[img_assist|nid=528|title=Tom Schmidlin|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=83|height=100]Wynkoop Brewing Company - Denver-s first brewpub and one of America's most respected microbrewing establishments - is now conducting its search for the 2007 Beerdrinker of the Year.

The annual contest seeks and honors the most passionate, knowledgeable beer lover in the United States. Wynkoop is now seeking "beer resumes" from the nation's most beer-minded men and women.

Resumes must include each entrant's beerdrinking philosophy and details highlighting their passion for beer. Resumes should provide evidence of the entrant's understanding of beer, its history, and its importance to civilization.

Resumes must be received by Wynkoop by no later than December 31, 2006.

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 apparel proclaiming them The 2007 Beerdrinker of the Year, and they have their name engraved on the Beerdrinker of the Year trophy at Wynkoop.

The 2007 Beerdrinker of the Year also wins the unmatched fame and glory that comes with winning the coveted honor.

Tom Schmidlin - a 36-year-old University of Washington biochemistry graduate student, devout homebrewer and self-proclaimed "yeast dork" - won the 2006 Beerdrinker of the Year title.

"Winning Beerdrinker of the Year gave me instant beer cred, " Schmidlin says. "It's like winning the Nobel Prize for Beer."

Resumes for the Beerdrinker of the Year award are reviewed by a collection of the nation's beer experts, beer journalists and previous Beerdrinker winners. The top three entrants will be flown to Wynkoop Brewing Company (at Wynkoop's expense) for the Beerdrinker of the Year finals on February 24, 2007.

At the finals, a panel of wigged & robed judges (comprised of the nation's best beer minds and previous Beerdrinker winners) will grill the finalists and pick the 2007 winner. The event is open to the public and starts at 2 PM. Much Wynkoop beer will be served at the finals. There will be many laughs, too.

Schmidlin says the key to winning the crown is beeriness, not competitiveness. "I've had people ask me, 'How much time did you spend trying to win Beerdrinker of the Year?' The thing is, I didn't do the things I do to try to win. I did them because I love beer."

In the 2006 competition's Bribing of the Judges segment, Schmidlin gained favor by treating the judges to vials of beer yeast and vintage Dogfish Head beers. In the competition's Beer Whispering segment, Schmidlin drew big laughs with his quiet conversation with a can of Milwaukee's Best.

"No, it's not you, it's me," Schmidlin said to the budget beer, explaining his reasons for not drinking "The Beast" in years. "I'm different now, my tastes have changed."

A six-pack of rules and details:
• Resumes must include the entrant’s personal philosophy of beerdrinking.
• Do not enter if you are currently employed in the brewing industry.
• Resumes with both rich beeriness and humor are welcomed.
• Beer resumes cannot exceed three 8 1â?„2" x 11" pages and
must be written in a 12-point or larger font.
• Resumes must include the name of the entrant’s home brewpub or beer bar, and their T-shirt size.
• Resumes created in Word can be emailed to Wynkoop Brewing Company (sent as an email attachment) to .

Beerdrinker of the Year resumes can be sent by mail to:

The Beerdrinker of the Year
Wynkoop Brewing Company
1634 Eighteenth Street
Denver, Colorado 80202

For complete contest details, more information, and a look at the resumes of previous Beerdrinker of the Year winners visit www.wynkoop.com.

The 2007 Beerdrinker of the Year will be the eleventh person to win the title.

John Hickenlooper, the current mayor of Denver, founded Wynkoop Brewing Company in 1988.