NASA Inter-Center Competition (ICC)
A Homebrew Competition for the NASA Community
DISCLAIMER: This event is a voluntary, unofficial social team-building event and does not represent an endorsement by NASA. Activities associated with this event occur outside of normal business hours and at your own expense. No tax dollars will be spent during the making of these fine brews!
UPDATED 01 April 2026
ICC-19 (2026)
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
Entry Due Date: NLT Monday, May 4, 2026
Judging Center: JPL
Finals Location: Frogtown Brewery
Start Time: TBD
Styles/Categories:
Shipping Info:
Cameron Haag
434 Parkrose Ave
Monrovia, CA 91016
ICC-19 (2026)
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
Entry Due Date: NLT Monday, May 4, 2026
Judging Center: JPL
Finals Location: Frogtown Brewery
Start Time: TBD
Styles/Categories:
- Dark British Beer (BJCP 16)
- Belgian Ale (BJCP 24)
Shipping Info:
Cameron Haag
434 Parkrose Ave
Monrovia, CA 91016
| entry___bottle_id_form__mar_26_.pdf |
GSFC Instructions
All GSFC entries need to be delivered to the club down-select meeting or to Scott before the meeting. The Zymurnauts will select the final entries that will go forward at that meeting. Down-select party will be at the April monthly club meeting on April 23, 2026. Contact Scott Glubke at dbm683[at]gmail[dot]com for more local info and details about the down select party.
POCs
- AFRC – Pat Ray
- ARC – David Pletcher
- GRC – Nicholas Lantz
- GSFC (ICC coordinator) – Scott Glubke
- HQ – Ken Jucks
- JPL – David Horres
- JSC – Cinnamon Wright
- KSC – Nathan Gray
- LaRC – Bryan Falman
- MSFC – Chris Calfee
- SSC – Bryan Vieages
- WFF – Nate Wroblewski
- IV&V - Roger Harris
- SBF - Alan Buckland
ICC History
ICC started in 2007 as a bragging rights challenge between the Zymurnauts (GSFC) and the Bay Area Mashtronauts (JSC) to determine the Best Homebrewing Rocket Scientist between the two groups. It was a tie so the challenge had to continue. After the first year, ICC was opened to all NASA centers including civil servants, contractors and other members of the participating homebrew clubs. Over the past few years, we have had entries from almost all the Centers and hope to keep growing. Bragging rights and the coveted Galloping ‘Naut Trophy have changed hands a few times so the quest to be the Best Homebrewing Rocket Scientist continues.
Since the Mashtronauts (JSC) & the Zymurnauts (GSFC) started this event and historically have had the most entries, they previously accepted the responsibility of providing unbiased certified beer judges to rank the beers. Entries from other NASA area clubs were shipped to the Zymurnauts and the Mashtronauts for the final ICC judging. Judging was accomplished in a group setting via live video internet with judges at both Houston & Greenbelt locations. The beers are opened simultaneously at both locations so the judges can discuss the intricacies of aroma, appearance, flavor and mouthfeel according to the BJCP Style guidelines and give each entry an appropriate score. The entry with the highest score is selected as the winner of that style. The winners in each style then compete in a head-to-head showdown to determine which entry most closely matches the BJCP guidelines for that style. The winning beverage of the head-to-head competition is selected Best Of Show (BOS) and its brewer is thus declared the Best Homebrewing Rocket Scientist.
In 2013 the ICC went to a single judging Center to simplify the entry and judging process. The judging location is rotated among the most active Centers. Currently GSFC, AFRC, JPL, and MSFC share the judging responsibilities.
Since the Mashtronauts (JSC) & the Zymurnauts (GSFC) started this event and historically have had the most entries, they previously accepted the responsibility of providing unbiased certified beer judges to rank the beers. Entries from other NASA area clubs were shipped to the Zymurnauts and the Mashtronauts for the final ICC judging. Judging was accomplished in a group setting via live video internet with judges at both Houston & Greenbelt locations. The beers are opened simultaneously at both locations so the judges can discuss the intricacies of aroma, appearance, flavor and mouthfeel according to the BJCP Style guidelines and give each entry an appropriate score. The entry with the highest score is selected as the winner of that style. The winners in each style then compete in a head-to-head showdown to determine which entry most closely matches the BJCP guidelines for that style. The winning beverage of the head-to-head competition is selected Best Of Show (BOS) and its brewer is thus declared the Best Homebrewing Rocket Scientist.
In 2013 the ICC went to a single judging Center to simplify the entry and judging process. The judging location is rotated among the most active Centers. Currently GSFC, AFRC, JPL, and MSFC share the judging responsibilities.
