The Black Rock Homebrew Competition is our OG brewing comp, and this year's entrants brought serious beer, plus some of the best names we've ever had to read out loud.
Every year, home brewers pack up their bestbottles, drop them at the Dunedin Malt House and hope for the best. And everyyear, the judges have a harder time picking between them.
This year was no different. Here's who cameout on top.
1st Overall: Kurt Bowen – Taste My Nubbin
Kurt took out the Dark Beers, Porters &Stouts category, then went and topped the whole competition for good measure.
The prize? Kurt will team up with the crew atEmerson's to brew the official Festival Beer for Beerfest 2027. Yes, that meansthe name could end up on a tap list. No, we're not sorry.
2nd Overall: Chris Linsell – Holah!
Winner of the Experimental Beers category andrunner-up overall. Experimental is where brewers go to take risks, and Chris'spaid off twice.
3rd Overall: Jeremy Baker – Yeti Yet? ImperialStout
Jeremy was our 2024 overall winner withParadise Stout, so a podium finish this year confirms he's no one-hit wonder.Has anyone seen the Yeti? No. Has anyone tasted it? The judges have, and theyliked it.
Lagers, English Styles, Mead & Cider:Andrew Leitch – Elder Respect. Andrew won our Emerging Brewers comp in 2024with Buzzed Black Currant Cider. Two years on, he's taking on the experiencedcrowd and winning. Elder Respect indeed.
Dark Beers, Porters & Stouts: Kurt Bowen –Taste My Nubbin. See above. Then see it on tap.
Experimental Beers: Chris Linsell – Holah! Twotrophies, one beer, zero notes.
Pale Ales & IPAs: Jimmy Henderson – NUNSNASTY. Jimmy took out our Emerging Brewers category back in 2021 with SuperSpontaneous, and he's still bringing the goods. Nasty by name, not by nature.
Every category winner scores a double pass toSaturday at Beerfest plus a Black Rock prize pack. So if you spot any of themat the stadium, shout them a beer. Or ask nicely for a taste of theirs.
This one's for the new kids, brewers with lessthan two years under their belts. Judging by this lot, the future's lookingvery drinkable.
1st: Nick Pow – Anything Gose. A gosetakes out Emerging Brewers for the third time, after Wild Gose Chase in 2015and Apricot Gose in 2020. Clearly the salty, sour route is the shortcut toglory. Nick now gets the chance to brew a beer with Black Rock for their 2027festival stall, and maybe even see it in Black Rock Tap Rooms.
2nd: Peter Crowley – Sea Fog & Ale APA. Moody name, bright beer.A big result for a brewer still finding their feet.
3rd: Mark Tynan – Test Drive Porter. The testdrive went well. We'd suggest buying the car.
Huge thanks to Black Rock for backing thecomp, to Dunedin Malt House for taking in all those bottles, to our judges fordoing the hard yards, and to every brewer who entered.
Raise one to the winners. Then go home andbrew something to beat them. We'll be waiting.
