State Fair looking for winemakers and brewers

HOBBY winemakers, homebrewers, craft breweries and wineries are invited to throw down the goblet for Colorado State fair beer and wine competitions.

The Colorado State Fair is now accepting submissions in four categories: commercial wine, hobby wine, craft beer, and homebrew. Anyone 21 years of age and older can enter. 

“From hobbyist to professional, we want to celebrate the best Colorado brewers and winemakers at the Colorado State Fair this year,” said Trisha Fernandez, general entry and fine arts coordinator. “It’s time to get out those boiling kettles and wine barrels and turn up the heat on the first competitions of the fair season.”

In the commercial and hobby wine competitions, American Wine Society guidelines will be used to judge flavor, vintage, and appellation. In addition, if 75 percent or more of the wine ingredients are grown in Colorado or if the wine is a registered Colorado Proud wine, entries compete for the “Celebrating Colorado” Best of Show award.

The deadline to enter the wine competition (including bottle drop off) is Friday, April 28, at 4 pm. Judging for the wine competitions will take place on May 6 and 7. 

Any licensed brewery that conforms to state and federal regulations is eligible to enter the craft beer competition, including international breweries. Hobbyists are encouraged to submit their best to bring home the gold. Both competitions are sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) and the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). 

The deadline to register and drop off beer for competition is Friday, May 5, by 4 pm. Judging for the beer competition will take place on May 20 and 21. Winners for all four competitions will be featured in the Creative Arts Building during the run of the fair, Aug 25-Sept. 4.