If a picture is worth a thousand words, then we say a good homebrew label is worth a million. Each year we collect hundreds of entries for our annual homebrew label contest, waiting patiently to open the boxes and envelopes.

We wait to see what homebrewers have been up to all year besides mashing, boiling, hopping and fermenting.  Just as in years past, 2009 did not disappoint. This year we fell in love on a Dubbel Date, got geeky for an certain cephalopod, cooked up a mighty thirst for an old whaling ship and developed a major crush for a crazy cider. Winners — you wowed. Congratulations!

And to everyone who entered the contest, thank you for sharing all your hard work and imaginative entries with us. A big thanks also goes out to all of the companies who generously donated prizes. Cheers!