Homebrew competition a hopping good time

Despite stormy weather and chilly temperatures, more than 500 people turned out for local homebrew club Brasseurs a la Maison’s first-ever “Iron Brewer” competition, held last Friday at Tin Roof Brewery. “We were totally overwhelmed by the response,” says club founder Blake Winchell. “We weren’t even sure that 50 people would show up.” The 10 varieties of homebrewed beer on offer, with ingredients ranging from Louisiana peaches to coffee and cayenne, went quickly, with no kegs left untapped at the end of the night. The People’s Choice Award went to the Chicory Stout, but the winner of the official “Iron Brewer” title went to the Red Beans and Rice brew, which wowed with savory, smoky flavor. The event, which accepted canned goods in lieu of admission, also raised more than 1,300 pounds of food for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, enough to provide 1,090 meals for needy families. The success of the evening has definitely paved the way for future homebrew events, according to Winchell, who is already discussing arranging biannual or quarterly events with the club. Keep your eye on brbrewers.com for future events.