2010 Iron Mug Competition

Update—Secret Ingredient Revealed!

The secret ingredient for this year’s competition is: Dried Lime Peel and Sorachi (Ace) hop pellets.

The secret ingredients have arrived and may be picked from myLHBS, free of charge. Remember, the secret ingredients must be used in your entry beer in a way that is evident but not overwhelming. The base recipe itself is up to you Iron Mug-ers but must fall within these guidelines:

  • OG of 40–60
  • FG of 08–15
  • IBUs of 15–45
  • SRM of 3–14
  • ABV of 4–6.2%

Introduction

Lo, on a Tuesday in the year 9943 BC Ninkasi, goddess of beer, was born of Enki and Ninti of sparkling fresh water. Ninkasi grew strong and robust, and intoxicating of beauty. Enki and Ninti did celebrate. They gave to Ninkasi a drinking vessel forged from the earth and tempered in fire.

Hammurabi became smitten with Ninkasi. Not knowing how to win the favor of the beautiful Ninkasi, Hammurabi sent offerings of hops, the aroma of which reminded him of her flowery scent. But Ninkasi did not respond. Rebuffed, Hammurabi began teasing Ninkasi, saying he could brew better than her and calling her a Ninny. Ninkasi said to Hammurabi, “Oh yeah?!” and delivered unto him a most resounding Phhhhbbbbbbblllttt! Hammurabi responded “I will prove it! And, when I win, I will take of you your most prized possession. I will take your iron vessel.” Thus was born the competition of…

The Iron Mug

To this day we celebrate the battle between Ninkasi and Hammurabi. To this day we battle for the Iron Mug. Valliant are we who take up the call, don our colors, and stoke the kettle to show our mettle. We hone our brewing skills. We infuse our beer with love. We seek glory and honor. But, most of all, we battle for beer and the right to wield the Iron Mug.

Registration

Update: June 30: The 2010 Iron Mug Competition is now closed to new entrants. Entries may still be submitted via the registration form (link below), to be placed on a waiting list. If or when registered entrants drop out, those on the waiting list will be notified of their eligibility in the order received.

All contestants must first register online, using this form. Once confirmed as a contestant, watch for announcement and availability of the secret Iron Mug ingredient(s), brew your beer, and submit you entry as directed below.

Rules

  1. Participants in the Iron Mug competition may be comprised of one person or one team. Each participant may only submit one entry to the competition, including those who are participating on a team. No team member may submit an additional entry.
  2. Participants may pre-register for the competition up to one week prior to the date of the secret ingredient(s) are announced. After that date, participants may register on a first come/first served basis, and based upon availability of the secret ingredient(s).
  3. Each participant must clearly identify the style of the entry beer using the BHCP style guidelines, and the club from which they are participating on the entry form. The entry form is available for download at the bottom of this page.
  4. Each entry beer must use the secret Iron Mug ingredient(s) available through MyLHBS and the style guidelines as announced. All ingredient(s) for the competition must be used to make the entrant’s beer for the competition. However, there are no limitations on how these ingredients are to be used (aside from any style guidelines), or what additional ingredients or adjuncts the participant may add to the recipe.
  5. MyLHBS will announce the contents of the Iron Mug ingredient(s) 3 days before they are made available through the store for pick-up. This will give participants from each club the same amount of time to plan their recipe for the competition. Each participant is responsible for picking up their Iron Mug ingredient(s) at MyLHBS, or making arrangements for delivery to either club meeting.
  6. Participants must submit three 12 oz. bottles of their Iron Mug entry beer along with a completed entry description form pdf no later than the entry deadline date within the announcement of the Iron Mug ingredient(s). All efforts will be taken to ensure participants have sufficient time to both pick up the secret ingredient(s) and produce their entry beer.
  7. Entries may be submitted to MyLHBS, or through either club, at any time up to store closing on the entry deadline day. Late entries will not be accepted. Participants are responsible for submitting their entries in person, or making arrangements to have their entry delivered to MyLHBS through their club.

How Entries Will Be Judged:

  1. The jury panel will consist of Derek Terrell, owner of MyLHBS and sponsor of the Iron Mug competition, the president of each club, and any invitational judges from each club.
  2. Each entry will be judged on use of the secret ingredient(s), overall presence of the secret ingredient(s) in the flavor and/or aroma of the entry, harmony of the secret ingredient(s) within the entry, and on the basis of its “drinkability” as agreed upon by the panel of jurors. For the purposes of this competition, “drinkability” is defined as “Holy *&^* this is good beer! I want to make love to the bottle!”
  3. Each entry will be assessed during a blind taste testing using the following rating system:
    • Use of secret ingredient(s) (as described on entry form)—3 points
    • Overall presence of secret ingredient(s)—3 points flavor, 3 points aroma
    • Harmony of the entry—6 points
    • Drinkability on a 5-tiered rating system as follows:
      1. “Uh, dudes…call an ambulance.”—1 point
      2. “No thanks, I’d rather eat the Iron Mug.”—2 points
      3. “This ain’t half bad.”—3 points
      4. “I’ll need another bottle to tell for sure. (wink wink)”—4 points
      5. “Holy *&^* this is good beer!”—5 points
  4. Bribes will not be accepted unless delivered in a 2010 McLaren MP4-12C.
  5. Results of the Iron Mug competition will be presented at a joint party between the clubs. The jurors will decide where and when. The location will be announced after the entries have been judged.
  6. The winner of the Iron Mug competition will be presented with the Iron Mug. The Iron Mug will be engraved with the name of the Iron Brewer and year of the competition. The Iron Brewer shall retain possession of the mug until the next year’s competition begins (April). At that time, the mug shall be returned to the store for prominent display to advertise the next Iron Mug competition.
Beer