The Cryptid Cup Invitational

The Cryptid Cup Invitational is an annual contest where brewers take the announced selected recipe from the TIME Agency book series, make it their own, and compete for a traveling trophy chosen by fans.

Each year follows a rhythm: the announcement of the annual recipe, the brewing and submission process, the reveal of the winning brewer, and finally, the beer release and trophy presentation at the Sacred Pour. The winner's brew becomes that year's ceremonial pour. While the author is alive, the winning brewery will produce the beer for release at their location on a date selected by the author. Fans and the author will be present. Following the author's death, the winning beer will be the beer that fills pilgrim glasses when the chupacabra's eyes illuminate and the Shrine awakens.

This isn't just a homebrew competition. It's a chance to enter the mythology, to see your interpretation of a fictional beer become the real liquid poured in ritual. Your recipe becomes canon. Your name enters the Hall of Champions.

A craft beer bottle featuring a mythical creature label, showcasing the blend of cryptozoology and brewing culture.

The Timeline

The Annual Recipe Selection Announcement

Each January 1st, the Myths and Malts Cryptid Keeper selects the beer style for that year's competition. The announcement is recorded and uploaded to the Myths and Malts website along with the base recipe drawn from the TIME Agency series.

This is your starting point: a fictional beer made real, a recipe born from story now waiting for your interpretation.

The Brewing/Submission Process

Home brewers and breweries alike are eligible to enter the Cryptid Cup Invitational. Brewers submit their intention to compete via the Myths and Malts website. Each brewer is limited to one entry per year.

Brewers are free to produce the recipe as written or make modifications at their discretion. This is interpretation, not replication. Make it yours.

The deadline for submission is May 31th of that calendar year. Brewers will produce small batches for testing at their brewery, upload the beer to Untappd, and make it available for purchase on-site. This allows customers to taste, rate, and champion their favorite before the voting begins.

Fan Voting

Fan voting opens June 1st and runs through July 31st.

Fans can cast their votes on Untappd or directly on the Myths and Malts website.

The Winner Announcement

The winning beer will be announced August 1. The brewer will receive a call from the Cryptid Keeper notifying them of the win and going over the details for the release.

The winner is determined by a combination of total number of votes and highest overall rating, ensuring both popularity and quality matter.

This is where the community decides. Your favorite doesn't just win a trophy. It becomes the ceremonial beer of the Sacred Pour, the liquid poured in ritual when the Shrine awakens.

These narratives not only create a unique product but also foster a sense of community among consumers who share a love for both craft beer and cryptids.

The Release

Once notified of their victory, the winning brewer produces the beer for release at the end of September. The official date will be specified by the Cryptid Keeper. While the author is alive, the release party takes place at the brewer's location. The perpetual Cryptid Cup trophy is presented to the winner during this celebration.

The winner keeps the traveling trophy until December 31st. Following the announcement of next year's selected recipe on January 1st, the winning brewery returns the Cryptid Cup to Myths and Malts. In exchange, they receive a permanent trophy to display at their brewery, promoting their achievement and their place in the mythology.

The winning brewer's name is entered into the Hall of Champions on the Myths and Malts website, where they bask in eternal glory. Their beer becomes part of the canon. Their story becomes part of the legend.