Competition Info
Euroclash Homebrew Competition
Euroclash is an annual homebrew beer competition, focussing on some of the best styles from Europe. The first Euroclash Homebrew Competition was held in June 2024, challenging Homebrewers in the Greater Wellington area to put forward their best efforts of one of a variety of European BJCP styles from Belgium, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
Euroclash aims to grow and strengthen the Greater Wellington hombrew community, bringing healthy competition and interest to showcase the world-class standard of brewing right here in our own backyard.
Judges and Stewards
Get in touch now if you can help with the next Euroclash competition.
Home Brewers
Start planning your recipe and practice your favourite of the Euro styles.
Supporters
Contact us if you’re interesting in becoming a sponsor for the next event.
BJCP Styles
Euroclash 2026 Beer Styles
Belgium
25A. Belgian Blonde Ale
A moderate-strength golden ale that has a subtle fruity-spicy Belgian yeast complexity, slightly malty-sweet flavor, and dry finish.
26B. Belgian Dubbel
A deep reddish-copper, moderately strong, malty, complex Trappist ale with rich malty flavors, dark or dried fruit esters, and light alcohol blended together in a malty presentation that still finishes fairly dry.
Germany
5D. German Pils
A pale, dry, bitter German lager featuring a prominent hop aroma. Crisp, clean, and refreshing, showing a brilliant gold color with excellent head retention.
8B. Schwarzbier
A dark German lager that balances roasted yet smooth malt flavors with moderate hop bitterness. The lighter body, dryness, and lack of a harsh, burnt, or heavy aftertaste helps make this beer quite drinkable.
France
24C. Bière de Garde
A fairly strong, malt-accentuated, lagered artisanal beer with a range of malt flavors appropriate for the color. All are malty yet dry, with clean flavors and a smooth character.
25B. Saison
Most commonly, a pale, refreshing, highly-attenuated, moderately-bitter, moderate-strength Belgian ale with a very dry finish. Typically highly carbonated, and using non-barley cereal grains and optional spices for complexity, as complements the expressive yeast character that is fruity, spicy, and not overly phenolic. Less common variations include both lower-alcohol and higher-alcohol products, as well as darker versions with additional malt character.
UK
12C. English IPA
A hoppy, moderately-strong, very well-attenuated pale British ale with a dry finish and a hoppy aroma and flavor. Classic British ingredients provide the best flavor profile.
13C. English Porter
Simply called “Porter” in Britain, the name “English Porter” is used to differentiate it from other porters described in these guidelines.
Euroclash Rules
Rules
Entries are open to all New Zealand residents aged 18 or over. Minimum volume for entry; 2 bottles, each with a minimum volume of 500ml. Two bottles are required in case of breakage, single bottle infections, or Best Of Show taste-offs. All co-brewers must be registered for every entry, with one person designated as the main brewer
Due to issues with leaks in previous years flip-top bottles will no longer be accepted. Additionally, we strongly recommend using PET bottles. Some dropoff points will only accept PET bottles this year, please check carefully. All mailed entries must be received at the mailing location by the shipping deadline – please allow for shipping time. Each bottle must be labeled with the label generated by the registration software.
All entries will be picked up from drop-off locations the day of the drop-off deadline.
All entries must be homebrewed products, containing ingredients available to the general public, and made using private equipment by hobbyist brewers (i.e., no use of commercial facilities or Brew on Premises operations, supplies, etc.). Commercial beer is not eligible for entry.
Commercial brewers may enter; however, the beer must be made entirely at home using commonly available home-brewing ingredients, processes, and equipment. Kit beers and fresh wort kits are fine to enter.
Judges may enter and may win awards and prizes. However are excluded from judging their own entry. All reasonable effforts will be made to ensure a Judge who is a Entrant does not judge their own entry.
Competition staff/organizers may enter; but are ineligible for any award prizes or spot prizes. Prizes will be given to the runner-up in these cases.
The competition organizers are not responsible for mis-categorized entries, mailed entries that are not received by the entry deadline, or entries that arrived damaged.
The competition organizers will not reassign entries into different styles; all entries will be judged as the style in which they were entered. For advice on the most appropriate styles, contact the competition coordinators.
Entries will be sorted into judging categories by style, according to the 2021 BJCP guidelines. Entries must meet the entry requirements of Belgian, German, Czech or UK styles as per the entry registration form; any other BJCP 2021 style not listed will not be accepted.
Constructive and quality feedback from judging of all entries is the primary goal of Euroclash. Judges will evaluate and score each entry. The average of the scores will rank each entry in its category. Each flight will have at least one BJCP judge. A minimum of two score sheets will be provided to you post competition close date.
Entrants are restricted to a maximum of one (1) entry per style, to a total of thirteen (13) bottles (two (2) bottles, cans, or other per style). The same beer may not be entered more than once per competition or more than once per style.
The competition committee reserves the right to combine overall style categories based on number of entries. All possible effort will be made to combine similar styles. All brews in combined categories will be judged according to the style they were originally entered in.
The Brewstore Porirua is Euroclash Homebrew Competitions preferred supplier. Ideally entrants purchase all or some of their supplies for this competition from our supplier here.
The Best of Show judging will be determined by a Best of Show panel based on a second round of judging of the first placed entries of each style. Score sheets will not be conducted for Best of Show rounds and will be placed according to their entry style guideline and a final taste off.
If necessary, the competition organizers reserve the right to cap entry numbers to a manageable level without notice. Currently, the competition is capped at 50 entries.
Bottles will not be returned to entrants.
Entries/entrants found breaching the rules may be disqualified at the organizers’ discretion. No disqualified entries will be returned or refunded.
Entry Acceptance Rules
Number of Bottles Required Per Entry: 2
Each entry must consist of capped or corked bottles (Corked entries must be caged and wrapped) and capping method must be void of all identifying information, including labels and embossing. Printed caps are allowed, but must be blacked out completely.
500ml brown glass bottles are preferred; however, green and clear glass will be accepted. Flip-Top Bottles will not be accepted. We strongly reccomend PET Bottles
Bottles 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.
Euroclash
SPONSORS
Euroclash 2025 Results
Congratulations to Valley Brewer “home” to Wellington’s grand champion “Euro-Brewer” and to all our winners with a huge thank you to all the participants for your amazing entries. Finally our stewards, judges, and sponsors who assisted in all this coming together.
Euroclash 2024 Grand Champion
Matt Gilbert | Valley Brewer | Herr Blauer Himmel German Pils (5D)
Runner Up
Matt Gilbert | Valley Brewer | Dirt Bomb 13B: British Brown Ale
Third Place
Ian Kitto | Simple Black 3D: Czech Dark Lager
Euroclash 2024 Results
Congratulations to PoriBrewer "home" to Wellington's grand champion "Euro-Brewer" and to all our winners with a huge thank you to all the participants for your amazing entries. Finally our judges and sponsors who assisted in all this coming together The Brewstore and Aro Bar.
Euroclash 2024 Grand Champion
Paul Ngamanu | PoriBrewer | Nein Pilsners German Pils (5D)
Runner Up
Matt Paterson | Valley Brewer | Riwaka Rascal Blonde Belgian Blond (25A)
Third Place
Jamie Rickard | Valley Brewer | no frills, german pils German Pils (5D)
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