8th Upcup Competition at Upland has a Blonde for a Winner

Last Saturday Upland Brewing Co. played host to the 8th Annual UpCup at their Profile Parkway production facility in Bloomington. This is a homebrew competition where entrants submit two bottles of beer and indicate which BJCP style category they would like to be judged against.

Judging started at 10am and a flight of 9 or so beers were assessed. After scoring and a bit of lively discussion, the judges would then select a beer to proceed to final round of beers. After a break in the action a second flight was judged in the early afternoon with the same procedures as the morning flight. After the results were collated, a final flight known as best in show was judged to determine the top entries.

The event also served as an American Homebrewers Association (AHA) rally with the festivities starting at 3pm. Current AHA members were invited to attend and were provided opportunities to take a VIP tour of the brewery and enter into a prize raffle.

Multiple vendors of brewing supplies were also present. The local homebrew club, The Bloomington Hop Jockeys, were on hand to pour experimental homebrew batches that all used Upland’s Wheat Ale wort. It was evident from the outcomes that the homebrewers really embraced the chance to be creative with the latter part of the brewing process.

The UpCup announcement came later in the afternoon with the results as follows:
• 1st place: Chris Hoover – 47 ft. Blonde – Blonde Ale
• 2nd place: Jason Behenna – Extravehicular Activity – Dry Stout
• 3rd place: Tony Valenza – American Warrior, American Pale Ale

Chris’s beer will be brewed on Upland’s commercial system and entered in the 2015 Pro-Am competition at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. It will also be featured on tap at all Upland locations later this year.

I sampled a range of great beer during the day and it only reaffirmed in my mind what a flourishing homebrew community we have here in Indiana. I can also attest from personal experience how much joining a local homebrew club has helped improve my homebrew game. If you are an experienced brewer looking to hone your techniques or a beginner with more question than answers the AHA has an online directory to find a homebrew club near you. It’s one of the best ways you can prepare for competition next year.

-- By Ross Hughes, indianabeer.com blogger, homebrewer, aspiring Cicerone and all-around beer nerd. Ross enjoys a variety of beer styles and is always looking to train his palette with another tasty ale.

Indiana (& around) Beer News: June 9, 13 - Upland Upcup Winner

Annually since 2008 Upland has run a Spring homebrew competition called UpCup. Each year the winner's beer becomes a pro-am brew for Upland and is eventually served on tap at the Upland tap rooms. Congratulations to the 2013 winner, Tom Wallbank of Indianapolis (Zionsville) and member of the Foam Blowers of Indiana homebrew club for his winning Berliner weisse. Tom won in 2009 with a German style rauch (smoked) beer so this year's German style entry will challenge the tasted buds of local drinkers to enjoy a slightly sour wheat beer. Ron Smith, also of FBI and Indianapolis (Zionsville) came in second this year with a saison.

tis the season for wheat beers and they will abound. Flat12 just tapped their Axis hefe on Friday of this past week.

Remember Brew Bracket coming up next weekend at the Indiana State Fairground and your chance to win tickets. check it out here

And just across the state line I Cincinnati, Rhinegeist brewing with former Indianapolis resident Jim Matt as Brewer completed their first batch of beer (officially) this week.

Check back for upcoming blogs on Black Swan brew pub, breweries in Evansville, and more beer news!

Cheers! Greg Kitz

UpCup Homebrew Competition Results

Congratulations to the following winners of the UpCup Homebrew Competition:

First Place: Andrew Korty of Indianapolis with Scottish Heavy 70 Shilling named Mr. Quackers.

Second Place: Robert Heinlein of Crown Point with an American IPA named Fatwood (insert your favorite juvenile joke here).

Third Place: Brian Johnston of Louisville with a Specialty Beer Farmhouse IPA named Lonesome Valley.

Honorable Mention: Brandon Cooper of Bloomington with a Brett Rye Pale Ale named The Creature from Deep within Steve Llewellyn’s Beard. Sounds tasty!

