Topic Archives: Homebrewing
DuClaw H.E.R.O. 2015 Winner Announced
DuClaw Brewing has announced the winner of their H.E.R.O homebrew competition – Jalapeño Business, brewed by Mitch Kreis of Pasadena, Maryland.
Mitch did a fantastic job balancing the heat of the pepper, hop bitterness, honey sweetness, and malt backbone to create a truly unique IPA. Congratulations, Mitch, you’ve earned it by beating out a tough field!
DuClaw Jalapeño Business will be available in a limited run of 22oz bottles, and draft. Every penny of the sales goes to charity. Bankshot Brown Ale, brewed by Mark Girard of Annandale, Virginia was the runner up in the competition.
Homebrewers, Don’t Miss Lonerider’s “Brew it Forward” 2014
A great opportunity for home brewers. Lonerider Brewing (Raleigh, NC) will host Brew it Forward 2014, for the 5th time. Home brewers are given the opportunity to brew a professional batch at the brewery, and realize some craft brewing aspirations.
We believe in giving back to the community and as home brewers and beer geeks we realize the opportunity we had in being able to realize our dreams. Therefore, we want to share the chance of brewing a batch in a professional environment with others who may have had similar aspirations. We will also split the profits of the brew with the winning brewer and other non-profits. We do not keep any profits from the batch we brew.
The next Brew it Forward will be on October 18th, 2014. Follow the event, and get your brews in here – http://loneridershowdown.com (opens in new window)
Past Winners:
Brew It Forward 2009 – Gunslinger
The recipe is designed by homebrewer Kevin Cosentino of Wilmington, NC and then brewed by Kevin and the Lonerider brew crew. 5.1% ABV.
Brew It Forward 2010 – Grave Robber
The recipe is designed by homebrewer Donavan Dolph of Chapel Hill, NC and then brewed by Donavan and the Lonerider brew crew. 7.5% ABV
Brew It Forward 2011 – Bucking Bronco
The recipe is designed by homebrewer Peter Saunders of Raleigh, NC and then brewed by Peter and the Lonerider brew crew. 5.0% ABV
Brew It Forward 2012 – Gunsmoke Oakmeal Porter
The recipe is designed by homebrewer James Lafferty of Raleigh, NC and then brewed by James and the Lonerider brew crew. 7.0% ABV
Brew It Forward 2013 – Black Eye Schwarzbier
The recipe is designed by homebrewer Adam Reinke of Asheville, NC and then brewed by Adam and the Lonerider brew crew. 5.4% ABV
After 30 Year Gap, Woman Wins National Homebrew Competition
It has been 30 years since the last time a woman won the National Homebrew Competition. Annie Johnson has captured the title of Homebrewer of the Year for her entry – a Lite American Lager. This goes to show you that it is not the style that matters, its how well you make it.
The competition this year featured 2,187 homebrewers from all over the United States, with nearly 8,000 entries leading up the the conference. Other winners included Tavish Sullivan, Cidermaker of the Year award with his Common Cider, and Mark Tanner as the Meadmaker of the Year award with his Strawberry, Rhubarb and Blackberry Mead.
The National Homebrew Competition has evaluated 103,075 brews in the past 35 years of existence. Next year’s is in Grand Rapids, Mich., June 12-14. [PressRelease]
Homebrewing Officially on the Rise in the US
The American Homebrewers Association reports that after a recent survey homebrewing is seeing huge growth throughout the United States. The main results from the survey are as follows:
- Homebrew Beginners: 80% of shops surveyed experienced increased sales of beginner homebrew equipment kits, signifying a considerable boost in interest in the hobby.
- New Lease on Brewing: In 2013, 43% of responding shops said they have been open for three years or less, up from 34% in 2012, indicating considerable growth in new shop openings.
- Beer vs. Wine: Sales of beer ingredients outpaced wine ingredients among home beverage supply retailers, with an average of 35% of retail revenue coming from beer ingredients versus 21% from wine ingredients.
21st Amendment Adds Draft Only Imperial Jack
Here’s a story about a brewery, a pub regular, a homebrew collaboration, and a kindly English grandfather.
Actually the Cliffnotes version: 21st Amendment is brewing Imperial Jack, an ESB, using a recipe they’ve collaborated with a pub regular/ homebrewer Richard Brewer-Hay. The brew was originally called Grandpa Jack in honor of Richards’s late grandfather, both of whom are from England. Richard and 21st Amendment’s Shaun O’Sullivan came together to make a stronger version, Imperial Jack, and will be traveling back to England together to brew it.
Style: Extra Special Bitter
Availability: Draft
8.5% ABV
Finally Mississippi! Governor Signs Home Brewing Bill
Finally. Mississippi will soon have the freedom to brew their own beer with out the threat of jail time. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has signed legislation to that end.
Grassroots organization Raise Your Pints has been working diligently to help get this law passed. Congratulations Mississippi! Alabama… We are still sorry.
Title: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 67-3-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT EVERY PERSON SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE HOMEMADE BEER FOR PERSONAL, FAMILY, DOMESTIC OR HOUSEHOLD PURPOSES IF THE BEER IS MADE IN A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY IN WHICH THE POSSESSION OF LIGHT WINE OR BEER IS LAWFUL; TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF HOMEMADE BEER THAT MAY BE MADE BY ANY PERSON IN A CALENDAR YEAR; TO AUTHORIZE HOMEMADE BEER; TO AUTHORIZE THE TRANSPORT OF HOMEMADE BEER FROM THE PREMISES WHERE MADE ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATING IN A BONA FIDE EXHIBITION, CONTEST OR COMPETITION WHERE HOMEMADE BEER IS BEING TASTED AND JUDGED; TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT HOMEMADE BEER MAY NOT BE SOLD; TO AMEND SECTIONS 67-3-7, 67-3-13 AND 67-3-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
From the Brewer’s Association:
Boulder, CO â— March 19, 2013 — The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) is pleased to announce that Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has signed a bill that will effectively legalize homebrewing throughout the state. Mississippi is now the 49th state to permit homebrewing. A Senate version of the bill passed in early February and it was then voted on by the State House of Representatives in March.
“From our founding fathers to our current President, this country has a long and storied tradition of homebrewing,” said Gary Glass, director of the American Homebrewers Association. “We appreciate the support of all of the homebrewers, the dedicated grassroots efforts of Raise Your Pints and the legislators who have worked so diligently to make homebrewing a reality in Mississippi. We are grateful to Senator John Horhn who introduced this bill and to Governor Bryant for his quick action and support.”
The 21st Amendment predominantly leaves regulation of alcohol to the states. Therefore, even though homebrewing is federally legal, it is still up to individual states to legalize homebrewing in state codes. Prior to today’s announcement, Mississippi and Alabama were the only two states that did not allow homebrewing. The AHA will continue working with homebrewers in Alabama to legalize homebrewing.
The hobby of homebrewing has seen exponential growth in recent years. The AHA estimates that more than 1 million Americans brew beer or make wine at home at least once a year. Mississippi is home to an estimated 2,200 homebrewers who may now enjoy brewing without the restrictions of a state-wide ban.
Duclaw 2012 H.E.R.O. Winners Announced
A winner has been declared for the 2012 Duclaw Brewing H.E.R.O. (Honest. Excellent. Robust. Original) home brewing competition: Chocolate Chipote Stout. The winning entry was brewed by Vincent and Suzanne Powers of Nottingham, MD.
The winning entry will be brewed by Duclaw and distributed in 22oz bottles, and draft in all of the brewery’s markets. Every penny from the sales of the H.E.R.O. brew goes to charity.
