Battle of the Brews beer competition July 20 at Delaware State Fair

One hundred bottles of home-brewed beer will compete for top honors Saturday, July 20, in the Delaware Electric Cooperative free entertainment tent on the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. The competition is part of the Third Annual Battle of the Brews at the Delaware State Fair, sponsored by the Delaware Department of Agriculture.

Winners will be selected in 10 styles, or categories, with the top beer of each style competing for Best of Show. The champion will receive a $250 cash prize. Styles include pilsner, ale, Belgian, porter and stout, among other categories.

Seventy percent of contestants are from Delaware with the remainder from surrounding states.Twenty home-brewing enthusiasts and certified judges will run and judge the competition. Judges are certified by the Beer Judge Certification Program and travel from Delaware and surrounding states to participate.

Judging begins at 9 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m. Results will be announced between 5 and 8 p.m., when the public is invited to taste beers from local breweries. Last year, more than 500 people attended the awards ceremony.