BURLINGTON, Vt. -
Mustaches and beards come in all different shapes and sizes, but Sunday in Burlington, only a few could be called champion.
"When it comes to a mustache, we want something that's full, well-manicured, but also has a little something different," said Mitch Terri, a judge at Das Bierhaus, which hosted full-beard, partial, and mustache competitions as a wrap-up to what they call "Manuary."
"For so long we have been shaving our lips, not understanding the power of the stache -- embrace the stache and it will embrace you," said Shane Unrien, a competitor Sunday.
Individuals and teams could enter the competition and raised cash for the Boy Scouts and prostate cancer research.
"Last year we raised about $1,000, so this year we're hoping to double that," said Das Bierhaus General Manager, Chad Roy.
Some looked to Hollywood for grooming guidance, while others took their cue from history.
"Originally I went for the handlebar. I trimmed it down to an epic, Selleck-esque stach," Unrien said.
Others, like Roy, went for the Grizzly Adams look.
The ladies went fake, but a select few in the competition have been cultivating their own look for years. "I've been wearing a beard for five or six years -- it's hard to say how long I've had this one," said Nathan Riegner, a past champion. "I wake up in the morning and my beard is there, and that's what makes me happy."
With charity and pride on the line, these gentlemen say it's grow big, or go home.