Our friend Mr. Korty will brew the winning recipe with Upland Brewer Caleb Staton in their Bloomington brewhouse. Look for the results on tap in the future at Upland’s Bloomington Brew Pub and Indy Tasting Room! I hope everyone is taking note of the good karma that comes with contributing to our website :)

Indiana Beer News – March 1

Flat 12 is sponsoring the Beta Cell Bash at Radio Radio in Indianapolis tomorrow night. The event will benefit the Indiana chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and features 10 bands including……Sweet FA? Is this the same Sweet FA that rocked the Hoosier state when I was in high school? Yep, just dated myself with that one.

If you need a good festival for this weekend, Cincinnati is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Bockfest. The festivities kick off Friday evening with a downtown parade, but the real fun kicks in Saturday night with the annual Sausage Queen crowning where finalists are asked to treat a link of sausages like a stripper pole. Don’t shoot the messenger.

If you’re in the South Bend area and interested in Michigan breweries that a few people seem to enjoy, check out the Michigan Brewery Tour leaving from Fiddler’s Hearth on Easter Saturday, April 7th. Destinations include Founders, Bell’s, Hopcat, Arcadia, and Dark Horse. Peeps are generally not recommended, but it’s your call===>

The annual UpCup Competition has been set for Saturday, May 19th. The event will also serve as an American Homebrewers Association rally with VIP tours and lots of great food and beer starting at 5pm. The UpCup winner brews his/her recipe at Upland and the brew is entered in competitions such as the Great American Beer Fest Pro-Am Competition and US Beer Tasting Championship. The 2009 winner, Sunday Morning in Bamberg Rauchbier brewed by Tom Wallbank, went on to become a USBTC National Grand Champion!

Speaking of the AHA, registration for the National Homebrew Competition was delayed until March 2nd. Don’t forget, if you would like to judge or steward in the Indianapolis regional competition round (April 13-15) click here.

The Thr3e Wise Men brewery in Broad Ripple is making a major investment in expanding their brewing capacity. New equipment additions will allow them to produce 6,200 barrels and distribute their beers to all Scotty’s restaurants in the state. Pizza and beer delivery will also kick off March 12th for customers who live within a standard delivery zone of the Broad Ripple location.

Connecticut is moving closer to becoming the 49th state to allow alcohol sales on Sunday. Care to guess who the final holdout would be?

In news that may excite and/or repulse you, Blue Moon Dark Chocolate Bacon Porter is one of three finalists for their new fall seasonal. This concoction will do battle with Caramel Apple Spiced Ale and Blackberry Tart Ale for the coveted lineup spot. Too bad Banana Bread Beer was already taken.

An Iowa homebrewer, beer judge, and beer blogger going by J. Wilson has been named Wynkoop Brewing Company’s 2012 Beerdrinker of the Year. All Wilson had to do to gain notoriety was fast on a strict diet of water and dopplebock for 46 days. The lucky winner receives $250 worth of beer at his local beer bar, which evidently goes by the name El Bait Shop (I can’t make this up). For his sacrifice, the least I can do is mention Mr. Wilson’s blog can be found at www.brewvana.net.

Cheers, Nathan

UpCup at Upland Brewery results 2011

Congrats to the top brewers honored by winning the Upland Brewery UPCUP 2011. This years winners are... (Drum roll):

Randy Jones, 1st place, of Indianapolis for his "Mother's Milk Sweet Stout." Randy brews with help of Tuxedo Park Brewers of Fountain Square, Indy.
Randy will work with Caleb Staton, Head Brewer of Upland, to brew this beer for the brewery

Jasan Mundy, 2nd place, of Bloomington for the "Kate Middleton after the divorce Ordinary Bitter" -- Jasan is with Bloomington Hop Jockeys Club

Frank Petrarca, 3rd place, of Indianapolis for his "Hefe for my Hunny" hefeweizen. Frank is with the Foam Blowers of Indiana Club.

There was an honorable mention this year due to the small judging points difference: Steven Llewellen of Bloomington for a Black IPA aged in Oak. Steve is with the Bloomington Hop Jockeys Club.

Thirteen judges and stewards sanctioned by the Beer Judge Certification Program were organized by National level Judge Ron Smith and volunteered all day at Upland. Staton keeps hands off except to thank judges and allow them to pick the top beers so the best beer can truly be brewed out of approximately 65 entries this year.