Working.
Please stand by. Press Esc to hide.

For an optimal experience and so that all features and functions execute properly, please enable JavaScript to continue using this site. Otherwise, unexpected behavior will occur.

Thank you for your interest in the DC Homebrewers Cherry Blossom Competition organized by DC Homebrewers Club, DC Brau Brewing Company, Washington, DC.

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. You can even pay your entry fees online if you wish.

Entry Registration is Open

290 entries have been added to the system as of 10:17 PM, EST, Monday, February 17, 2025. There is a limit of 300 entries for this competition.

253 paid entries are in the system as of 10:17 PM, EST, Monday, February 17, 2025. There is a limit of 300 paid entries for this competition.

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

This competition is AHA-sanctioned and open to any amateur homebrewer age 21 or older.

All mailed entries must received at the mailing location by the entry deadline - please allow for shipping time.

All entries will be picked up from drop-off locations on the day of the entry deadline.

All entries must be handcrafted products, containing ingredients available to the general public, and made using private equipment by hobbyist brewers (i.e., no use of commercial facilities or Brew on Premises operations, supplies, etc.).

The competition organizers are not responsible for miscategorized entries, mailed entries that are not received by the entry deadline, or entries that arrived damaged.

The competition organizers reserve the right to combine styles for judging and to restructure awards as needed depending upon the quantity and quality of entries.

Qualified judging of all entries is the primary goal of our event. Judges will evaluate and score each entry. The average of the scores will rank each entry in its category. Each flight will have at least one BJCP judge.

Brewers are not limited to one entry in each category but may only enter each subcategory once.

The competition committee reserves the right to combine categories based on number of entries. All possible effort will be made to combine similar styles. All brews in combined categories will be judged according to the style they were originally entered in.

The Best of Show judging will be determined by a Best of Show panel based on a second judging of the top winners.

Bottles will not be returned to entrants.

***Competition Ban on Cannabis-Infused Entries.***

All and any cannabis-infused, or ingredient derivative of, beers are strictly prohibited. Any entrant found in violation of this rule will be banned from the competition and subject to additional penalties. 

Entry Acceptance Rules

Number of Bottles Required Per Entry: 2

Each entry will consist of TWO (2) capped or corked bottles that are void of all identifying information, including labels and embossing. Printed caps are allowed, but must be blacked out completely.

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 and cans.

Bottles and packaging will not be returned to contest entrants.

Brewers are not limited to one entry in each category but may only enter each subcategory once.

 

 

******NOTE, our friends at BURP are hosting their annual Spirit of Free Beer (SOFB) competition two weeks after this one. They use DC Brau—our shipping location—as a drop-off location. If you choose to enter their competition as well, you can mail or drop off your SOFB entries along with your Cherry Blossom entries, and we'll get them sorted appropriately. You can sign up for SOFB at https://sofb.brewingcompetitions.com/ ******

 

 

Competition Officials

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

  • Cole Christian — Competition Organizer
  • Volunteer Contact — Volunteer
  • Bob Rouse — Registrar

Sponsors

DC Homebrewers Club is proud to have the following sponsors for the DC Homebrewers Cherry Blossom Competition.

DC Brau
3178-B Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, DC 20018
DC Brau
DC Brau has been a core supporter of the Cherry Blossom Homebrew Competition, both as a host and drop off point. You can ship or drop off your entries for our competition and, if entered also, Spirit of Free Beer to save yourself a trip or on shipping. ***Homebrewers get 10% off their check, so go show Brau some love!***
Maryland Homebrew
9017 Mendenhall Ct Suite C, Columbia, MD 21045
Maryland Homebrew
Fantastic DMV homebrew shop and a great partner for competition drop-offs. They are nestled between a fair number of great breweries, so take a trip for your next brew day needs and grab a local pint!
Jay's Brewing
9790 Center St, Manassas, VA 20110
Jay's Brewing
A fantastic homebrew shop serving Northern Virginia out of Manassas, Jay's Brewing is supporting Cherry Blossom by being a sponsor and a drop-off location. Give them a visit if you are in the area and grab a pint at their neighbor, Brightworks Brewing.
The Flying Barrel
1781 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701
The Flying Barrel
We are excited to have The Flying Barrel become a drop-off location so Frederick-area entrants can have an easy spot to take their entries (and get some supplies along the way). They also serve as a Spirit of Free Beer Competition drop-off, so you can drop both entries at once if desired.
BSG HandCraft
 
BSG HandCraft
BSG HandCraft is a huge supporter of the homebrew hobby and homebrew competitions. You can find their and their suppliers' products at our local homebrew shops, like Maryland Homebrew, Jay's Brewing, and The Flying Barrel. Local breweries like DC Brau source from BSG as well. Thanks, BSG!