REGINA – Hundreds of homebrewed alcoholic beverages were judged at the Ale and Lager Enthusiasts of Saskatchewan’s (ALES ) 21st annual Homebrew Open this weekend.
“We’re going to hold it up to the light, we’re going to look at it for clarity, we’re going to notice the bubbles, we’re going to notice the colour,” said judge Mark Heise, holding up a plastic cup with an ounce of beer inside.
Brews from Yukon, Ontario, even as far away as Nova Scotia were judged in categories including flavour, aroma, mouthfeel, and appearance.
The competition, held at the Bushwakker Brewpub, is pegged as the largest and longest-running of its kind in Canada.
“People are starting to have their eyes open the benefits, qualities of craft beer,” said ALES executive member David Freeman.
The competition has seen a jump from 380 entries last year, to 670 this year – a ten year high.
The homebrew trend has become easier and more affordable to pursue over the years. Regina’s Wine Kitz has a variety of homebrew kits on the shelves that fetch under $100.
“It’s not rocket science. You’ve got to be attentive to detail, kind of like a cook,” said David Carvell, who also helps make brews at his store.
“It’s just like combining spices to make your perfect Mexican dish or something like that,” said Dave Holowaty, a participant and judge.
Holowaty started homebrewing after moving back to Regina and feeling underwhelmed with the selection. His brews have won awards.
“I want to think of what beer would I want to have if I had one day left to live,” he said. “So, I tried to brew the biggest, baddest, strongest beer I could possibly come up with… It tastes almost like a Crunchie Bar.”
While the finished product is the best part, there is another kind of buzz associated with the craft.
“People that are homebrewing are doing it not because it’s cheap, but because they love the flavour of beer, and they love the creative process,” said Freeman. “It’s kind of like a mix of science and art.”
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