Hi all — We are excited to introduce the Dirigo Mead Cup, launching this fall in Wiscasset, Maine!
View attachment 2076
Dirigo is Latin for "I lead" — Maine's state motto — and that's the spirit behind this competition. This isn't about Maine ingredients or local flavor; it's about raising the bar for meadmaker education everywhere. Our judges are BJCP-certified and asked to give real, actionable feedback — the kind that actually makes your next batch better, not just a score sheet.
We're also building toward an apprenticeship program to support homebrewers who want to take the leap into commercial meadmaking. The competition is step one in a longer-term effort to grow serious meadmaking craft, judge by judge and batch by batch.
Competition details:
Would love to see entries from mead clubs across the country. Visit the Competition page for the details!
View attachment 2076
Dirigo is Latin for "I lead" — Maine's state motto — and that's the spirit behind this competition. This isn't about Maine ingredients or local flavor; it's about raising the bar for meadmaker education everywhere. Our judges are BJCP-certified and asked to give real, actionable feedback — the kind that actually makes your next batch better, not just a score sheet.
We're also building toward an apprenticeship program to support homebrewers who want to take the leap into commercial meadmaking. The competition is step one in a longer-term effort to grow serious meadmaking craft, judge by judge and batch by batch.
Competition details:
- Open to homebrewers nationwide — not just Maine
- BJCP-sanctioned (Competition ID 212078), judged to the 2015 Mead Guidelines (M1–M4)
- Judging: Saturday, October 17, 2026 — Wiscasset, Maine
- Account/judge registration opens July 18, 2026
- Entries open July 31, 2026 — $15/entry, 3 bottles required, max 5 entries per entrant
- Full details and registration: brewingcompetitions.com/dirigomeadcup
Would love to see entries from mead clubs across the country. Visit the Competition page for the details!
