Big Batch Brew Bash
The Big Batch Brew Bash is the KGB's signature homebrew competition. Started in 1996, it has grown into the largest single-style homebrew competition in the history of humankind. Impressive, but don't ask for documentation or a certificate from the world record folks at Guinness. It is also noted for being sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association and free to enter.
Any homebrewer can enter up to two beers in the BBBB. They will be evaluated by BJCP-associated judges and fully annotated score-sheets will be returned to the brewer.
The Next Big Batch: Sunday, June 25, 2023
Deadline to Enter: Friday, June 16th by 5 pm
The 2023 style will follow the BJCP Style 21B, Specialty IPA
Specialty IPA is a competition entry category, not a distinct style. Beers entered here are not experimental beers; they are a collection of currently-produced types of beer that may or may not have any market longevity. This category also allows for expansion, so potential future IPA variants have a place to be entered without rewriting the style guidelines. The only common element is that they have the balance and overall impression of an IPA (typically, an American IPA) but with some minor tweak.
The term ‘IPA’ is used as a singular descriptor of a type of hoppy, bitter beer. It is not meant to be spelled out as ‘India Pale Ale’ when used in the context of a Specialty IPA. None of these beers ever historically went to India, and many aren’t pale. But the craft beer market knows what to expect in balance when a beer is described as an ‘IPA’ – so the modifiers used to differentiate them are based on that concept alone.
The Specialty IPA category is not intended for Classic Style IPAs with added ingredients (such as fruit, spice, wood, smoke, grains, or sugars) – these should be entered in the appropriate Specialty type beer category (Fruit Beer, SHV Beer, etc.). The
Specialty IPA styles are considered Classic Styles for entering in Specialty type category purposes. Classic style IPAs with unique or special hops should still be entered in the appropriate Classic-style IPA style.
For more information, please go to the website below:
https://www.bjcp.org/style/2021/21/21B/specialty-ipa/
Official entry forms and drop off locations are on our Competition News page.
Previous BBBB Winners
The results of all previous Big Batch Brew Batch competitions can be found on the BBBB Previous Winners page.
Sponsors
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History
Would you like to learn how it all started? Check it out here. It's a very interesting story!