Gary Steinel, a High School Teacher
from White Plains, New York is the
2002 Beer Drinker of the Year

Surrounded by members of the elite panel of judges, Gary Steinel raises a glass to celebrate his victory as The 2002 Beerdrinker of the Year. The finals of the national competition were held at Denver's Wynkoop Brewing Co. the day before the Super Bowl (some call this event the Super Bowl of Suds).

Steinel's victory over two other finalists came after two hours of beery queries from an elite panel of beer experts that tested the finalists' knowledge of beer, how it is made, and its legend and lore.

Steinel, a 49-year-old high school math teacher, demonstrated the range and depth of his beerosity by singing beer jingles from the past and-when asked to compare himself to a style of beer-said he most resembles a Belgian lambic.

"A little bit odd, a little bit eccentric, maybe not for everyone. But the people who like it really like it. And it ages well."

And in response to a judge's request that he "prove to us that despite your beer obsession you are not nuts," Steinel stated that "Beer must be good for you because I've taken only two days off from school in the last 27 years-and both were taken so I could come to the Beerdrinker of the Year competition."

To reflect the seriousness of the proceedings, the judges wore black robes and white wigs.

How the competition was conducted: Beer lovers from across the nation sent in their beer resumes.

(A beer resume details the range and depth of a person's beeriness.
It tells about a beerdrinker's accomplishments involving brewpubs, breweries, beer tastings, beer adventures, beer memorabilia,
and beer making. It explains that the person has enjoyed a good many good beer experiences. It reveals that the person not only enjoys
and appreciates beer but knows a great deal about it, how it is made-and its legend and lore.)

A panel of beer experts evaluated all the beer resumes and narrowed the field of candidates to ten finalists.

Copies of the ten finalists' beer resumes were then sent to an elite jury consisting primarily of the editors of America's major beer publications.

They selected the three Final Finalists to be flown to Denver for the National Finals on 02-02-02.

The three Final Finalists
who the Wynkoop Flew to Denver to
Compete for 2002 Beerdrinker of the Year honors:

John Marioni (left), a 38-year-old high tech operative from Bothell, Washington, was the cover boy on a recent issue of Brew Your Own magazine. He describes himself as "a beer geek, beer nerd, beer nut, beer dude, beer bubba." (Etc.)

He once worked in a brewery in Germany. He is very pro-hops and grows his own in his backyard (Cascades).

Marioni makes 30 gallons of homebrew a year.

He made his first batch of wine this year. (While drinking IPA.)

There was no Champagne at his wedding in 1990.

Marioni's home brewpub: McMenamins in Mill Creek, WA.

Tom Ciccateri (center), is a 45-year-old who works for Honeywell in Kansas City "managing projects for the Department of Energy aimed at preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction."

His work involves much travel-which has meant many opportunities to sample beer all over the world.

To date, Ciccateri has visited 52 breweries and 275 brewpubs. He has tasted 2250 beers in 24 countries.

He works with both the homebrewing and the professional brewing communities in support of American Beer Month.

His home brewpub: 75th Street Brewery, Kansas City MO.

Gary Steinel (right), is a 49-year-old high school math teacher from White Plains, New York, who frequently assists the head brewer of John Harvard's Brewhouse.

Steinel is working on a curriculum outline for a college course in Beer Appreciation.

His special areas of interest are Belgian beers, Real ales, winter beers, and vintage beers.

He loves to quaff quality crafted brews and runs 50-70 miles a week. But not at the same time, we presume.

Steinel's home brewpub is the Southampton Publick House.

The Oral Exams (a.k.a. The Bar Exam) are designed to explore the beer expertise of the Final Finalists and the range, depth and scope of their beeriness.

Here's how the event was conducted:

Noon. An explanation of how the search was conducted and what the winner wins. The introduction of the elite panel of judges.

The introduction-and weighing in-of the Final Finalists.

Opening Statements: Oral Exams begin with opening statements (no longer than 90 seconds) from the Final Finalists in which they will proclaim their extreme beeriness and share their personal philosophies of beerdrinking. (Not necessarily in that order.)

