Thank you for your interest in the Maryland Craft Beer Competition (2024) organized by Brewers Association of Maryland (BAM).

You only need to register your information once and can return to this site to enter more brews or edit the brews you've entered.

Entry Registration is Open

To add your entries into the system, please proceed through the registration process or log in if you already have an account.

Judge and Steward Registration is Open

If you have not registered and are willing to be a volunteer, please register.

If you have registered, log in and then choose Edit Account from the My Account menu indicated by the icon on the top menu.

Rules

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter the Maryland Craft Beer Competition, your brewery must hold a valid, Maryland manufacturers license and be a member of the Brewers Association of Maryland. This competition is BJCP sanctioned.

Entry Registration

All entries must be registered on this website no later than 11 October 2024 at 1700 EDT. Any entries registered after the deadline will be disqualified and are not eligible. Brewers are limited to a maximum of ten entries.  A maximum of two entries per any single category is allowed with a combined maximum of ten entries per brewery allowed in the competition.  Each beer entered into the competition may be entered only once.  Each entry into the competition is $50.  Do NOT send a check. BAM will send you an invoice 

Entry Drop-Off

Entries may be dropped off at Heavy Seas Beer https://www.hsbeer.com/ during business hours beginning 11 October, 2024 through 17 October, 2024 2100 EDT.  This is a narrow drop-off window. Please make note. Please refer to the URL above to comfirm taproom hours.  Regional dropoff sites may be available. If so, details will be posted here once arrangements are final.  

Dropped off entries will be stored under refrigeration from acceptance until the judging sessions commence.

All entries must be dropped off between 11 October and 17 October. Any entries dropped off prior to the drop-off window, or after, are not eligible and will not be judged.

Judging

Entries will be judged in the 20 categories listed under the Info tab. However, the competition organizers reserve the right to create additional categories, or combine categories, as necessary based on the entries received.  In all cases, awards will be conferred to the deserving entries in each category regardless of combining or collapsing that may occur to balance judging panels.

The Best of Show judging will be determined by a Best of Show panel based on a second judging of the top winners from the first round held at the Baltimore Craft Beer Festival.

Entry Acceptance Rules

Number of Bottles Required Per Entry: 4

Entry Categories

1. Pale Ale - GABF categories 43, 57, 66, 67A, 67B, 89A, 89B, 89C, 89D, 91, 92, 93, 94

2. American IPA - GABF 99, 100, 101

3. Specialty IPA - GABF 21, 67C, 90

4. Double IPA - GABF 97, 98

5. Juicy/Hazy/Fruity IPA - GABF 102

6. Sour Beers and Wild Ales - GABF 26, 27, 28, 29, 58A, 58B, 59, 60, 77A, 77B, 77C, 77D, 77E, 80B

7. Smoked or Wood-Aged - GABF 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E, 36F

8. Fruit Beers - GABF 2, 3, 4, 5A, 80A

9. Spiced Beers - GABF 5B, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

10. Pale Lager and Pilsner - GABF 35A, 35B, 37A, 37B, 38A, 38B, 39, 40, 41A, 41B, 42, 44A, 44B, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50A, 50B

11. Amber, Dark Lagers and Bocks - GABF 45A, 45B, 45C, 51, 52, 53A, 53B, 53C, 54A, 54B, 55A, 55B

12. Amber Ales and Brown Ales - GABF 61, 64A, 64B, 64C, 64D, 65A, 65B, 68A, 68B, 68C, 69, 70, 71, 95

13. Porters and Stouts - GABF 11, 72A, 72B, 81, 82, 83A, 83B, 84, 85

14. Wheat Beers - GABF 1A, 1B, 1C, 62A, 62B, 62C, 62D, 62E, 63

15. Belgian Style Beers - GABF 25, 73A, 73B, 73C, 73D, 74, 75, 76, 78A, 78B, 78C, 78D, 79A, 79B, 79C

16. Specialty/Experimental Beers - GABF 12A, 12B, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 24

17. Session Beer - 17A, 17B, 17C, 18

18. Strong Beer - 19A, 19B, 20A, 20B, 20C, 56A, 56B, 86A, 86B, 87A, 87B, 88A, 88B, 88C, 88D, 96A, 96B

19. Historical Beer - 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D, 23E, 23F, 23G, 23H

20. Local Ingredient - Custom Style. Any style listed above brewed with 100% ingredients grown locally (Maryland or any county touching Maryland), excluding local requirement for yeast. 

Bottles

Bottles are accepted and preferred as an entry vessel type. Each entry must consist of 12 to 22 ounce capped bottle or corked bottles that clearly identifies the entry including labels and/or embossing. Printed caps are allowed.

12oz brown glass bottles are preferred; however, green and clear glass will be accepted. Swing top bottles will likewise be accepted as well as corked bottles.

A minimum of four (4) 12 oz bottles must be provided per entry.

Cans

Cans are accepted and preferred as an entry vessel type. Each canned entry must consist of a sealed can that clearly identifies the entry, including labels.

12 oz cans are preferred; however 16, 22, or larger cans will be accepted.

A minimum of four (4) 12 oz cans must be provided per entry.

Growlers and Crowlers

Growlers and Crowlers are accepted; they are not preferred but accepted. Each entry must consist of a 16 to 64 ounce sealed growler/crowler that clearly identifies the entry including labels, tags, or stickers.

A minimum of 48 ounces of beer must be provided per entry. While a single growler/crowler may be provided, entrants should recognize that once opened, the quality of the beer growler/crowler can rapidly diminish. Therefore, entrants should consider smaller growlers/crowlers to minimize oxygen exposure and maximize freshness.

Paperwork

All requisite paperwork must be submitted with each entry and can be printed directly from this website. Entry paperwork should be attached to bottles, cans and growlers by the method specified on the label.

Be meticulous about noting any special ingredients that must be specified. Failure to note such ingredients may impact the judges’ evaluation of your entry.

Bottle / Can / Growler Returns

Bottles, cans, crowlers and growlers will not be returned to entrants.

Competition Official

You can send an email to any of the following individuals via Contact.

• Phil Sides — Competition Coordinator

Sponsors

Brewers Association of Maryland (BAM) is proud to have the following sponsors for the Maryland Craft Beer Competition (2024).

Heavy Seas Beer

4615 Hollins Ferry Road, Halethorpe, MD 21227

Maryland’s largest and original Craft Brewer... Since getting our feet wet in 1995, we’ve seen a thing or two on our mission to make the most delicious, flavorful craft beers… and we’ve got the marks to prove it! Our beers are renowned for their bold flavors and consistent quality. Creating a beer portfolio we’re truly proud of hasn’t been easy - we’ve put in the hard work, experienced both success and failure, and navigated challenges head-on with a smile. Life isn’t about fearing the stormy weather - but about embracing the journey. And smooth waters never made for a skilled sailor. Heavy Seas make for better stories, anyway.

Brewers Association Of Maryland (BAM)

1783 Forest Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401

The Brewers Association of Maryland (BAM), founded in 1996, is the non-profit trade association of Maryland brewing companies. The mission of BAM is to grow, promote and protect the Maryland craft beer industry.