Sun shines on Huinga beer fest

The tasting of the various entries was a serious business.

Drinking good beer can often make the world feel like a sunnier place and the sun smiled on the beer swilling tasters attending the 7th Annual Homebrewers festival in Huinga.

With 23 brewers from local and further afield submitting 64 entries over 13 different beer categories, the judges were in for a long afternoon of tasting and commenting to whittle down and choose the winners.

Possibly of most amusement this year, with the overall standard of drinks entered described by judges as much higher than in earlier years, was the time and effort some brewers had put into naming their craft entries and how this fitted with the judge's (blind) comments.

One Strong Ale known only by judges as K2 was described as 'greasy and very strong' only to be discovered it had been aptly named Shearers Fingers by brewer Matt Ward from Wellington.

This was not the winner of that category, however Matt did take out Judge's Choice in eight of the 13 categories this year, including best overall brew with his fruit beer named Red Wazza.

Other areas of the festival were also well represented, with 67 entries in edible and other drinkable categories such as liqueurs with seven varied entries from Limoncello through to Gingerbread Gin.

The Irish Cream submitted by a local group who refer to themselves as Spread the Love took out this category as both the Judge's and People's choice.

Spirits were hotly contested with Judge's choice going to Christmas Pud submitted by Stratford resident Denis Pike and people's choice going to the Honey Bourbon from local Tony Dowd.

"The variety of flavours was amazing," commented one festival goer who said not only was there traditional wine and cider, but flavours such as rhubarb, tamarillo, feijoa and blueberry.

Perhaps most quizzical was the Judge's choice winner for fruit cider named P submitted by Stratford resident Matt Ries.

Matt was quick to comment that he could not remember whether this particular batch was Peach or Passionfruit.

We are still not sure, but a winner it was.