OK, I realize that most beer related posts would be about babes but this is really about babies. Years ago I took a photo of my now pre-teen, then but a few months old, reaching for a well made craft beer during her first visit to a brew pub. For a few years now, I have tested the principle through the Yuletide Photo Contest and you have responded in fine fashion. This year, we received these five favorite runner up entries:

Left to right, I like Chris Berry of Kanata, Ontario's shot of a very eager future beer nerd. Next, my downstate NY cousins Mike and Susan have achieved the best children to growler ratio of any entry. Following up, Jeff Alworth of Portand Oregon sent in the happiest faced child and father combo. Next, Derek Hyde of Kelowna, British Columbia sent in the shot of half pint and an equal volume of hops. And finally, at the right, Mike Irrea of Boston, Massachusetts captured the best "please oh please oh please oh please oh" moment. But we have to admit what Mr. B knew from the day it was posted - Max Bahnson of Tursko in the Czech Republic, author of Pivni Filosof, was took the title in this category for this tender moment of shared beverage consumption:

So, Max wins the gold star for the family class of beer photography. I'll sort all the actual prize stuff out at the end of this announcements week but congrats to both father and child for a great image. Now that I think of it I really should be congratulating Mom if, as I suspect, she actually took this photo.

Tomorrow: the prize in the snow and beer category is awarded.