This year’s competition garnered 55 entries from all over the United States. Thanks to everyone who entered, judged, stewarded, staffed, etc. for making this event a success.

A special note to the competitors:
We had several National ranked judges, a Grand Master, and many, many, many experienced judges this year. Overwhelmingly, the common expression was that there was not a “bad beer” in the bunch! Before anyone gets defensive, let me say that I, too, have judges in many competitions, and there’s nearly always a “clinker” on each flight. Not so with QOB! One judge even said that during this comp, one of the entries was the best Oktoberfest beer he had ever tasted! Ever! Pretty impressive, if you ask me!

Well enough of this and let’s get to the good stuff:

Category 1 with 8 Entries American Lager, Cream Ale, Koelsch, Pils, Fest	1st: Oktoberfest - Lisa Gros of Oakland, California 2nd: Bohemian Pilsner - Lisa Gros of Oakland, California 3rd: Cream Ale - Karen Perrin of Gainsville, Florida
Category 2 with 8 Entries Ordinary/Special/Best/Strong Bitter, Pale Ales/Scottish/Mild/brown	1st: Special/Best Bitter – Anne Blankenship of Truckee, California 2nd: American Pale – Jodie Davis of Canton, Georgia 3rd: Mild – Anne Blankenship of Truckee, California
Category 3 with 8 Entries American Amber, IPA	1st: American Amber – Jodie Davis of Canton, Georgia 2nd: American Amber – Lisa Gros of Oakland, California 3rd: IPA – Anne Duany Whyte of Essex Junction, Vermont
Category 4 with 5 Entries Strong Ales	1st: American Barleywine – Shelly Albright of Shohomish, Washington 2nd: Russian Imperial Stout – Shelly Albright of Shohomish, Washingtom 3rd: Ole Ale – Kelly Eger of Wndermere, Florida
Category 5 with 6 Entries Porter/Stout/Rauch	1st: Classic Rauchbier – Terry Wallis of Nashville, Tennessee 2nd: Robust Porter – Marylou Carrington of Santa Rosa, California 3rd: Dry Stout – Marylou Carrington of Santa Rosa, California
Category 6 with 7 Entries Wheat/Wit/Belgian	1st: Belgian Specialty - Terry Wallis of Nashville, Tennessee 2nd: Wit – Anne Duany Whyte of Essex Junction, Vermont 3rd- Tripel – Shelly Albright of Shohomish, Washington
Category 7 with 6 Entries Historic Specialty/Cider/Cyser/Melomel	1st: Standard Cider – Kelly Bradford of Ankeny, Iowa 2nd: Standard Cider/Peary - Kelly Bradford of Ankeny, Iowa 3rd: Cyser,still - June Johnannsen of Orlando, Florida
Category 8 with 8 Entries Fruit/Spice	1st: Christmas Ale/Spice - Kelly Eger of Windermere, Florida 2nd: Brown Porter w/Coffee - June Johnannsen of Orlando, Florida 3rd (Tie) Apricot Pale – Anne Blankenship of Truckee, California Mulled Porter - Cheryl Conrad, Gail Propsom and Bonnie Brings of Mt. Horeb, Wisconson
And with a Belgian Specialty the Queen of Beer for 2003 is... Terry Wallis of Nashville, Tennessee!	First runner up: Shelly Allbright - Fat Cat Stout. Second Runner up: Jodie Davis - Make Mine Hoppy American Amber

Congratulations, all! We at the Hangtown Association of Zymurgy Enthusiasts look forward to your participation again next year!

To contact the QOB coordinator send mail to "qoborganizer" at "hazeclub" dot "org".

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