Rules:

Judge and Steward Registration is Open

If you have not registered and are willing to be a volunteer, please register.

If you have registered, log in and then choose Edit Account from the My Account menu indicated by the icon on the top menu.

Entry Registration is Open

This is a unique competition with following special rules: 

• Winning entry of this competion will be brewed at BareBottle and entered as a ProAm entry at 2026 GABF in Denver.  

• Given that the winning entry is to be entered at GABF, the entry style guidelines to be used are GABF Style Guidelines. Please read and understand the style guidelines before entering. Detailed style guidelines can be accessed by clicking on each style listed below. 

• The competition entry is limited to 9 styles listed below

  • Chili Lager (GABF Style No. 06) (Specifically needs to be a lager)

  • Herb and Spice Lager (GABF Style No. 07) (Specifically needs to be a lager)

  • American-Style India Pale Lager (GABF Style No. 45A)

  • West Coast-Style Pilsener (GABF Style No. 45B)

  • Other Hoppy Lager (GABF Style No. 45C)

  • International-Style Pale Ale (GABF Style No. 94A)

  • Classic Australian-Style Pale Ale (GABF Style No. 94B)

  • Australian-Style Pale Ale (GABF Style No. 94C)

  • New Zealand-Style Pale Ale (GABF Style No. 94D)

• Each entrant is limited to one entry per above style. 

• Same entry can not be entered more than once in the competition.  

• The competition is limited to Homebrewers residing in SF Bay Area - specifically limited to following 9 counties. 

  • Alameda County (East Bay)

  • Contra Costa County (East Bay)

  • Marin County (North Bay)

  • Napa County (North Bay)

  • San Francisco County (City/County)

  • San Mateo County (Mid-Peninsula)

  • Santa Clara County (South Bay/Silicon Valley)

  • Solano County (North Bay)

  • Sonoma County (North Bay

Entry Acceptance Rules

Each entry will consist of capped or corked bottles or cans that are void of all identifying information, including labels and embossing. Printed caps are allowed, but must be blacked out completely.

12oz brown glass bottles are preferred; however, green and clear glass will be accepted. Swing top bottles will likewise be accepted as well as corked bottles. Cans are accepted as well. 

Bottles and cans will not be returned to contest entrants.

All requisite paperwork must be submitted with each entry and can be printed directly from this website. Entry paperwork should be attached to bottles by the method specified on the bottle label.

Be meticulous about noting any special ingredients that must be specified. Failure to note such ingredients may impact the judges' scoring of your entry.

Entry Info:

Entry Fees

$12.00 (USD) per entry.

Entry Limits Per Participant

Per Style Entry Limit:

1

Pay Entry Fees

After creating your account and adding your entries to the system, you must pay your entry fee(s). Accepted payment methods are:

• Credit/debit card and e-check, via PayPal

Drop-Off Locations

Entry bottles accepted at our drop-off locations Saturday, May 16, 2026 11:00 AM, PDT — Thursday, May 28, 2026 5:00 PM, PDT.

Please pay attention to the notes provided for each drop-off location. There could be earlier deadlines for some drop-off locations listed, particular hours when entries are accepted, certain individuals to leave your entries with, etc. All entrants are responsible for reading the information provided by the organizers for each drop-off location.

Barebottle Bernal Heights
1525 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
+14159268617
*Drop Off during open hours

Barebottle Menlo Park
550 Oak Grove Ave Suite B, Menlo Park, CA 94025
+16503208348
*Drop Off during open hours

Barebottle Santa Clara
2520 Augustine Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95054
+14085645722
*Drop Off during open hours

Barebottle Walnut Creek
1375 S California Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 440-2179
*Drop Off during open hours

Shipping Info

Entry bottles accepted at our shipping location Saturday, May 16, 2026 11:00 AM, PDT — Thursday, May 28, 2026 5:00 PM, PDT.

Ship entries to:

BareBottle Walnut Creek
1375 S California Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Packing and Shipping

Carefully pack your entries in a sturdy box. Line the inside of your carton with a plastic trash bag. Partition and pack each bottle with adequate packaging material. Please do not over pack!

Write clearly: Fragile. This Side Up. on the package. Please only use bubble wrap as your packing material.

Enclose each of your bottle labels in a small zip-top bag before attaching to their respective bottles. This way it makes it possible for the organizer to identify specifically which entry has broken if there is damage during shipment.

Every reasonable effort will be made to contact entrants whose bottles have broken to make arrangements for sending replacement bottles.

Judging Sessions

May 31 AM
Sunday, May 31, 2026 10:00 AM, PDT

May 31 PM
Sunday, May 31, 2026 1:00 PM, PDT

Best of Show

Winning entry of this competion will be brewed at BareBottle and entered as a ProAm entry at 2026 GABF in Denver.  

Awards Ceremony

BareBottle Walnut Creek
1375 S California Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Sunday, May 31, 2026 6:00 PM, PDT

Volunteers

Judges and Stewards

If you have registered, log in and then choose Edit Account from the My Account menu indicated by the icon on the top menu.

If you have not registered and are willing to be a judge or steward, please register.

Staff

If you would like to volunteer to be a competition staff member, please register or update your account to indicate that you wish to be a part of the competition staff.

Contact

Use the links below to contact individuals involved with coordinating this competition:

• Kenneth Wigginton – Competition Coordinator