The 2013 Philly Beer Geek Semi-Finals Competition roars in on Tuesday evening, May 14^th at Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant’s 2^nd floor River Club with a cast of characters as different as the Cheers bar of famous sitcom fame. All of the Philly Beer Geek competitors are highly competent players, vying for one of six spots in the Finals at The Field House on June 6^th, during Philly Beer Week.

Competitors have seized their opportunity by either being identified by their sponsor as a highly competent Beer Geek, or by proving themselves in a field of competition by winning a Preliminary Round at one of the sponsoring brewpubs or restaurants in Philadelphia or the outlying suburbs.

The 2013 Philly Beer Geek Semi Finalists and their sponsors are:

Greg Piotrowski - Blue Dog Tavern in Chalfont, PA

Guy Jurvich - Brauhaus Schmitz in Philadelphia

Dan Obermeier - City Tap House in University City, Philadelphia

Greg Bishop - Devil’s Den in Philly

Michael Soo - Dock Street Brewery in Cedar Park, West Philadelphia

Amy Nichols - Doobies Bar, Philly, & Doylestown Brewing, Doylestown

Trevor Fitzgerald - Garrett Hill Ale House in Bryn Mawr

Michael Lawrence - Grey Lodge Pub in Mayfair, Philadelphia

Andrew Pope - Iron Abbey Gastro Pub in Horsham, PA

Chris Smith - Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Maple Shade, NJ

Mike Seamen - Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant in Manayunk, Philadelphia

David Wood - Old Eagle Tavern in Philadelphia

Jesse Andreozzi - Philly Beer Scene Magazine in Philadelphia

Paul Staudt - Prism Brewing in North Wales

David Politz - Rock Bottom Brewery in King of Prussia

Dan Brett - Round Guys Brewing in Lansdale

Jess Streeter - Sly Fox Brewing in Phoenixville

Colin Presby - Standard Tap of Philadelphia

Aimee Richard - Time Restaurant & Whiskey Bar in Philadelphia

The competition, focused on knowledge and passion, promises to roll along through rounds of Trivia Checkers – in which the contestants themselves will be the board pieces – beer tasting, free form questions from celebrity judges, and a final opportunity to make each one memorable.

An illustrious panel of Celebrity Judges will observe and challenge the contestants, before being sequestered to choose the final six. These six will gain the opportunity to take home a package including:

• A GRAND PRIZE of more than $3,000 in gift certificates and beer‐centric prizes
• AN ENGRAVED PLAQUE proclaiming the winner Philly Beer Geek 2013
• HONOR of creating the collaborative 2014 PHILLY BEER GEEK BEER
• PRESTIGE & HONOUR of being PHILLY BEER GEEK 2013
• OFFICIAL T‐SHIRT commemorating PHILLY BEER GEEK 2013
• HONOR of being on the ILLUSTRIOUS PANEL OF BEER GEEK JUDGES 2014
• AN ENGRAVED PLAQUE proclaiming the winner’s sponsor as Home of the Philly Beer Geek 2013

The 2013 Philly Beer Geek Championship promises to strengthen the position that Philadelphia has taken as the U.S. leader in beer sophistication. Judges are Amicus Curiae and are not compensated for their service as Philly Beer Geek Judges. These individuals have made a significant mark in the industry and are honored as the most dedicated people in the business of beer.

The 2013 Illustrious Panel of Philly Beer Geek Semi-Finals Judges are:

Joe Bair, Solar Homebrewer and Owner of Princeton Homebrew, Trenton, New Jersey

Alchemist/owner of Princeton Homebrew who adds a whole new meaning to the term “mad scientist.” Formerly in the Molecular Biology Department of Princeton University, Joe Bair creates the “greenest beer on the face of the planet.”

Doug Hager, Co‐owner of Brauhaus Schmitz and Wursthaus Schmitz, Philadelphia, PA


In 2009, Doug Hager competed in Philly Beer Geek as Finalist Mad King Dougwig. Currently, he is co‐owner, with wife Kelly, of Brauhaus Schmitz on South Street, listed as one of the city’s best restaurants in Philadelphia Magazine. Brauhaus Schmitz showcases foods by Chef Jeremy Nolan, a 2013 Rising Star. Hager is also owner of Wursthaus Schmitz in the Reading Terminal Market.

Doug Marchakitus, Head Brewer of Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant and Lead Collaborator of the Official Beer of the Philly Beer Geek Competition since 2012, Philadelphia, PA

Doug Marchakitus is Head Brewer of Manayunk Brewing Company. Formerly a homebrewing geologist from Virginia Tech, he fell into the competent hands of Larry Horowitz at Iron Hill Brewery in North Wales who got him hooked on the artisanal aspects of brewing. With Horowitz, Marchakitus won a Silver Medal at the Great American Beer Festival 2008 for Abbey Dubbel.

Steve Mashington, Prestigious Philly Beer Geek 2012 & Manager at Growlers Bar, Kitchen & Living Room, Philadelphia, PA

Smashington, as he is affectionately called, has been at home in the beer world, from Stewarts to Triumph in Old City Philadelphia to Yards, primarily in Sales and Marketing. He is the current Manager of Growlers Bar, Kitchen and Living Room in the Bella Vista region of Philadelphia.

Tara Nurin, Freelance Journalist & Epikur Writer of the Year, Camden, NJ

Tara Nurin was named Epikur Writer of the Year, and is an award‐winning freelance journalist, specializing in craft beer and sustainable food and drink. She is a former TV news reporter, Ale Street News columnist, and Cicerone Certified Beer Server. As a leader in the women’s beer movement, she is founder of Beer for Babes and is the official historian for the Pink Boots Society.

Keith Wallace, President & Founder of The Wine School of Philadelphia, Author, and Publisher, Epikur Magazine, Philadelphia, PA

As the President and Founder of The Wine School of Philadelphia, Keith Wallace authored Corked & Forked: FourSeasons of Eats and Drinks, ©2011, by Running Press. He is Publisher of Epikur Magazine, and has served as both a beer and wine judge throughout the country.

Cheers!

Drink like a beer geek with the right glass
Libbey Craft Brew Sampler Clear Beer Glass Set, 6-Piece

For genuine beer geeks:
Periodic Table of Beers T-shirt Bwn 2XL