Mid-January Musings: The Race is On in the Circuit of America

It’s mid-January, and the 2025 Circuit of America is in full swing! Competitions are popping up left and right, registration windows are opening (and closing) faster than ever, and brewers everywhere are racing to secure their spots. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned already, it’s this: you need to stay ahead of the game.

The One That Got Away

Take the Kentucky Bluegrass Homebrew Competition, for example. Registration opened late in 2024, and unfortunately, I missed the boat on this one. Competitions like these are incredibly popular, and it’s a good reminder that planning and staying up to date on registration timelines is critical. Missing out is disappointing, but it’s also motivation to be even more prepared moving forward.

Hitting the Ground Running

On a brighter note, I’ve managed to register for six out of seven competitions happening this month! It’s exhilarating to see my schedule filling up with opportunities to showcase my brews and get valuable feedback. Every competition is a chance to learn, refine my process, and, hopefully, earn a few points in the Masters’ Homebrewer Program.

• Midwinter (CoA)
• KCBM (CoA)
• SNAFU (CoA)
• Extravaganza (CoA)
• Sweethearts Revenge (CoA)
• Drunk Monk (CoA)
• SoCal Cerveceros  – Darker Side of Winter
• Doug King Memorial

Between brewing, bottling, shipping, and ensuring all the paperwork is in order, it feels like a full-time job. But hey, that’s part of the fun, right? The adrenaline of competition season is what makes it so exciting.

Lessons Learned (Already)

This early in the season, I’ve already learned a few key lessons for navigating the Circuit of America or any homebrew competition.

1. 1. Stay Organized: Keeping track of deadlines for registration, entry submissions, and shipping dates is crucial. A simple calendar or planner can make a world of difference.

2. 2. Act Fast: Popular competitions fill up quickly. If you’re eyeing an event, don’t wait to sign up. Procrastination could mean missing out.

3. 3. Plan Your Brew Schedule: With so many competitions in January alone, timing is everything. You need to ensure your beers are ready at their peak for judging.

4. 4. Learn from Missed Opportunities: While I missed the Kentucky Bluegrass competition this time, I’ve marked my calendar for next year. It’s all part of the learning process.

Looking Ahead

With six competitions on the horizon this month, I’m excited to see how my beers perform and, more importantly, what feedback I’ll receive. Each piece of constructive criticism is another step toward perfecting my craft and working my way up in the Masters’ Homebrewer Program.

To my fellow competitors, I hope your beers are bubbling, your fermenters are full, and your schedules are set. Here’s to a thrilling start to the competition season. Let’s make this a year to remember!

Stay tuned for updates on how the January competitions unfold. I’ll be sharing my experiences, scores, and, of course, lessons learned along the way.