

Judges: Daniel Hayosh, Tom Hayosh (Head Judge), Michael Helzer, Dennis Sage

1st
Garrett Freeman
Red Earth Brewers
I Swear It's Not Applesauce (M3A: Fruit and Spice Mead)
2nd
Cody Lester
Central Arkansas Fermenters
Gingered Greens, So Yum Yum (M3B: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Mead)
3rd
Ilija Melentijevic
Stary Boczek (M4B: Historical Mead)

Best of Show

Beer

Judges: Zach Fritts, Tom Hayosh, Michael Helzer, Jeff Sparrow, Eileen Uchima

1st
Jim Silverstein
Club Wort
Jim's High Life (1B: American Lager)
2nd
Kyle Ernsberger
Cider, Homebrew, And Mead...
Mean Brews Czech Premium Pale Lager (3B: Czech Premium Pale Lager)
3rd
Jim Silverstein
Club Wort
Ole' Quad (26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale)

Best of Show

Mead

Judges: Zach Fritts, Tom Hayosh, Michael Helzer, Jeff Sparrow, Eileen Uchima

1st
Dan Acheson
Urban Knaves of Grain
The Semi-Sweetest Of Clovers (M1B: Semi-Sweet Mead)
HM
Jonathan Greene
Beer Barons of Milwaukee
Let The Dead Berry The Dead (M2C: Berry Mead)

Thank You

Congratulations to All Medal Winners