Round One: Each judge will ask one question to be answered by each of the Final Finalists. (Time limit for answers: 40 seconds.)

Rounds Two and Three: Each judge will fire individually directed questions in rotation. (Time limit: 20 seconds.)

Beer Whispering: Each Final Finalist will conduct a friendly conversation with a friendly beer. (Each will choose-or bring-a beer to talk to for up to a minute.)

Round Four: Each judge will fire individually-directed questions in rotation. (Time limit: 20 seconds.)

Note: Each Final Finalist can answer up to two questions directed to another Final Finalist during Rounds One, Two, Three, and Four.

Final Finalists' Round: Each Final Finalist will direct a question to each of the other Final Finalists. (Time limit: 30 seconds.)

Beer Listening: Three glasses of beer will be provided to each Final Finalist. They will tell us what the beers tell them.

Public Round: Questions from the audience are entertained.

Winners' Round: Questions from the previous winners of the Beerdrinker of the Year competition. (Time limit: 20 seconds.)

Nasty Round: A round of tough questions from the elite panel of judges that each Final Finalist must answer (Time limit: 20 seconds.)

Closing Statements: Final Finalists ask themselves the questions they wish they'd been asked because the answers would reveal their superior beeriness. (Up to 60 seconds.)

The judges withdraw to their chambers to ponder and, finally, select The 2002 Beerdrinker of the Year.

The announcement of the judges' decision-and the introduction of The 2002 Beerdrinker of the Year.

Typical questions asked by the bewigged panel of judges:

If beer was an Olympic event, what would the rules be?

What's your favorite quote about beer?

Do you accept and understand the fact that when people hear the name of Michael Jackson, they don't think of beer?

What is "hop traction"?

If you won, how would the newspaper story about your victory begin?

Steinel's answer: "Schoolteacher Gary Steinel named BeerDrinker of the Year, has to resign in disgrace."

What beer is the weakest link?

What was the first modern-day microbrewery in Oregon?

In the late 50s, what cartoon character was used in advertising for Stag Beer?

What was the first brewpub and who was its founder and where was it located?

What beer do you think qualifies as a weapon of mass destruction?

What would you do if President Bush installed you as Secretary of Beer?

Tom Ciccateri: "I'd set a recommended daily allowance of beer for all Americans and make it part of the food pyramid."

Beer Whispering:

A new element in this year's competition was Beer Whispering wherein each contestant conducted a warm conversation with a cold beer of his choice for one minute.

Gary Steinel's beer whisper was inspired by Edgar Allen Poe and ended with this line: "Quoth the beer maven, pour me more!"

John Marioni's beer whisper took a romantic approach. Here are some excerpts: "Hi there. I couldn't help notice that scent that you're wearing. Is that Cascade? Your name? Let me guess... Your name is Amber. Would you hold it against me if I said you had a great body and incredible mouthfeel?"

Tom Ciccateri concluded his beer whisper thusly: "I have a rather extensive glassware collection. Maybe you could come over and get out of that bottle and into something more comfortable."

The winner won:

Free beer for life at the Wynkoop Brewing Company.

$100 worth of beer at the winner's home brewpub. (Steinel's home brewpub is the Southampton Publick House in Southampton, New York.)

Recognition on the very special trophy that is on perpetual display at the Wynkoop Brewing Company.

Apparel proclaiming the wearer as The 2002 Beerdrinker of the Year.

Each winner of The Beerdrinker of the Year is also added to our list of elite judges-mostly beer writers and editors of beer publications.

Previous Beerdrinkers of the Year:

1997: Jack McDougall of Cranford, New Jersey.
1998: Bobby Bush, Jr. of Hickory, North Carolina.
1999: James Robertson of Pomona, California.
2000: Steve Pawlowski of Roselle Park, New Jersey.
2001: Cornelia Corey of Clemmons, North Carolina.

Information about next year's competition rules, schedule, deadline, etc. to be announced.