Interest brews in homemade beers

GET BREWING: It's time to get started for the Greater Wellington Brewday home brew competition. PHOTO/FILE

Home brewers are being invited to get creative for the third annual Greater Wellington Brewday, held in Martinborough in February.

For the first time, a home brew competition is being held as part of the beer festival, based on demand, said Fiona Mann and Bronwyn Scott, assistant event managers.

"We've had feedback each year to run a competition and as home brewing is becoming more and more popular, why not?

"Craft beer is on the rise everywhere, and people are wanting to give it a go themselves and having great success."

They said the judging of the finalists will take place live at Brewday, allowing brewers to learn more about the judging process and what makes a good brew.

"We've got the opportunity for them to get even better, by getting feedback from expert brewers, and a little bit of competition doesn't hurt."

There is also a prize for the best beginner's brew, they said.

Beers can be entered in one of five categories: lager, pale ale, dark, pilsener or other, and will be judged on aroma, appearance, flavour, mouth-feel and overall impression.

Brent Goble, of Regent 58 Brewery in Carterton, said there were all sorts of weird and wonderful things entrants could do.

"Use your imagination, we produce quite traditional style ales so we are sort of tied down but yes, obviously these days the sky's the limit."

Mr Goble said he still does small experimental batches as well as producing beer with brewing partner Gary Fisher, for their brewery and ale house.

As well as getting ready for Brewday, the pair were focusing on their ale house, which opened in July last year, he said. "That's kept us really busy, it has been really popular, well above our expectations."

They also have a new, low-alcohol session ale, which they regularly experimented with.

Mr Goble said with the new drink-drive laws, low-alcohol beers had created quite a market.

"There should be an option of a lower strength."

Hayden Frew, from Martinborough Brewery, which just opened in a new premises on Ohio St last week, also advised home brewers to be creative.

"Experiment, don't be afraid, take a chance and do something different.

"People don't want the same old beer, they want to try different ones."

Registrations are now open for the competition, entries cost $10 and close on February 12.

Judges so far include Kelly Ryan from Fork and Brewer, Greig McGill from SoBA and Hadleigh Petherick from Crafters and Co.

The beer festival has grown from strength to strength, attracting 780 people at its inaugural event to more than 1800 revellers in 2014.

Event manager Karen Aitken said it offered something for everyone.

"We have over 20 breweries, lots of great food, non-alcoholic sodas, cider, wine, a great seminar line-up of free educational info, a kid zone and a video of the brewing process showcasing five of our region's breweries."

Wairarapa will be represented at the festival by Regent 58 Brewery, Peak Brewery and Martinborough Brewery.

Other breweries include: Garage Project, Parrot Dog, PanHead Brewery, Fork & Brewer, Duncan's Brewing Co, Yeastie Boys, Black Dog, North End, Baylands Brewery, Funk Estate, Kereru Brewing, Tiamana, Tuatara, Choice Bros, 9 Barn Yard Owls, Wild and Wooly Beers.

Brewday is on Saturday, February 28, from 11.30am to 6.30pm at 61 Kitchener St. See www.brewday.co.nz for event and competition details.