Big-time Homebrewing in Portland, Ore.

(photos courtesy of American Homebrewers Association)
As amazing as the growth in commercial craft brewing over the last 10-20 years, the phenomenal growth in homebrewing is equally impressive. I'll let the recent press release from the American Homebrewers Association tell the story from Portland, Ore. where the annual National Homebrewers Conference & Competition took place.

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Nation’s Best Homebrews Awarded in Beervana

National Homebrewers Conference & Competition wraps in Portland, following U.S. Senate passing resolution celebrating American Homebrewers Association’s 40th anniversary

Portland, Ore • June 30, 2018 — Over 3,200 homebrewers and beer enthusiasts gathered at the 40th Annual Homebrew Con presented by the American Homebrewers Association® (AHA) this weekend at the Oregon Convention Center, where they attended seminars, bonded over brews and had their beers judged in the world’s largest beer competition.

On June 28, Homebrew Con’s opening day, the U.S. Senate, led by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) passed a resolution honoring the 40th year of the AHA and its founder, Charlie Papazian, who was the conference’s keynote speaker.

Since 1979, the AHA National Homebrew Competition has recognized the most outstanding homemade beer, mead and cider produced by homebrewers worldwide each year. This year’s submissions included 8,405 entries from 3,517 homebrewers located in 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 18 countries. Over its 40-year history, the National Homebrew Competition has evaluated 143,240 brews. The first competition, held in 1979 in Boulder, Colo., judged 34 beers.

This year’s winners include Michael Rogers of Wichita, Kan., who earned the Homebrewer of the Year Award; Nathan Williams of Somerville, Mass., who won the Cidermaker of the Year Award; and Michael Wilcox of Wichita, Kan., who received the Meadmaker of the Year Award. QUAFF (Quality Ale and Fermentation Fraternity), based in San Diego, Calif., won the NHC Homebrew Club award; and North Seattle Homebrew Club based in Seattle, Wash., won the Gambrinus Club Award; while Greg Young of Roseville, Calif., won the Samuel Adams Ninkasi Award, for accumulating the most wins in the competition.

A complete list of winners of the 2018 National Homebrew Competition can be found here.

“This has been a milestone year for the American Homebrewers Association. It’s inspiring to see such a great turnout at this year’s conference, and to see such a strong comradery and passion among homebrewers who have traveled far and wide to celebrate their love of homebrewing,” said Gary Glass, director, American Homebrewers Association.

In addition to the competition, the conference provided attendees the opportunity to enhance their brewing skills and homebrew knowledge through over 60 seminars focused on beer styles, the brewing process, ingredients, recipe formulation, sensory analysis, and yeast & formation.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without Charlie’s vision, devotion and passion to this community,” added Glass. “We thank him for the strong foundation he has built for over one million homebrewers in this country. He leaves a lasting legacy.”

Conference-goers also enjoyed a series of events where they sampled each other’s brews and commercial craft beers. The Homebrew Expo & Social Club and Club Night were opportunities for participants to try beers and meads from homebrew clubs and breweries across the country, while making new brew-savvy friends.

In 2019, Homebrew Con will be held June 27-29 for the first time since 1993 in the New England area in Providence, Rhode Island.

About the American Homebrewers Association:
The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of 46,000 homebrewers. The American Homebrewers Association organizes events including Homebrew Con™ and the National Homebrew Competition. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy® magazine and offers the Brew Guru® mobile app. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association (BA), whose independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA’s Brewers Publications™ division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers and anyone interested in making their own beer are invited to learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org. Follow the AHA on Twitter, and join us on Facebook and Instagram.

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© Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge, 2018. All content is owned and uniquely created by Bryan J. Kolesar. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Kolesar is strictly prohibited. Excerpts, images, and links may be used with advance permission granted and only provided that full and clear credit is given to Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Contact Kolesar at TheBrewLounge@gmail.com

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Beer News You Should Know - Jan.-Feb. 2016

The pace of change in the beer world has never been greater. As the industry continues to move and shake, rattle and roll, and find its footing to move confidently into the future, the only constant is change.

On a somewhat regular basis, I'm going to attempt to keep you in the know with some of the most noteworthy news items happening. I'll focus primarily on the region (defined as I see fit) centered around my home turf of Philadelphia. And, considering I wrote a book about the PA, NJ, MD, and DE beer scenes and continuously stay abreast of changes within those four states, I'll likely cover newsy happenings from Erie to the Eastern Shore, Bayonne to Baltimore, and Pittsburgh back to Philly.

