Valkyries Horn Commercial Mead Competition: 2024 Volunteer Info

Judges and Stewards

If you have registered, log in and then choose Edit Account from the My Account menu indicated by the icon on the top menu.

Other Volunteer Info

Saturday February 3rd, 10am - BOTTLE SORT AT NORTHERN BREWER HEADQUARTERS

If you volunteer at the bottle sort, you may bring your entries with you!

You may enter the competition AND volunteer. Judges are prevented from judging in their entered categories.

PLEASE SIGN UP HERE FOR JUDGING AND STEWARDING SESSIONS FOR BOTH THE AMATEUR AND THE COMMERCIAL COMPETITION at:
https://comp.valkyrieshorn.com/index.php?section=entry

Volunteers that sign up for two consecutive sessions will be provided with the corresponding meal.

MEAD JUDGE TASTING EXAM:

A mead tasting exam has been scheduled for Thursday February 22, 2024.
If you are pursuing your mead judge certification (please do) you must complete the online mead entrance exam first.

Sign up here to take the online entrance exam (scroll down for mead):
https://bjcp.coursewebs.com/cart/Default.aspx

Instructions for exam preparation:
ttps://www.bjcp.org/exam-certification/mead-judge-program/

To reserve a spot for the TASTING exam (12 seats available):

Send and deliver a check by Feb 15 to:

Al Boyce
BJCP Mead Exam
25132 Mary St
Paynesville, MN  56362

$40 if a new judge (not already a BJCP judge)
$15 if already a BJCP judge

JUDGING LOCATIONS and TIMING:

FRIDAY 2/23 @ FORGOTTEN STAR BREWERY
38 Northern Stacks Dr.
Fridley, MN 55421-2798

2/23 Judging 10-11:30am
2/23 Lunch 11:30-12:30pm

2/23 Judging 12:30 - 2:00pm
2/23 Judging 2:00 - 3:30pm

2/23 Education 3:00-5:00pm - CHOCOLATE IN MEAD!
2/23 Dinner/Raffles/Socializing 5:00-7:00pm
2/24 Party room bottle share 7:00pm +

SATURDAY 2/24 @ FORGOTTEN STAR BREWERY
38 Northern Stacks Dr.
Fridley, MN 55421-2798

2/24 Judging 10-11:30am
2/24 Lunch 11:30-12:30pm

2/24 Judging 12:30 - 2:00pm
2/24 Judging 2:00 - 3:30pm

2/24 Education 3:30-5:30pm - EPIC (TRULY EPIC) TRADITIONAL MEAD TASTING!

2/24 Raffles/Dinner/Socializing 5:30 - 6:30pm 
2/24 BOS 4:00 - 5:30pm
2/24 Awards 7:00pm
2/24 Party room bottle share 8:30pm +

Judging - What to expect:

Judges are asked to bring a laptop or tablet for electronic scoresheets.
All entries will be judged "blind".
All judging will be in-person (not remote/virtual).
Judges will be served entries with a label and pertinent entry information by stewards. There will be no bottles at the judging tables.
Flights will be a maximum of 6 entries maxium to reduce palate fatigue and ensure the highest quality feedback from our judges.
BOS judging will be done by a panel of 5 very experienced judges.
Every entry will have at least one Mead Certified judge, very experienced mead maker/judge or professional assigned.

Stewards - what to expect:

We will need stewards for in-person judging.
Stewards will pour samples and deliver mead to the judging tables.
WE NEED LOTS OF STEWARDS!!! DON'T BE SHY, SIGN UP PLEASE!
Accomodations:

LivINN Hotels
5201 Central AVE NE
Fridley, MN 55421

763-571-9440
www.livinn.com

We have secured a block of rooms at a nice hotel 3.1 miles from the competition venue. Rate is just $99 per night plus taxes. All rooms are located facing an indoor courtyard and are grouped in proximity to each other. Rate will increase around February 5th.

We have a large private room reserved for bottle share and socializing at the hotel.

You can book directly with the room rate online at the link below:

LivINN hotel - Valkyries Horn Mead Competition

Competition Staff:

Staff and volunteers that have access to the database are not permitted to enter the competition. The judge director is also prohibited from entering regardless of database access.
All other Staff and Volunteers are permitted to enter the competition. We follow BJCP guidelines to ensure that our competition results maintain the highest integrity.