Barleywine Wins Best of Show

Homebrew champ Rich Wolter and his crown of hops.

Rich Wolter of Arlington Heights, Ill., was crowned with Door County wild hops from the Ridges Sanctuary during the Door County Beer Festival on Saturday, June 14, for winning Best of Show in the Door County Homebrewing Championship.

Out of 59 entries in a wide range of categories, the eight judges chose nine beers for the final Best of Show judging. Ray’s Barleywine easily took top honors. Judges scored Ray’s Barleywine with 90 out of 100 points (two judges each scoring it with 45 points). They thought it was a great example of the style.

Runner-up was an American pale ale by Ismael Zavala of Chicago. His beer earned 78 out of 100 points (40 from one judge and 38 from the other). One of the judges called it an “excellent” American pale ale.

Coming in third was an Irish red ale from Shannon Speight of Sylvania, Ohio. Judges said there were nice caramel and toffee notes and good body. They rated it an 80 out of 100 (40 each from the two judges).

For more on the Door County Homebrewing Championship, tune in to this Friday’s Peninsula Pulse.