Oktoberfest in October

Oktoberfest in October 2026

About

The  Suncoast Barley Masher's Oktoberfest in October is an BJCP sanctioned,  German beer only competition open to any home brewer age 21 or older. The  competition will be limited to 150 entries. Brewers will be required to  submit three (3) 12-ounce bottles/cans.  Bottles/Cans  will not be returned to entrants for any reason. The Suncoast Barley  Mashers are not responsible for miscategorized entries, mailed entries  that are not received by the entry deadline, or entries that arrived  damaged. 

Entry window: July 27 - September 12, 2026

All entries must be received by Friday September 12, at VetterBrew HomeBrew Supply or Southern Lights Brewing Company, by close of business.

ENTER HERE  - Competition entries

Rules

• Each  entry will consist three (3) 12 ounce capped bottles/cans (no exceptions) that  are void of all identifying information, including labels. Printed caps  are allowed, but must be blacked out completely. 

• Anything  other than 12 ounce capped bottles/cans will not qualify for the  competition.  Should a bottle/can be submitted outside of this size range it  will not be judged.  If entry fees have been submitted with the entries  they will be returned to the participant minus any transaction fees.

• Bottles/cans will not be returned to entrants for any reason.

• Unpaid entries will not be judged.

• Completed  labels must be submitted with all entries, and can be printed  directly from the entry website. Bottle/can labels should be attached to  bottles with a rubber band only; glue and/or tape are unacceptable.

• Bottles/can  must be free of labels or other easily identified marks. Re-used  Commercial bottles with embossed logos are allowed but discouraged. 

• All entries must be entered under the name of the brewer.

• All  entries must be handcrafted products, and made using private equipment  by home brewers (i.e., no use of commercial facilities or Brew on  Premises operations, supplies, etc.).

• All mailed entries must be received at the mailing location by the entry deadline - please allow for shipping time.

• All entries will be picked up from drop-off locations the day of the entry deadline.

• Under no circumstances will walk-in entries be allowed.

The  Suncoast Barley Mashers reserves the right to combine styles for  judging and to restructure awards as needed depending upon the quantity  and quality of entries. All possible efforts will be made to combine or  group similar styles. Combined or grouped entries will be judged  according to the style they were originally entered in.

Brewers  are not limited to one entry in each category but may only enter each subcategory once. For example, participants may enter a Vienna Lager  (7A) and Altbier (7b), but may not enter two Vienna Lagers, even if they are different brews.

Entries submitted in categories 29A, 29B, 30A, 32A, 32B, 33A, & 34A *MUST have a German beer base style.

Categories  with a small number of entries may be combined at the discretion of the  competition organizers. The Competition Coordinator or other qualified  person will review elements of beer categories and styles with each  panel prior to judging.

Rules and regulations subject to change. 

2021 BJCP Styles Accepted

4.   PALE MALTY EUROPEAN LAGER

4A Munich Helles

4B Festbier

4C Helles Bock

5. PALE BITTER EUROPEAN BEER

5A German Leichtbier

5B Kolsch

5C German Helles Exportbier

5D German Pils

6. AMBER MALTY EUROPEAN LAGER

6A Marzen

6B Rauchbier

6C Dunkles Bock 

7. AMBER BITTER EUROPEAN BEER

7A Vienna Lager

7B Altbier

8. DARK EUROPEAN LAGER

8A Munich Dunkel

8B Schwarzbier

9. STRONG EUROPEAN BEER 

9A Doppelbock

9B Eisbock

10. GERMAN WHEAT BEER

10A Weissbier

10B Dunkles Weissbier

10C Weizenbock

23. EUROPEAN SOUR ALE

23A Berliner Weisse

27 HISTORICAL BEER

Kellerbier

Gose

Lictenhainer 

Roggenbier 

29 FRUIT BEER

29A Fruit Beer*

29B Fruit and Spice Beer*

30. SPICED BEER

30A Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer*

32. SMOKED BEER

32A Classic Style Smoke Beer*

32B Specialty Smoked Beer*

33. WOOD BEER

33A Wood-Aged Beer*

34. SPECIALTY BEER

34A Clone Beer 

34B Mixed Style

*MUST have a German beer base style.

Awards

The awards ceremony will take place on or near, October 10, 2026.

Places  will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category. In order  to qualify for an award, the beer needs a minimum score of 30.

The 1st place entry in each category will advance to the Best of Show (BOS)  round with a single, overall Best of Show beer selected.

Scores sheets will be available via reggiebeer.com after the conclusion of the awards announcement.

Awards will be available for pick up after the ceremony concludes. Awards not picked may arrange to have them mailed (additional cost). Results will be posted on the competition web site after the ceremony concludes.

The  awards ceremony will be TBD Facebook live of the awards will be available as well.

Registration & Entry Fees

$10 Per Entry  

Please register your beers at Reggie: 

Go to Reggie

Drop-Off Location

Vetterbrew Home Brew Supply Store

2705 Cypress Drive

Clearwater, Florida 33763

(727) 330-3825

Shipping Info

Vetterbrew Home Brew Supply Store

2705 Cypress Drive

Clearwater, Florida 33763

(727) 330-3825