Let's try to knock off the first two months of 2016 in succinct bulletpoints and see where we go from there. Of course, if I missed anything you deem noteworthy, please hit up the comments below.

(in no particular order, seriously)

Mispillion River - as the Philly market continues to house one of the country's most diverse retail beer collections from around the world, it's great to see new ones available in the Philly market from just a few miles down the road in Milford, Del. Keep your eyes open for three-year-old Mispillion River Brewing Company and their excellent beers such as Beach Bum Joe (Belgian Pale) and Double Chin (Double IPA).  [Link to Philly Beer Scene]

Southern Tier - on the heels of announcing the joint venture/partnership/don't-call-it-a-sellout with Victory Brewing Company, a plan to open a brewpub in Pittsburgh's North Shore neighborhood was announced by Southern Tier Brewing Company. The Lakewood, NY-based brewery plans to set up along the bank of the Allegheny River in between Heinz Field and PNC Park and joins Penn Brewery, Grist House Brewing Company, and Draai Laag Brewing Company on Pittsburgh's increasingly popular North Shore across from downtown. [Link to STBC's news page]

Victory - speaking of that joint venture between Victory and Southern Tier, all short-term signs point to continued business as usual. Under the Artisanal Brewing Ventures holding company, Victory's 52 original investors get paid out in a combination of stock shares and cash and Ron Barchet becomes COO. According to VBC, the previously-planned brewpub for Leesburg, Va. is currently on hold. Will be interesting to see if they fold in any additional mid- to small-tier breweries in the coming months. [Link to Victory Brewing Company]

ShawneeCraft - ShawneeCraft Brewing Company is a standout brewing operation in northeast Pennsylvania on the doorstep of the Pocono Mountains. They recently announced that the grand opening for Scratch – their unique and collaborative food-beer retail operation inside the Easton Public Market in downtown Easton, Pa. – will be on March 18. [Link to Scratch's website]

Boaks - One of NJ's earliest homebrewers to turn pro, Brian Boaks and his Boaks beer have been around festivals and here and there for quite a few years. Now, he's decided to close up shop and deplete his inventory at a bunch of "Farewell Tour" upcoming events. The Great Beer Expo in Philly on June 4 will be one of the last chances to get his commercially brewed Boaks beer. [Link to Boaks' blog]

Susquehanna - the only time I visited Susquehanna Brewing Company, I was surprised such a beautiful brewing facility had no real tasting room. That's about to be rectified tomorrow, March 5, and that's a really good thing considering some of my favorite beers from them (thinking: Southern Rye IPA, Pils Noir, and especially the Goldencold Lager) that should be enjoyed by the glassful while sitting and chatting with others. [Link to SBC's tour page]

Saucony Creek - Also tomorrow, March 5, Kutztown, Pa. will see its Saucony Creek Brewing Company add on a gastropub, extending the experience of a visit to the brewery. Check out the announcement for all the festivities surrounding the opening and the brewery's third anniversary celebration. [Link to SCBC's press release]

Homebrewers - The Homebrew Con (formerly known as National Homebrewers Conference - can't imagine the need for name change, but I digress) is descending upon Baltimore, Md. from June 9-11. The most amazing confluence of education, events, vendors, and beer judging will take over the city's convention center and, I'm sure, dozens of bars and breweries for an unforgettable experience. I look forward to covering the excellent event in the excellent city of Baltimore; attendees are in for a treat. Maybe I should plug my book for advice of what to see/do! [Link to NHC event website]

New Jersey - I was surveyed and contributed to New Jersey Monthly's sweet 16 of brewery braketology with my top six breweries (ask nicely, and I might share that list with you). This is a mighty fine list from the Garden State. Now it's up to you to crown the best. [Link to New Jersey Monthly]

Sly Fox - Gosh, I recall ten years ago when the thought of merging running and beer events elicited hardly anything but scoffs and jeers. My running/beer events that I conducted were always wildly popular, but nothing like what breweries and bars have come up with these days. Case in point: check out the Sly Fox Fox Trot 5-K and accompanying Tap, Tunes, & Trucks festival. [Link to Sly Fox's event page]

Yards - Looks like Yards is ready to grow again. Hard to believe that the once-spacious building on Delaware Avenue is already reaching capacity. Read the article; stay away from the comments. [Link to Philly.com]

