2026 DCHB Cherry Blossom Comp

And just one week after a disappointing AL HB Cup, the same 2 beers, Little Sausage and HOLD FAST! represented here out of 286. The Vienna was pounded and included notes of monstrous oxidation (and a 22 overall, 😒). It was judged by pro brewer, Alex Spencer, from DC Brau. The heavy paper he noted was thanks to FedEx shaking it for an extra 2 damn days and making a fresh 3-day ship a 6-day endeavor.  The Anchor "nod" came in at 31 with expected notes of a smidge more hop bitterness needed (next batch will have Perle to bitter then NW for boil and flameout)  but still managed to snag🥉. I can mark DC off the list but really wanted them to have better entries from a shipping standpoint. May re-enter again next year for giggles. 

2026 AL Homebrewer’s Cup

Has come and gone with no jewelry again. Entered Little Sausages and HOLD FAST! with the steam style ultimately doing better. My Vienna gutted a 29 with notes of more complex malt profile and a more drying yeast even though FG was 1.007. Seems pretty dried out to me. HF! toed the line at 34 needing a smidge more NW hop profile. This I figured would be the case but thought those scores would be reversed? Either way both were noted to have clean fermentation profiles so maybe I’ll start bittering HF! with Perle and saving NW for later additions. Alas, my home state is becoming more difficult than all others to medal in. I’ve noticed it’s becoming easier to medal in larger comps with more of the same style than in smaller ones where they may be lumped into general categories ( ie “pale or amber” whatever) where related beers are judged against each other. 

Brew Batch #208 Little Sausages in a Can

Coming in a smidge lighter "abv-wise" than the first batch with FG 1.008-0.001 @52F giving a 4.86%. For the style however, it's almost dead middle. Seems to have a good clear drop from being outside a week during a nice cold snap, but I'll need to make use of Whirfloc moving forward. It's headed for the 2026 AL Homebrewer's Cup. Wish us luck.