Sweetheart’s Revenge 2024
Sweetheart’s Revenge is Colorado’s largest AHA/BJCP sanctioned homebrewing competition for beer, cider and mead. This is the 11th year for the competition with a record 701 entries. The competition was judged both virtually and in-person. Initial in-person judging was held at Crooked Beech Brewing Company in Loveland, Colorado, and Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The final rounds and Awards Ceremony were held at Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project in Loveland, Colorado.
Sweetheart’s Revenge is part of the:
- Front Range Circuit
- Master Homebrewer Program Circuit of America
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!
Best of Show – Beer
1st – Stephen Schmitt, 5C: German Helles Exportbier, Evanston Homebrew Club (Evanston, IL)
2nd – Brian Stephens, 14B: Scottish Heavy, Keepers of Craft (Kalamazoo, MI)
3rd – Jay Walford, 17B: Old Ale, (Fort Collins, CO)
HM – Fritz Schanz, 32A: Classic Style Smoked Beer, Denton County Homebrewers Guild (Denton, TX)
Best of Show – Mead/Cider
1st – Nelson Crowle, M4B: Historical Mead, Indian Peaks Alers (Longmont, CO)
2nd – Todd Cogswell, C1A: New World Cider, Tippecanoe Homebrewers Circle (Lafayette, IN)
3rd – Ed Moore, M3A: Fruit and Spice Mead, Rock Hoppers Brew Club (Centennial, CO)
Valentines Brew
1st – Philip LaFleur, Liquid Love Raspberry Spiced Cider, Weizguys Homebrew Club (Loveland, CO)
2nd – David Carpenter, Cherry Tart, Weizguys Homebrew Club (Loveland, CO)
3rd – Megan Wahlfeldt/Joy Padilla, S’more Lovin’, Weizguys Homebrew Club (Loveland, CO)
Pro/Am
Avant Garde Aleworks – Jay Walford, 17B: Old Ale
Crooked Beech Brewing Company – Andy Scherzinger, 34C: Experimental Beer
Fritz Family Brewers – Shawn Miller, 9B: Eisbock
Loveland Aleworks – Marc Wethington, 25C: Belgian Golden Strong Ale
Skybear Brewery and Pub – Scott Neuhard.Jeffy Crisafulli, 6A: Marzen
SweetWater Brewing Company – Ryan Wankel, X5: New Zealand Pilsner
TightKnit Brewing Co. – Brandon S Shaw/Aaron Geiser, 2A: International Pale Lager
Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project – Steven M Jones, 30C: Winter Seasonal Beer
Heavy Medal – Brewer
1st – Philip LaFleur, 6 medals: 1st:5 2nd:1, Total points: 17
2nd – Nelson Crowle, 9 medals: BOSMead/Cider1st:1 1st:1 2nd:4 3rd:3, Total points: 15
3rd – Brian Stephens, 4 medals: BOSBeer2nd:1 1st:2 2nd:1, Total points: 10
3rd – Andy Scherzinger, 6 medals: 1st:1 2nd:2 3rd:3, Total points: 10
Heavy Medal – Club
1st – Weizguys Homebrew Club (Loveland, CO), 28 medals: 1st:8 2nd:10 3rd:10, Total points: 54
2nd – Rock Hoppers Brew Club (Centennial, CO), 11 medals: 1st:4 2nd:4 3rd:3, Total points: 23
3rd – Indian Peaks Alers (Longmont, CO), 12 medals: BOSMead/Cider1st:1 1st:3 2nd:4 3rd:4, Total points: 22
Awards
The awards presented at Sweetheart’s Revenge are handmade by the Weiz Guys club members from barrels. The Best of Show awards for Beer and Mead/Cider are created from the ends of a 5-gallon barrel.
Awards for each individual category are created from 55 gallon barrels staves. Each year the Weiz Guys members gather for a special day of craftmanship and fun to cut the staves to size, brand the SR logo, year of the competition and award place, and attach the beer faucet tap ferrules.
The Pro/Am awards are created from the heads of the 55 gallon barrel which adds a unique detail to the edge and top. The circle near the center is reserved for the sponsoring brewery’s logo.
Special Valentines Brew Category
Any type of Valentine’s Day themed beer, mead, or cider is accepted. Bitter, Sour, Sweet, Catty… Create a beverage with the flavors that represent your feelings about Valentine’s Day or your Valentine!
Medals will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and will be judged in a “Best of Show” format with additional feedback provided in a fun Valentine’s Day theme. In addition to the competition award, a tiara and sash is presented for fun and laughs to the 1st place winner.
2023 winner (and good sport) Matthew Mead from Grand Rapids, MI is shown to the right. Matt commented “basically I wanted to win it because I heard it was a cool shiny tiara and everyone should have a tiara! I am a big kid at heart! I basically figured a good dessert mead that tasted like a valentines day treat would make a great entry. I had some spare Raspberry mead that is a little acidic and blended it with some white chocolate syrup to calm down the acidity and it came out really delicious, so I used that as my entry.”
The 1st place winner does not have to be present at the Awards Ceromony on February 24th to receive the tiara and sash. We do ask that if these are shipped to you, please take a photo similar to Matt’s and send it back to the Weiz Guys Home Brewing Club. Use style 999A Valentine’s to enter at ReggieBeer.com.
Diamond Sponsor
Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project is located at 127 E. 5th Street in Loveland, Colorado, and is a host of the 2024 Sweetheart’s Revenge Competition. Verboten Brewing is a long time sponsor of the Weiz Guys Home Brewing Club. They are also assisting the competition as a drop off location for entries, a pick up location for virtual judging, and is participating with a Pro/Am. Please Visit their website at VerbotenBrewing.com
Diamond Sponsor
Crooked Beech Brewing Company is located at 3121 N. Garfield Avenue in Loveland, Colorado, and is a host of the 2024 Sweetheart’s Revenge Competition. Crooked Beech Brewing is a new sponsor of the Weiz Guys Home Brewing Club. They are assisting the competition as the competition shipping location, a drop off location for entries, the location for sorting, a pick up location for virtual judging, and is also participating with two (2) judging sessions. Please Visit their website at CrookedBeech.com
Diamond Sponsor
Win 1st place in any category, and you will receive an INKBIRD ITC-308-WIFI controller! Win 1st place in Valentines Brew or 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in Best of Show, you will receive an INKBIRD ITC-308-WIFI controller and a INKBIRD IHT-1P instant read thermometer! Please visit their website at INKBIRD.com
Platinum Sponsors / Pro-Ams
Gold Sponsors
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |
Silver Sponsors
 |  |  |  |  |
 |
Bronze Sponsors
 |  |  |  |
 |
Best of Show: Competition Brewing Podcast
Andy Scherzinger of the Weiz Guys is announced as co-host and executive partner of the podcast. In this episode, 2022 is recapped by looking at winners around the country. Andy then talks with Philip LaFluer of the Weiz Guys about the upcoming 2023 Sweetheart’s Revenge competition, the largest AHA/BJCP sanctioned competition in Colorado. Listen to Episode (aired 1/3/2023)
Experimental Brewing Podcast
Mark Boelman and Mike Myers of the Weiz Guys talk with Denny Conn and Drew Beechum about the Weiz Guys Club, Sweetheart’s Revenge, and the Colorado Strong Project. Listen to Episode 142 (aired 12/2/2021)
WeizGuys Homebrew Club 