There are a lot of serious beer drinkers in this town. If you think you have what it takes to claim the crown of “Beerdrinker of the Year“, then don’t miss this contest. Sponsored by Denver’s Wynkoop Brewery, this will mark the 15th consecutive year that they’ve crowned someone as the most passionate, and knowledgable beer drinker in the country.

All you have to do to win is submit a three page “beer resume” to convince the judges that you have what it takes. The winner will receive free beer for life at the Wynkoop, as well as $250 of beer at your favorite local bar. The top 3 entrants will be flown to Denver for the final round at Wynkoop, where they’ll be grilled by a panel of the nation’s best beer minds and previous winners. You have until the end of the year to submit your entry.

There have been two previous winners from Seattle: Tom Schmidlin and John Marioni. I’d love to see another local name added to the list!

Here are all of the details from the contest website:

(Denver, Colorado) – Once again, Wynkoop Brewing Company is seeking beer resumes from the nation’s most beer-minded men and women for its 2011 Beerdrinker of the Year contest. The 15^th annual contest seeks and honors America’s most passionate, knowledgeable beer lovers and ambassadors.

The Beerdrinker of the Year wins free beer for life at Wynkoop Brewing Company and $250 of beer at their local brewpub or beer bar.

They also win 2011 Beerdrinker of the Year clothing and have their name engraved on the Beerdrinker of the Year trophy at Wynkoop. Plus, they enjoy the lofty acclaim that comes from being named the nation’s greatest beer nut.

“I attended this year’s Great American Beer Festival, “says Bill Howell, the reigning Beerdrinker of the Year, “and all sorts of folks stopped me at events and on the sidewalks. They wanted an autograph or to have their photo taken with me.”

An Alaska community college administrator and teacher of beer appreciation classes, Howell has also seen his beer status rise on his home turf.

“Even in the small town where I live,” he says, “we get tourists who have heard of the Beerdrinker of the Year contest.  Last month four guys from Arizona stopped by my local brewpub (St. Elias Brewing in Soldotna, AK) and asked about me. Luckily I was at the bar having a beer, so I got to meet them.”

To enter the contest, applicants must submit beer resumes that include the entrant’s beer philosophy and details on their passion for beer and their 2010 beer experiences. Resumes should also detail the entrant’s understanding of beer and its history and importance to civilization, along with the entrant’s efforts to educate others to the joys of great beer.

Resumes for the Beerdrinker of the Year are reviewed by the nation’s beer experts, beer journalists and previous Beerdrinker winners. The top three entrants are flown to Wynkoop Brewing Company (at Wynkoop’s expense) for the Beerdrinker of the Year National Finals on February 26, 2011.

Resumes must be sent by email to beerdrinker@wynkoop.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and be received by Wynkoop by no later than December 31, 2010. Each entrant will receive an email confirmation that their resume was received.

A few more rules:

• Resumes cannot exceed three 8 1?2″ x 11″ pages and must be written in 12-point or larger font, in Word format.
• Resumes must include the entrant’s home brewpub/beer bar and T-shirt size.
• Do not enter if you are currently employed in the beer-making trade.

At the finals on February 26, a panel of wigged & robed judges (comprised of the nation’s best beer minds and previous Beerdrinker winners) grills the finalists and picks the 2011 winner. The event is open to the public and starts at 2 PM.