Festival Birofilia 2013 / XI. Konkurs Piw Domowych w Żywcu
Żywiec
POL

To become Grand Champion, and to have the bad luck then not being in place to be celebrated – that might be the worst thing that could happen to a Polish homebrewer. And on 15^th June 2013, this nightmare came true for Czesław Dziełak, the overall winner of the 11^th Polish Homebrew Competition in Żywiec.

A number of trained and experienced judges from Poland, Germany, Great Britain, Austria, Belgium and The United States of America met on 14^th and 15^th June 2013 and identified the best out of more than 440 beers in eight categories; but when on Saturday at around 19:00 h in front of several hundred eagerly waiting guests the name Czesław Dziełak was mentioned, the great confetti rain unfortunately did not take place. Czesław had not been able to be personally present in Żywiec. Under the still huge cheers of the homebrewers from Poland and many other European countries, it was Krzysztof Lechowski, who, as the Chairman of the Polish Homebrewers’ Association, took the price on behalf of Czesław.

Despite this bittersweet moment, the Birofilia Festival and the 11^th Polish Homebrew Competition were again a great success. In perfect sunny weather, beer lovers, home brewers and craft brewers spent two wonderful days in Żywiec. There were hundreds of beers from all over the world to be tasted; hundreds of homebrewers from Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Sweden, and who knows from where else had gathered; many of them poured their homebrew or craft beer; and the whole event was just like a huge family re-union.

Besides the eight categories of the Homebrew Competition, there have also taken place a Craftbrewers’ Competition, a Label Contest and a Homebrewers’ Competition for employees of the Żywiec Group. And that is the reason, why the list of winners seems to be endless:

Konkurs Piw Domowych:

Grand Champion 2013

Czesław Dziełak

I – Jasne Lekkie (9,5-10,5º Blg)

1. Piotr Machowicz
2. Jerzy Miler
3. Waldemar Pitala

II – Dymiony Porter/Stout (Smoked Porter/Stout) (10-13º Blg)

1. Piotr Artychowski
2. Krzysztof Kulec
3. Karol Kościelniak

III – Altbier (11-12,5º Blg)

1. Paweł Podolski
2. Dariusz Cieśla
3. Andrzej Miler

IV – Dunkelweizen (11-14º Blg)

1. Arkadiusz Wenta
2. Daniel Duda
3. Andrzej Jendrzejewski

V – Robust Porter (12-16º Blg)

1. Marcin Stefaniak
2. Marcin Kołodziejski
3. Mateusz Kupracz

VI – Blond (14,5 – 17º Blg)

1. Jacek Michna
2. Arkadiusz Suchecki
3. Marcin Stefaniak

VII – Koźlak/Bock (16-18º Blg)

1. Łukasz Chrząszcz
2. Adam Śmiglak
3. Jarosław Laprus

VIII – Imperialne India Pale Ale (18-24º Blg)

1. Czesław Dziełak
2. Piotr Kowalski
3. Artur Jakubowski

Konkurs Piw Rzemieślniczych:

Kategoria Pilzner 11-13°Blg

1. Browar Reden Chorzów – PILZNER REDEN 12,0° – piwowar: Łukasz Łazinka
2. Browar Kormoran Olsztyn – KORMORAN JASNY 12,5° – piwowar: Maciej Mielęcki
3. Browar Brovarnia Gdańsk – ZŁOTO BROVARNI 11,6° – piwowar: Michał Saks

Kategoria Pszeniczne (Hefe-Weizen) 11-13°Blg

1. Browar Piwna Gdańsk – PSZENICZNE 12,6° – piwowar: Wojciech Piasecki
2. Browar MajER Gliwice – MAJER PSZENICZNE 12,0° – piwowar: Michał Grossmann
3. Browar Brovarnia Gdańsk – BROVARNIA PSZENICZNE 11,8° – piwowar: Michał Saks

Kategoria Extra Special Bitter (ESB) 12-15°Blg

1. Browar Haust Zielona Góra – SKRILL 14,0° – piwowar: Jarosław Sosnowski
2. Browar Widawa Chrząstawa Mała – MAGIC DONINGTON “93 14,0° – piwowar: Wojciech Frączyk
3. Browar Grodzka 15 Lublin – ESB 15,0° – piwowar: Bogdan Szponar

Kategoria Maibock (Koźlak Majowy) 16-18°Blg

1. Browar Grodzka 15 Lublin – MAIBOCK 16,6° – piwowar: Bogdan Szponar
2. Browar Kaszëbskô Kóruna Szymbark – WIEŻYCA MAIBOCK 17,5° – piwowar: Michał Bania, Paweł Czaplewski
3. Browar Miejski Bielsko-Biała – BIELITZER KOŹLAK MAJOWY 16,2° – piwowar: Karol Kościelniak, Roman Mihułowicz

Konkurs Piw Pracowniczych:

Kategoria Robust Porter

1. Artur Wasielewski – Browar Elbląg
2. Adam Dąbek – Browar Lezajsk
3. Marcin Kiełbowicz – Browar Leżajsk

Kategoria Open

1. Wojciech Purol – Browar Żywiec – Imperialne Pale Ale
2. Arkadiusz Kiliński – Browar Warka – Dortmunder
3. Marcin Kiełbowicz – Browar Leżajsk – Stout Wędzony

Konkurs Etykiet Piw Domowych:

1. Jarosław Nogala, Browar Siradius, a“la Grodziskie
2. Tomasz Schütz, Browar Gocki Gdynia, WeizenBock
3. Elżbieta Kulkowska, Aborygen Pale Ale, Browar Domowy

Many thanks to all the organizers and supporters, and see you again next year in Żywiec, when the same question will be asked again: Who will be Grand Champion 2014?

Pictures