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Homebrew Competition Raises Money for Charity

November 05, 2008 - ACTON -- Brew Free or Die (BFD) and Southern Maine Home brewers clubs announced that this year's New England Regional Home brew Competition on Oct. 25 was the most successful ever, on several counts:

• The competition has raised $2,200 for charity, up from $2,000 last year

• 290 entries, up from 250 last year, from 19 states representing all 28 BJCP (www.bjcp.org) categories

• More than $3,000 in prizes have been donated by 42 sponsors

The competition awarded gold, silver and bronze medals in 28 beer-style categories, including Home brewer, Cidermaker and Meadmaker of the year honors, plus the Best of Show prizes were awarded to the top amateur brewers as determined through the competition. Winners were selected by judges from 290 entries of homebrewed beer, cider and mead from 19 states at The Potting Shed in Acton.

"The homebrewing community is alive and well, as we have reached record levels all across the board, and surprisingly the number of entries from outside of New England continues to grow," said organizer Michael Fairbrother.

Proceeds from the event were donated to the American Cancer Society, and to The Good Sheppard Food Bank of Maine. In 2007, the competition donated $2,000 to the American Cancer Society in memory of Don Merkey, a late member of Brew Free or Die, who succumbed to cancer in 2005.

Top winners of the competition were:

• Best of Show:
1. Alastair Hewitt ( Wakefield , Mass.), Dry Stout
2. James Eshbaugh (West Boyleston, Mass.), Vienna Lager
3. James Eshbaugh ( West Boyleston, Mass.), Schwarzbier

• Brewer of the Year: Michael Robinson ( Nottingham, NH )

• Meadmaker of the Year: Michael Fairbrother ( Londonderry, NH )

• Cidermaker of the Year: Joshua Persson ( Warwick, RI )

A complete list of winners, including first, second and third places for each category, is posted on the competition website, http://www.bfd.org/NERHBC.

This year's competition was planned and run by registered members of local clubs Brew Free or Die, New Hampshire 's Oldest Home brew Club, and Southern Maine Home brewers. Gritty McDuff's of Maine is the competition sponsor, while other sponsors include White Labs, Samuel Adams, Maine Mead Works, and Woodchuck Draft Cider among many other local and national firms. A complete list of sponsors is available on http://www.bfd.org/NERHBC.

This article first appeared at www.keepmecurrent.com


Lakes:
Regions: Sanford


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