The Dirigo Mead Cup is Maine’s first BJCP-sanctioned mead-only competition, open to homebrewers nationwide.

Dirigo — Latin for ‘I lead’ — is Maine’s state motto, and it reflects our ambition for this competition: to become a leader in the development of craft mead across the country through cordial competition, rigorous written evaluation and feedback, as well as to have a whole lot of fun!

Entries will be judged to BJCP 2015 Mead Guidelines with detailed score sheets available for download from the website for six months. Judging will take place October 17, 2026 in Wiscasset, Maine.

We’re also building toward an apprenticeship program to support homebrewers who want to take the leap into commercial meadmaking. The competition is step one in a longer-term effort to grow serious meadmaking craft, judge by judge and batch by batch.