Porter County Parks and Recreation hosts the Inaugural Home Brew Competition May 16 as part of their annual Spring Out to Sunset Festival which launches the park season.
Dana Yake, communications director for Porter County Parks, says that they hope to make the event an annual part of the festival.
“Because microbreweries are so popular, we want home brewers to come out and show off their work. Brewing is becoming a bigger hobby in Northwest Indiana and we want to make it part of this festival,” says Yake.
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Although the public will not be able to taste the home brews, the pilsners, ales, stouts, IPAs, and brews of all types will be judged by a panel of experts.
She says, “We have Mike Lahti from Figure 8 and Jeff Blade from Brewhouse Supplies coming out to judge, and will have other brewers as well. The brewers will be there to give their feedback and will be walking around to meet and greet the general public and will be open to answering questions.”
Judging is based upon aroma, appearance, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall impression and beers must be made in the home for private non-commercial use.
Yates says that the descriptions of each of the brew’s ingredients will be on display at the beer garden and Leroy’s Hot Stuff will hose the beer garden with a wide selection of local beers from Figure 8, Shoreline, 3Floyds, and others.
Other activities at the Spring Out to Sunset Festival include a vintage baseball game between the Sunset Hill Colonels and the Deep River Grinders, inflatables, laser ball, live music, games, crafts, archery, program demos, and food.
Cost is $5 per car to attend the festival, but entry into the home brew competition is free of charge.
Heather Augustyn is a freelance writer.
Home Brew Competition
12-4 p.m. May 16
Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 Meridian, Valparaiso
Tickets: $5/car, entry into home brew competition free
Information: 219-465-3586 or email [email protected]