Hamilton home brew club to hold second competition

Fancy yourself a bit of a beer aficionado? Maybe even a champion home brewer?

Then gear up your taste buds and head along to the second Hamilton’s home brewers competition organised by new club, Hamilton Brewers Association (HBA).

On Sunday June 10 at noon, brewers and beer enthusiasts will gather at a local hostelry to raise their jugs in an Indian Pale Ale competition, judged by some of the best craft beer makers in the country.

The competition has been organised by the recently formed HBA who meet fortnightly to sample one another’s beer, learn from their peers and, of course, enjoy a brew or two.

HBA founder Brent Edwards is the main organiser of the event and says the competition is a great opportunity for members to get some expert advice.

“It’s great for the guys to mix with the judges and get some feedback about their brewing.”

House on Hood general manager Nathan Sweetman says it is great to get behind the craft beer community.

“We are just a venue for them to showcase what these guys do in their little shed.”

Edwards says they started the club after noticing a huge demand on the Internet.

“We started a home brew club in November last year and it was really out of people on a website called realbeer.co.nz, just posting questions on there like ‘Is there a home brew club in Hamilton?’ and ‘How can I learn more about home brewing?’.

“We realised there were lots of home brewers in Hamilton, so we started this home brew club.”

He says the last competition they held in April was “immensely successful”.

Judges for the competition include brewing veterans Kelly Ryan, general manager of Epic Brewing Co., Graeme Mahy from 666 Brewing, Dave Kirth from West Coast Brewing Company and Greig McGill and Phil Murray from Brewaucracy.

To enter brewers must supply a minimum of two 500ml bottles of beer and the entry fee is $10, with the winner taking all.

For more information email hamilton-brewers-association@googlegroups.co.nz.