Event unites lovers of beer


HOME-BREWING COMPETITION attracts 276 entries, offers feedback on recipes.

By EDWARD SIEGER The Express-Times

ALLENTOWN

About 30 judges quietly and deliberately sniffed, sipped and eyeballed the samples.

They talked about aroma, feel on the palate and used phrases like "twang" and "clean and bready." Although the event had all the trappings of a wine tasting, judges were instead rating dozens of beers.

"It's the same thing (as a wine tasting), but our product is better," Mike Lessa said.

Lehigh Valley Homebrewers sponsored the area's first officially sanctioned home-brewing competition Saturday at the recently opened Allentown Brew Works.

Lessa, president of Lehigh Valley Homebrewers, said the area's home brewers had been a loosely affiliated group for a few years. They formally organized about two years ago, establishing officers and by-laws.

"It's not just a couple of guys with guts, sitting in their basements," Lessa said.

The inaugural Malt Madness attracted 276 entries, including a handful of ciders and meads, which are made with honey, water and yeast.

"It's a very encouraging turnout and indicative of home brewing in the area," Lessa said.

Using categories established by the Beer Judge Certification Program, judges were asked to decide whether entries met specific style guidelines. Some of the German altbiers, for instance, were far too sweet and lacked the style's distinctive bitterness.

"It's not really whether we like it or not like it," Lessa said. "It's all about critical analysis."

And while it's nice to take home a medal, brewers often enter competitions seeking feedback on their recipes, he said.

The club totals about 130 home brewers, with 50 active members. Club Vice President Bob Piano, who's been brewing for about 12 years, said he had never been a big beer fan.

That's until he tried a co-worker's home-brewed beer.

"It was one of the best beers I ever had," Piano said. "I kind of took an instant interest in it."

The Brewers Association, a trade group that tracks the craft brewery industry, reported last month that craft beer sales in 2007 grew 11 percent over the same period last year. And 1,172 home brewers entered 5,052 entries in a national home-brew competition in May.

"People are understanding that there's more than the insipid light lagers off the shelves," Lessa said.

Reporter Edward Sieger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at esieger@express-times.com.