Sunday, October 2, 2016

2016 Beerdrinker of the Year National Finals



The Beerdrinker of the Year National Finals are finally back!  This Wednesday (October 5th, 2016) at 7:00 pm in the Wynkoop's Mercantile Room, an 18th member will be added to this elite club.


Here is a brief bio of the three finalists:

  • Mike Dixon, a Wake Forest, North Carolina beer lover, homebrewer, National BJCP judge, and beer writer. Mike has enjoyed beers from 46 states and 44 countries and has visited well over 1,000 beer establishments in the US, Belgium, and Ireland. His extensive volunteer beer work includes working to successfully change his state’s beer laws and promoting North Carolina’s homebrewing and beer culture. He is a six-time semifinalist, this will be his second time in the Beer Drinker finals. His beer philosophy: “A well crafted beer is the perfect accompaniment to any meal or event. Life is too short to be wasted on beer without flavor and every glass of beer should be a new adventure. Every day I am working to improve my beer knowledge and to find new beer experiences.” His home beer bar: Clouds Brewing, Raleigh, NC
  • Shawna Cormier.  Upon her first sip of Bud from her grandmother's can as a young lass of 4, Shawna began bouncing from brew to brew, in search of the fermented

  • fountain of yum. Having just moved from New York City, Shawna has been an actress, an educator, a writer, a service industry work horse, and now a Certified Cicerone® working at Black Shirt Brewing Co. Oh, she also delivered teeth once. Long story. Beer drinking philosophy: "Have you ever thought, 'Geez, I wish there wasn't beer here.' That's what I thought. Beer here now. Drinking beer is exploration into a magical world full of infinite possibilities. Plus, it's freaking delicious. Wild and spontaneous, controlled and contained, perfected and classic—a beer can be so many different things. It's easily accessible, yet contains a world of possibilities. A sip of a stellar brew can be a glimpse into the world of another person, a way of tasting the earth, and creating experiences we will never forget. Whether it be the perfect pour of a resiny Double IPA, a trip to Cantillon, or the chugging of the coldest beer possible, beer is a good thing. Damn good thing there's beer." Home beer bar: Black Shirt Brewing, Denver, CO
  • Kevin Cox, a Muncie, Indiana beer hunter, homebrewer and beer advocate. Cox has visited over 400 breweries, tasted over 6000 different beers and “stalked the perfect pint” on 4 continents and in 12 countries. In 2012 he drank beer at numerous beer festivals in the US, Belgium, England and Germany. He’s been a member of the American Homebrewers Association since 1983 and a member of Britain’s Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) since 1985. His philosophy of beer drinking: “Beer is my passion, it’s a religion. I like to think of it as my beer ministry, teaching the virtues of good beer and safe drinking.” His home beer bar: Broad Ripple Brewpub, Indianapolis, IN
The winner will receive national bragging rights, a beer brewed in their honor by the Wynkoop (of their selection), and free beer for life at the Wynkoop Brewery!

You may want to arrive early to get a good seat.  The event is free including snacks and beers samples between 7:00 and 7:45 pm.  


There is more information at the Eventbrite site:


https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beer-drinker-of-the-year-2016-tickets-28225939545


Note - you do not need to register for the event at this site - you can just show up.  But if you do register on Eventbrite you will be in a drawing for gifts and prizes.


I hope to see you at the Wynkoop on Wednesday evening!