For Immediate Release:

WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS (September 9, 2013) – Autumn beer season is nearly here and not all beers are created equal, especially the homebrewed. As microbrewing becomes more popular and the field more crowded with original recipes, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas is in search of the best beer from Chicago-area amateur brewers. Nielsen-Massey will provide one of the most expensive beer brewing ingredients as participants compete in the Nielsen-Massey Homebrew Challenge, a contest to find the best original recipes with creative flavor profiles.

"Beer recipes often use vanilla extracts or beans, but there is definitely a difference in taste when high quality vanilla is used, let alone high quality extracts or flavors," says Craig Nielsen, CEO of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. "We’re challenging home brewers to develop new, creative flavor profiles by combining their homebrew know-how with high-end Nielsen-Massey products."

Contestants will create an original recipe using an extract or flavor provided by Nielsen-Massey and will be judged on Dec. 7 based on originality and creativity. In each group of judges there will be at least one who has completed the national Beer Judge Certification Program. To make the playing field as fair as possible, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas mandates that all brews contain ingredients available to the general public and cannot be made with anything other than private equipment. Also, recipes must be written prior to registration. The champion brew masters win money, Nielsen-Massey extracts and flavors, and notable mentions on the Nielsen-Massey website.

There are two categories for recipe and beer submission: Specialty Beer with Vanilla Extract or Specialty Beer with Flavor Extract(s). Chicago Homebrew Alchemists of Suds (CHAOS) members can register for only $7, non-member registration is $10. Registration is due September 20. Entries must be submitted on November 16.

For more information about the Nielsen-Massey Home Brew Challenge, visit: www.NielsenMasseyChallenge.com.

About Nielsen-Massey Vanillas
Throughout its more than 100 year history, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has earned its reputation as a manufacturer of the finest extracts in the world. The full line of Nielsen-Massey’s Pure Vanilla products include: Vanilla Beans and Extracts from Madagascar, Tahiti and Mexico; sugar and alcohol-free Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar, Organic Fairtrade Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract and Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Beans.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas also offers a full line of Pure Flavors: Pure Chocolate Extract, Pure Almond Extract, Pure Orange Extract, Pure Lemon Extract, Pure Coffee Extract, Pure Peppermint Extract, Orange Blossom Water and Rose Water. All Nielsen-Massey products are All-Natural, Allergen-Free, GMO-Free, and certified Kosher and Gluten-Free. The company is headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, with production facilities in Waukegan and Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.

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Photos are available upon request. For more information about Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, contact:
Gardi Wilks, gwilks@savoragency.com
Savor – the food agency, 847.556.7511