Meeting Of The Malts - Finally, a meeting of some of the brightest minds and most recognizable figures in the brewing industry are set up for a triple play of events in Bethlehem, Pa. on March 24. Ken Grossman (Sierra Nevada), Jim Koch (Boston Beer), and Dick Yuengling (D.G. Yuengling & Son) will hold court from 7:15 p.m.-9:30 p.m. under the banner of Meeting of the Malts to discuss the current state of affairs in the business of beer. Bookending this event, at which time a five-course beer-pairing meal will be served, the Pennsylvania Brewpub Festival will happen from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. and a "Prohibition Party" will take place from 10:15 p.m.-12 a.m. at The Foundry Room in the Sands Casino Resort. Should be a fun, educational, and tasty night. [Link to Brewers of PA event page]

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The Brew Lounge has been as busy as ever as the Spring turned to Summer

The last two months or so have been more busy than usual around these Brew Lounge parts. Someone remarked to me the other day that I've really "been on a roll lately". Or something to that effect. And others that have commented that I should do more to toot my own horn.

While I don't typically feel comfortable doing such a thing, I will present to you here a quick rundown of some of the more noteworthy things happening all up in this Brew Lounge.

~ I began writing for Origlio's Draught Lines magazine, found all around the greater Philadelphia region at many of their retail accounts. My first article submission was on the topic of taking a "beer-cation" and can be found on pages 9-10 through this magical little web link. The next issue is due out shortly. It's a quality magazine of beer information and suggest you keep your eyes open for it next time you're out buying beer.

~ Around the same time, I was nominated (for the fourth year, but who's counting?) for a Philly Beer Scene award for Beer Writer of the Year. Actually, I take the nomination even more seriously than winning (or not) since the process of getting nominated is through an anonymous polling of industry folk not in your category (i.e. writers can't nominate writers, brewers can't nominate brewers, etc.) Ultimately, through public voting, Suzanne Woods won, but as the old saying goes, I'm honored to be nominated and amongst such good company. Here's a link to Philly Beer Scene where the all the winners were announced.

~ Also just around the same time, I was asked to join the Philadelphia Inquirer's annual Brew-vitational judging of beers from around the region. In the spirit of full disclosure, I should mention that I was the second choice when Jack Curtin could not make himself available for the arduous task of working our way through 49 submitted beers in two categories, one very specific (Pilsners) and one much more broad ("new" beers). I was rather pleased that I had ranked both the Tröegs Sunshine Pils and Weyerbacher Riserva in the first place on my ballot in their respective categories and they both went home with the top honors. A full rundown, plus links to insightful videos about the esteemed judges can be found via this link.

~ Then there was Philly Beer Week. While it was the first PBW where I did not undertake my own event (the annual running event with Dock Street, that didn't stop me from partaking as much as my schedule would allow this year. As with every other year, I kept a running tally of everything I saw and heard and wrapped it up over where you'd expect it.

~ The Brew Lounge went a bit of course with a Simi Winery dinner in Valley Forge at Viviano in the VF Casino Resort. But knowing that quite a few of you like the grape-y stuff too, I took the winery and casino up on their offer to come out for the dinner. Now, if you know me as well as you should by now, you know that this in no way guarantees a favorable review of the evening. Since I don't have time to dabble in the negative, I simply would not write about a dinner that didn't have enough positives to mention. But, this one had plenty from the wines, to the cooking of Tony Clark, to the pairings. Here's a link to the dinner review and a link to some recipes and pairings that the winery sent along as well.

~ On the heels of the Craft Brewers Conference in Washington, DC back in March that I attended, I took in the National Homebrewers Conference (NHC) in Philly (of course, why would I not?) in late June. The month of June was quite busy for Philly what with Philly Beer Week in the early June and the NHC capping off June at the end. While I didn't do a full-blown write-up on either, it reminds me that you should really be following The Brew Lounge on both Facebook and Twitter where occasionally coverage of events (and accompanying pictures) may be limited solely to these social media behemoths. With that suggestion, here's a link to my Facebook page and a link to my Twitter feed.

~ Lastly, with that note about the NHC in Philly, there's a ton of developing content over at Basic Brewing (both radio and video) of the tour that I put together for James, Steve, and Andy who came up from their Arkansas headquarters to cover the NHC as they do every year. On the day prior to the conference, I escorted them around the region on a 130-mile, 12-hour tour of some of the best of the non-City based breweries. We hit up Iron Hill-Maple Shade, Victory, Forest & Main, Earth Bread + Brewery (ok, that's a city one), and Tired Hands. So far, Basic Brewing Radio has the interview with Chris LaPierre (Iron Hill-Maple Shade) up on its website and over the coming weeks more audio and video content will be forthcoming.

