Regional Homebrew Competition Finally Arrives In Newtown

By Shannon Hicks

Regular visitors to the bar at My Place Restaurant in Newtown know they can count on one thing: Mark Tambascio’s enthusiasm for good beer. An award-winning homebrewer for 12 years and a certified judge for the last ten, Mr Tambascio personally selects the beers on tap at the restaurant – and visitors will never find brands like Budweiser, Coors or Miller up there.

Late last month the selections ranged from Ayinger Octoberfest, Einbecher Pils, Smuttynose IPA, Maastrict Aajt, Flemish Red Ale, Celebrator Doublebock and Goudon Carlous Grand Cru. This week the line-up is Lindeman’s Frambois (a Belgian Lambic), Celebrator Double Bock, Guinness Stout, Hammer & Nail Brown Ale, and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Mr Tambascio knows his beer, and he likes to share his knowledge. So it must have been quite a thrill for him to be named a co-organizer of The 16th Annual Southern New England Regional Homebrew Competition (SNERHC), which was held in Newtown for the first time last weekend. Homebrewers from across the country were invited to submit up to 12 of their homebrewed beers into the competition (the competition’s name denoted its location, not the area from which entrants were residents).

Mr Tambascio and Von Bair, a Bethany-based brewer, were the co-organizers of this year’s event. The event is a professionally run competition, with feedback provided on all entries. Brewers received comments on their beers on scoresheets that had been filled out by BJCP judges. Judging was done on a 50 point scale created by BJCP and AHA, with points given for aroma, flavor, appearance and overall.

Mr Tambascio expected to see 250 entries for last weekend’s competition, which was presented in The Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall. It was sponsored by Maltose Express, a homebrew supply shop in Monroe, and The Yankee Association of Homebrewers Objecting to Organized Societies, or YAHOOS, the second-oldest homebrewers club in the country.

Entries were due at any of four available drop-off points by October 16. Categories ran the gamut from lagers (American, European pale, European dark and German amber) and ales (light, bitter and English, Scottish, American pale, India pale, German amber, brown, English & Scottish strong, strong Belgian, Belgian & French, and Lambic & Belgian) to stout, bock, fruit beer, spice-herb-vegetable beer, specialty, experimental and historical beer, along with ciders and meads.

SNERHC 2004 was sanctioned by both The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) and the American Homebrewers Association (AHA). The event is one of four competitions that homebrewers use to accumulate points toward the New England Homebrewer of the Year Award.

John Watson, a Southbury resident who was a past Homebrewer of the Year, entered a number of categories last weekend. He won a number of ribbons – second in Strong Belgian Ale and Spiced-Herb-Vegetable Beer, and a number of thirds including Spiced-Herb-Vegetable Beer and Strong Belgian Ale (each of which he co-created with Phil Simpson), along with a few placements in Best in Show categories – and everything counts toward becoming the top brewer.

“Winners receive points for their placements, whether they finish first or third in a category,” Mr Tambascio explained. “What you want to try to do is win points in each category over the course of the four competitions. That’s how you win Homebrewer of the Year.”

Judging on Sunday took two full sessions – one running from 9 until noon, and the second from 1 to about 4 pm.

Beginning at 4, the winners of 23 categories were put up for Best of Show judging, which took another hour to decide. Ciders and meads were not advanced to Best of Show consideration.

“The quality of beer, and the quality of the judging, has been impeccable,” said Newtown resident Sean O’Brien on Sunday. “The event itself has been a little under-attended, but it’s still been a great showing.” Mr O’Brien and his wife Danika won a few ribbons on Sunday, including second place for Bitter & English Pale Ale, second for Fruit Beer, and a special award for Best Novice Beer.

Mr Tambascio added a few more ribbons to his collection, sharing first in Russian Imperial Stout with Tom Mick and sharing second in India Pale Ale with Phil Simpson.

Mr Bair, the event’s second coordinator, also did well on Sunday. His awards included second in English & Scottish Strong Ales, first place in Spiced-Herb-Vegetable Beer (for a beer he created using nasturtiums), second in Smoke Flavored Beer, the Best Batting Average special award. Mr Bair also swept the Best in Show Blonde Light Ale awards.

To celebrate their new awards and taste some of the top beers from the competition, many of Sunday’s winners and friends then convened on – where else? – My Place Restaurant, where a table had been set up for them.

“I think it’s neat this has finally come into Newtown,” Mr Tambascio said. “It’s a great hobby. It’s a lot of fun.

“It’s a rewarding hobby. You create something that you get to enjoy.”