17th Annual ESB Home Brew Competition 2026 Info
Account Registration
You will be able to create your account beginning Monday 1 June, 2026 10:00, AEST through Saturday 25 July, 2026 17:00, AEST.
Judges and stewards may register beginning Monday 1 June, 2026 10:00, AEST through Saturday 25 July, 2026 17:00, AEST.
Entry Registration
You will be able to add your entries to the system beginning Monday 1 June, 2026 10:00, AEST through Saturday 18 July, 2026 12:00, AEST.
Entry Fees
$10.00 (AUD) per entry.
BJCP 2021 Styles Accepted
If a style's name is hyperlinked, it has specific entry requirements. Select or tap on the name to view the subcategory's requirements.
| 1A American Light Lager | 1B American Lager | 1C Cream Ale |
| 1D American Wheat Beer | 3A Czech Pale Lager | 3B Czech Premium Pale Lager |
| 3C Czech Amber Lager | 3D Czech Dark Lager | 4A Munich Helles |
| 4B Festbier | 4C Helles Bock | 5A German Leichtbier |
| 5B Kölsch | 5C German Helles Exportbier | 5D German Pils |
| 6A Märzen | 6B Rauchbier | 6C Dunkels Bock |
| 7A Vienna Lager | 7B Altbier | 8A Munich Dunkel |
| 8B Schwarzbier | 9A Doppelbock | 9B Eisbock |
| 10A Weissbier | 10B Dunkels Weissbier | 10C Weizenbock |
| 11A Ordinary Bitter | 11B Best Bitter | 12A British Golden Ale |
| 12B Australian Sparkling Ale | 12C English IPA | 13A Dark Mild |
| 13B British Brown Ale | 13C English Porter | 14A Scottish Light |
| 14B Scottish Heavy | 14C Scottish Export | 15A Irish Red Ale |
| 15B Irish Stout | 15C Irish Extra Stout | 16A Sweet Stout |
| 16B Oatmeal Stout | 16C Tropical Stout | 16D Foreign Extra Stout |
| 18A Blonde Ale | 18B American Pale Ale | 19A American Amber Ale |
| 19B California Common | 19C American Brown Ale | 20A American Porter |
| 20B American Stout | 20C Imperial Stout | 21A American IPA |
| 21B Specialty IPA | 21B1 Belgian IPA | 21B2 Black IPA |
| 21B3 Brown IPA | 21B4 Red IPA | 21B5 Rye IPA |
| 21B6 White IPA | 21B7 Brut IPA | 21C Hazy IPA |
| 22A Double IPA | 22B American Strong Ale | 22C American Barleywine |
| 22D Wheatwine | 23A Berliner Weisse | 23B Flanders Red Ale |
| 23C Oud Bruin | 23D Lambic | 23E Gueuze |
| 23F Fruit Lambic | 23G Gose | 24A Witbier |
| 24B Belgian Pale Ale | 24C Bière de Garde | 25A Belgian Blond Ale |
| 25B Saison | 25C Belgian Golden Strong Ale | 26A Belgian Single |
| 26B Belgian Dubbel | 26C Belgian Tripel | 26D Belgian Dark Strong Ale |
| ESB1 Extra Special Bitter (Custom Style) |
Entry Limit
There is a limit of 150 entries for this competition.
Per Entrant Limits
Each entrant is limited to 8 entries.
Each entrant is limited to 1 entry per subcategory.
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
Entry Acceptance Rules
Number of Bottles Required Per Entry: 1
Each entry will consist of capped/corked bottles or cans that are devoid of all identifying information, including labels and embossing. Printed caps are allowed but must be blacked out completely.
Each entry must consist of a single container of at least 500ml in volume (or 2 x 330ml) Cans and bottles, glass or plastic are acceptable. Swing top bottles, corked bottles and carbonation caps are also acceptable. Containers should not have any unique identifying features other than possibly a batch code.
Bottles and cans will not be returned to contest entrants.
Printed labels must be submitted with each entry and can be printed directly from this website (see printer symbol next to the entry in your entries table.) Entry labels should be attached to bottles/cans.
Be meticulous about noting any special ingredients that must be specified. Failure to note such ingredients may impact the judges' scoring of your entry.
Payment for entry is via PayPal, with credit/debit card or PayPal balance, entrant pays transaction surcharge.
Brewers may enter multiple styles and categories, but may only enter each style once.
In registering for the competition and providing your name, email address and mobile number, you consent to receiving future communications from Extra Special Brewers, NSW Amateur Homebrew Association and our sponsors in connection with your entries into their category. Your information will be used solely for the purpose of sending relevant information, relating to this and future competitions. Your personal information will not be shared with third parties, except as required by law. You can opt out at any time by contacting us directly using the contact form
Drop-Off Locations
Entry bottles accepted at our drop-off locations Monday 29 June, 2026 10:00, AEST — Saturday 18 July, 2026 12:00, AEST.
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.
55 Queen Street, Campbelltown, NSW 2560
(02) 4625 6800
*Last Drop-off COB 11/07/26
18 Flora Street, Kirrawee, NSW 2232
(02) 9521 1091
50 Sydney St, Marrickville NSW 2204
(02) 9516 3008
10, Unit 11/12 Hearne St, Mortdale NSW 2223
0400 755 967
*Check opening hours
Shipping Info
Entry bottles accepted at our shipping location Monday 29 June, 2026 10:00, AEST — Saturday 18 July, 2026 12:00, AEST.
Ship entries to:
The Hop & Grain Brew Store
50 Sydney St, Marrickville NSW 2204
Packing and Shipping
Carefully pack your entries in a sturdy box. Line the inside of your carton with bubble wrap. Partition and pack each conatiner 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 container labels in a small zip-top bag before attaching to their respective bottle/can. This way it makes it possible for the organiser to identify specifically which entry has broken if there is damage during shipment.
Every reasonable effort will be made to contact entrants whose containers have broken to make arrangements for sending a replacement.
Judging Sessions
Club Rivers - Morning
Saturday 25 July, 2026 10:00, AEST
Club Rivers - Afternoon
Saturday 25 July, 2026 13:00, AEST
Awards
The awards ceremony will take place once judging is completed.
Places will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category/table.
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.
Additional prizes may be awarded to those winners present at the awards ceremony at the discretion of the competition organisers.
Past Winners
Judging Sessions
Club Rivers - Morning
25/07/2026 10:00, AEST.
Club Rivers - Afternoon
25/07/2026 13:00, AEST.
Account Registration Closed
Account registrations accepted 01/06/2026 10:00, AEST through 25/07/2026 17:00, AEST.
Registrations for judges or stewards accepted 01/06/2026 10:00, AEST through 25/07/2026 17:00, AEST.
Entry Registration Closed
Entry Drop-Off Closed
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.