Was there more that happened over the past couple of months? Sure, probably, of course. These are the main highlights and as always, I appreciate and respect your support and reading through these voluminous pages of The Brew Lounge.

Philly closes out a strong June hosting the National Homebrewers Conference

(If you'd like to skip the words and head directly to the photos, click here)

If it seems like the brewniverse (sorry, not a big fan of that kind of hoppy wordplay but, yet, I find myself doing it anyway) has revolved around Philadelphia for the past month or so, you wouldn't be mistaken.

After another strong showing with ten days of Philly Beer Week in early June, the month closed out with roughly 3,000 homebrewers, vendors, and others associated with the "hobby" at the annual National Homebrewers Conference (NHC). Of course, for some it's a hobby and others it's such a serious passion that it's more of a mere stepping stone to "going pro".

While the conference is not open to the general public, card-carrying members of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) snapped up all available tickets in less than 24 hours earlier in the Spring. Whichever city/region is fortunate enough to have the NHC descend upon it —next year it's in Grand Rapids, Mich.— local homebrewers should count themselves lucky since traveling for the conference can typically amount to a small investment for which the family might rather prefer be allocated to a family vacation. To that end, there were quite a few families that I spotted that accompanied their homebrewing loved one in order to take the opportunity to visit Philadelphia.

Local homebrewers from the Philadelphia region certainly did did not miss the chance to make a strong showing during the three-day conference. From Club Night, where dozens of homebrew clubs from around the country showed off their best creativity and teamwork, to Awards Night, the Philadelphia region showed why it earned the right to host this year's conference.

Local brewers and publicans got in on the act as well, hosting numerous events taking advantage of out-of-town homebrewers and professional brewers alike being in town. Sam Calagione and Sean Paxton at Nodding Head. Mitch Steele at Alla Spina. A completely local tap takeover at Field House. Special brews at Monk's Café, City Tap House, and Strangelove's. John Maier at Barcade. The Brewing Network put on its eighth anniversary party with a blowout of great beer and live music at World Cafe Live. And, Devil's Backbone at Devil's Den.

While I didn't attend every hour of the conference, here are a few things I learned along the way:
  ~ While not technically a conference event, the Paxton/Calagione/Nodding Head event occurred for the third year and again proved to be one of the highlights of the year on the Philly beer event calendar.
  ~ Homebrewers, with no real surprise, proved their incredible passion for their hobby. From the conversations to the tastings to the seminars and the awards, the geekerie and the excitement could be felt all around the conference.
  ~ Tom Peters of Monk's Café fame (really of all things Belgian beer fame) proved his position in the beer hierarchy with an informative and entertaining keynote address. I wonder if it's been recorded anywhere for future viewing?
  ~ The Brewers Association, for all the fun that beer is, runs a tight ship and well-organized conferences. Kudos to a lineup of educational and fun seminars, social hours, and platform for showcasing great commercial and homebrewed beer.
  ~ There are way more homebrew clubs in the Philadelphia region than I was aware of. Case in point, the Berks County Homebrew Club, in the neck of the woods of my youth.
  ~ Mike, "Tasty", McDole, has long been an accomplished homebrewer who was brought to national attention when he won the Longshot Competition with Sam Adams back in 2007. There was little reason for me to doubt his popularity before Philadelphia, but during the conference seeing the number of women, and men to be fair, that flocked to him for a picture, a quick word, etc. was astounding. Doesn't hurt that he's an extremely nice and approachable man.
  ~ I was astounded by the presence of mead, cider, and perry at the conference. From the seminars to the number of associated awards, I learned that the NHC is not exclusively about beer. Michael Fairbrother (Moonlight Meadery) gave an excellent and enthusiastically passionate presentation about his meadery and views on the industry.
  ~ Speaking of enthusiasm, professional brewers are quite supportive of the homebrewing industry and the people that make it up. I was taken by how many professional brewers from outside the Philly region showed up to speak, pour at Pro Night, and/or show up at off-site venue for events or meet 'n' greets. It probably doesn't hurt that many of them come from homebrewing roots and this is just one form of giving back. That, plus maybe looking at the talent pool for future brewing employees.

Here again, a link to my Facebook gallery of pictures from NHC 2013. Enjoy and Cheers!

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