2008 Beerdrinker of the Year

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

Just wanted to start up a thread about this since it was such a unique and wonderful experience. Would love for those of you who attended to share your thoughts if you're so inclined.

And again... Congrats to Matt on the victory. Congrats to Richard and J Mark as well for putting up one helluva fight!

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

Wish I coulda been there, guys, congrats!

[Jeff]

Eli.......what a great competition. My second in attendance. Am looking forward to next year's already. Tis the season to expand my beer horizons. Nice meeting you there.

Jeff, the guy passing out Phil's chicken necklaces

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

Definitely nice to meet you too, Jeff! That was my first, but certainly won't be my last. Very fun to sit there and watch the judges drill these guys. Glad it wasn't me! ;)

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

As the main post on the front page says... I'm working on a write up. Well, I am NOW. Since I woke up Sunday morning (hung over mind you) I've been sick as a dog. This is the first day (today being Thursday, the event took place Saturday) that I've been able to actually sit at the PC for more than a few minutes. Got lots of pictures and video which I'll be uploading to the site in the next few days as well. Stay tuned!

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

Just posted 56 photos from the event. SOME of the video to come shortly.

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

Just added 3 video clips from the '08 BDotY awards. These are short clips I took with my digitcal camera. I have another full hours worth that I took with my video cam and I'm waiting for a bloddy Firewire (iLink) cable to get here so I can import to my PC properly and convert it into a digital file. Once that's done I'll start uploading the better segments (if there are any) to the site.

The three clips uploaded today include: Closing Statements by Matt Venzke. All three guys had to do this and it was hilariuos. I only managed to get Matt's on my digicam because I was runing out of tape/battery power with my vidicam. I'll definitley be putting Richard's and J Mark's up when I get the cable.

The other is the actual annoucment of the winner and ensuing celebratory aftermath. And lastly... Matt's acceptance speech.

Enjoy!

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

Ripped (literally) straight from the Wynkoop Press Release:


Matt Venzke of Yorktown, Virginia Wins 2008 Beerdrinker of the Year Contest

Virginia man wins Wynkoop Brewing Company’s 12th annual search for America’s ultimate beer fiend

(Denver, Colorado) – Matt Venzke, an avid beer lover from Yorktown, Virginia, has been crowned the winner of Wynkoop Brewing Company’s 2008 Beerdrinker of the Year contest.

Venzke, an aircraft maintenance manager, won the title in the hotly
contested National Finals on Saturday, February 23, at Wynkoop Brewing Company. This was his fourth time at entering the contest, he was a semifinalist last year.

“For four years,” Venzke said, “it’s been a dream of mine to win the Beerdrinker of the Year title. It’s great to now be recognized by the judges and previous winners. I’m proud to be among this very select group of beer lovers.”

“I feel like I’ve been given a flag to carry,” Venzke adds, “for all of the great things beer has to offer.”

Venzke’s home beer bar is The Taphouse on Queensway in Hampton, Virginia. He is the second straight Virginia resident to win the competition. (Diane Catanzaro of Norfolk, Virginia was the 2007 Beerdrinker of the Year.)

Venzke beat out finalists J Mark Angelus (of Nehalem, Oregon) and Richard Pedretti-Allen (McKinney, Texas). He landed the title with a combination of impressive beer drinking experiences, humor and beer ambassadorship.

Venzke’s resume boasted of many beer drinking experiences. Venzke has visited 454 breweries in 16 nations and 39 states. Over the past five years, he has recorded tasting notes on over 3200 different beers in 69 different styles.

He logged 3,000 miles in 2007 while traveling to breweries across North America. While stationed in alcohol-free Kuwait on a military deployment a few years ago, Venzke conducted a tasting of 17 non-alcohol beers.

Questions from the Finals judges elicited some revealing info from Venzke. When asked what he’s doing to get around the current ban on carry-on beer for US air travelers, Venzke winkingly cited an upcoming effort to petition US brewers to start packaging beer in 3-ounce portions.

His will, Venzke said, includes instructions for him to be cremated and his ashes used in a beer brewed for his wake. (“I’ve instructed my wife,” Venzke stated, “to tell people at the ceremony, ‘Matt is more a part of you than you think.’”)

The finalists weathered two hours of difficult questions from the judge panel, which included five previous Beerdrinker of the Year winners, Oregon beer writer Lisa Morrison, Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) beer columnist Jay Dedrick, and Wynkoop head brewer Thomas Larsen.

As the 2008 Beerdrinker of the Year, Venzke wins free beer for life at Wynkoop Brewing Company, a $250 beer tab at the Taphouse on Queensway, and the opportunity to brew a special beer with Larsen for next year’s Beerdrinker of the Year event.

He also won clothing proclaiming him the 2008 Beerdrinker of the Year, a place on Wynkoop’s Beerdrinker of the Year trophy, and the glory that comes with the lofty title of Beerdrinker of the Year.

The resume review panel for the 2008 Beerdrinker of the Year search was comprised of the nation’s top beer writers and beer experts, and previous Beerdrinker of the Year winners.

Wynkoop Brewing Company was founded in 1988 by current Denver mayor John Hickenlooper. One of America’s first and most revered brewpubs, Wynkoop was a major catalyst in the revitalization of the previously neglected Lower Downtown section of Denver.

For interviews with Venzke and more information on Beerdrinker of the Year, contact Marty Jones at 303-860-7448 or [e-mail]

For more details on the Beerdrinker of the Year search and Wynkoop Brewing Company, visit www.wynkoop.com.

[Chris of thebeergeek.com]

Our Beer Drinker of the Year video is here...
http://www.thebeergeek.com/TV/17/01.html