American Specialty Homebrew Cup
The national circuit for specialty-only homebrew competitions. Get judge-style feedback, grow your skills across diverse styles, and compete for medals—with paid membership, unlock prizes, discounts, and special offers.
What Is the American Specialty Homebrew Cup?
The American Specialty Homebrew Cup (ASHC) is a nationwide competition circuit built for specialty and niche beer styles—mixed-fermentation sours, smoked and wood-aged beers, German classics, Belgian specialties, historical and regional styles, and more. Instead of one-off contests, ASHC runs a season-long leaderboard that rewards consistent performance across events and styles. You’ll develop repeatable processes, refine your palate, and level up recipe design, fermentation control, and packaging.
Every sanctioned competition on our calendar contributes points to the season. You’ll receive judge-style feedback that’s private, constructive, and immediately useful—so each batch gets better. Top finishers earn season medals, and paid members compete for prizes and enjoy ongoing member discounts and special offers.
Why Brewers Love This Circuit
Push Beyond Your Comfort Zone
Great brewers don’t stop at one style. ASHC encourages you to brew across categories and regions: German lagers and wheat beers, Belgian specialties, British ales, mixed-ferm sours, barrel-influenced and wood-aged beers, smoked and historical styles, and more. Build a deep toolkit—water, yeast management, lagering, blending, wood contact, and balance.
Judge Feedback That Improves
Detailed score sheets highlight strengths and exact fixes—from fermentation temperature and attenuation to hop expression, acidity, oak integration, and mouthfeel. Even misses become lessons. The next batch improves.
Fair, Transparent Scoring
Our method rewards performance in larger, more competitive fields without punishing smaller categories. Best of Show adds a bonus but isn’t make-or-break. Read the scoring rules any time.
Medals, Prizes, and Membership
Placements at circuit competitions earn points toward the season leaderboard. We award Top 10 season medals. To qualify for prizes and enjoy member discounts and special offers, choose a paid plan.
Free Account
Medal-eligible only. Create a free account so we can ship medals if you place among top finishers. Free accounts do not qualify for prizes or discounts.
Paid Membership Options
- Brewmaster — $15 per season (annual) — prize-eligible, discounts & special offers.
- Supporter — $99 one-time (lifetime) — prize-eligible, discounts & special offers, plus a Supporter badge on the leaderboard.
Select your plan on the membership page. You’ll go to checkout; once payment completes, your account level updates automatically.
Season Structure
The circuit runs as a season. Brew, enter events, collect points, and climb the leaderboard. Watch how small process changes— oxygen control, pitch rates, mash schedule, wood contact time—compound into big improvements over the season.
Challenge Yourself: Brew Widely, Master the Craft
True mastery takes repetition and range. ASHC is designed to make you brew more and brew more variety—not just your go-to style. Explore classic European traditions, modern mixed-fermentation, wood-influenced ales and lagers, and other specialty categories. Hone recipe design, fermentation precision, yeast health, packaging, and sensory evaluation. Seek greatness—and watch your scores rise.
Our Sponsors
We’re powered by partners who advance specialty-focused homebrewing. Without their support, ASHC wouldn’t be possible.
SoCal Brewing Supply equips many of the region’s best homebrewers with fresh ingredients and pro-grade equipment—plus expert guidance, club partnerships, and competition support.
Supporting Sponsors
Your brand here — gear, ingredients, or services for serious homebrewers.
Partner with ASHC to reach motivated, competitive brewers nationwide.
Showcase your products across specialty competitions and season standings.
Ready to Brew, Learn, and Win?
Start with the next competition on the calendar. Create your free account so we can ship medals, and consider a paid membership for prize eligibility, discounts, and special offers.
Find a Competition Create Free Account See Membership Options
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a membership to enter competitions?
No. Anyone can enter circuit competitions. However, only paid members are eligible for season prizes and member discounts/special offers. Free accounts are medal-eligible only (top finishers).
What brewing skills does this circuit develop?
Recipe design and balance, yeast pitching and health, fermentation temperature control, lagering, acidity management for sours, wood/oak integration, carbonation and packaging—plus palate training through judge feedback.
How are points calculated?
Points scale with category size and placement to reward tougher fields fairly. Best of Show adds a bonus without dominating outcomes. See full details on the Rules & Scoring page.
How do I become prize-eligible?
Choose a paid plan on the Membership page. After checkout, your account level updates automatically and you’re eligible for prizes that season (Brewmaster) or for life (Supporter).