• Registration: Open until October 8, 2024
• Shipping / Delivery Window: October 9, 2024 – October 17, 2024
• Judging Date: October 20, 2024
• Winners Announced: November 17, 2024

• Open to ALL United States TTB licensed breweries, wineries and distilleries
• Multiple locations with separate TTB numbers are allowed to enter
• Entry Fee: $95 per entry

Quantity Discount

• 4 to 9 entries: 10% discount
• 10 to 14 entries: 15% discount
• 15 or more entries: 20% discount

• A brewery may enter a category with as many unique entries as they like. (If you brew eight IPAs, you may enter all eight.)
• Entries that contain any substances not authorized for use in human food, or which are made with ingredients that contain such substances, or which are made in contact with materials not authorized as food contact materials, all in accordance with the United States federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as interpreted and administered by U.S. FDA are not eligible to compete.
• Refund Policy: NO REFUNDS

• Each craft beverage is evaluated on individual merit, not directly against other entries. We blind judge entries one at a time. We get to "know" each entry and not just judge on first impressions. If there is a tie, the tied entries will be judged head-to-head to determine the final placing. Each qualified judge follows the rules set forth by the The Crafties Beverage Association and takes five factors into account for evaluation:
  • Aroma (24 points available)
  • Appearance (8 points available)
  • Flavor (38 points available)
  • Mouthfeel (10 points available) and
  • Overall Impression (20 points available)
  • Bonus points (5 points possible) may be awarded if the beer nails the style guideline
  • For a total of 100 possible points (plus possible bonus) which will then be used to calculate the awards received.
    • Outstanding - GOLD (90-100 points)
    • Excellent - SILVER (75-89 points)
    • Very Good - BRONZE (60-74 points)

Where to ship samples

Distribution Warehouse in Colorado – instructions will be emailed to you.

When to ship samples

Samples must arrive between October 9, 2024 and October 17, 2024 Samples that do not arrive between the stated dates may or may not be judged. NO REFUNDS for samples that do not arrive on time.

How many samples to ship?

6 - Samples - 12 oz Cans/Bottles
4 - Samples - 16 oz - 22oz Cans/Bottles
2 - Samples - 32 oz Crowler/Howler/Growler
• Entries received with less than the necessary quantity may not be judged.
• Packing and shipping materials sent to the competition cannot be returned, including the primary vessel and any coolers or other packaging.

What containers are acceptable?

Capped or cork & cage bottles from 11.2oz/375ml up to 750ml, cans up to 32oz including Crowlers. 32oz Crowlers/Howlers/Growlers are acceptable, however these are not the best packaging practices for competition products.

How should I label my entries?

Brewery Name: ______________________________________
Beer Name:___________________________________________
Category Name: _______________________________________
Category Number: _____________________________________

• attach the identifying info to the back of the bottle or can. Then, if your beer wins a medal, we can use the bottle or can in a photo.
• Use of packing tape is best, no rubber bands.
• Legibility- use a plain font or very legible handwriting
• Moisture resistance- in the event of breakage, labels of the surviving containers should not become damaged or illegible due to moisture

How should I pack my beer for shipment?

WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND using our Sponsor – Whale Pod Shipper’s products for a successful and easy shipping of your tasty beverages. Use promo code crafties2024 for a 15% discount on all items.

• https://whalepodshipper.com
• Use a sturdy double-walled box, or put one box inside another.
• Use plenty of filler material. Bubble wrap work best.
• Make sure no glass is touching.
• Make sure nothing moves when you shake the box. Use Whale Pod Shippers or foam/styrofoam beer/wine bottle.

• NO PACKING PEANUTS.

• Pack based on the worst-case scenario; boxes in transit can encounter tipping, dropping, and the weight of other packages on top of yours.
• DO NOT individually wrap each bottle/can in bubble wrap.
• Creating a waterproof barrier around the containers is also advised. Whether it’s a trash bag around an inner carton or each container in its own ziploc bag. Sometimes things go wrong, despite your best efforts, and a can/bottle might break. When that happens, you want to keep the spill contained and to stop it from leaking through the box. When a box starts to leak, it gets pulled out of shipping process. Often the box gets thrown away by the shipping company despite the fact that the rest of the bottles in the box might be fine.
• No entry fees are refunded due to breakage/loss in transit.

Use FedEx or UPS to ship samples

Do not ship through the United States Postal Service (USPS) – It is illegal to ship alcoholic beverages through the USPS. Always use FedEx or UPS.