HOMEBREW COLLAB

Category: Meetups

  • Christmas 2025 Meet-up

    Christmas 2025 Meet-up

    A festive shout-out to everyone who joined our end-of-year Christmas meet-up and party at Wiper and True’s taproom on 17th December 2025. We had a great turnout, and five fantastic Christmas desert inspired beers brewed for our 27th overall, and 6th Christmas challenge!

    Beer 1 – Yule Log

    First up, was Remy and Luiz with their Yule Log inspired Last Minute Shopping, 5.0% Milk Stout, rich with Cacao Nibs, Vanilla and coffee.

    Rich, chocolatey with a generous sweetness, this delicious stout definitely met the brief perfectly, and was the perfect way to begin the evening

    Beer 2 – Christmas Pudding

    Next up, we had Paul and Matt’s I’m Dreaming of a Weisse Gristmas. Inspired by the spices in a Christmas pudding and the creamy smoothness of the custard, it obviously had to be a Weissbier.

    Bang on the magic 5.6%, this German style ale was packaged full of Christmas treats, including honey, apricots, sultanas, lemon and orange peel, and just a touch of vanilla. Could you tell? Maybe not, but isn’t Christmas all about excess and wastage?

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    Combined with the subtle banana yeasty notes, this was a beer we were both proud of.

    Beer 3 – Trifle

    For our third beer, we had Tom and Euan with a shift of style and Not a Trifling Matter, a 6% raspberry sour, inspired by the almond sprinkles, vanilla custard, fruit jelly and biscuit sponge base.

    The beer featured a complex malt base, with raspberry puree, almond essence and vanilla extract, complimented with the always popular combination of Citra, Nelson, and Simcoe hops.

    Euan made it in spirit at least

    Euan couldn’t make it on the day but was drinking along over video as we all enjoyed their perfectly balanced sour

    Beer 4 – Stollen

    Number four, was Rowan, Rob, and Almeric’s Stollenweizen, a punchy 6.8% Dunkler Weizenbock and our second German beer of the night.

    Rich, dark and strong this beer did not disappoint and provided the fruity-raisin backbone that is so familiar to anyone who is a fan of the classic German treat, and was very well recieved.

    Beer 5 – Mince Pies

    Finally, our fifth and final Christmas beer was Pete and Ben’s and didn’t pull any punches.

    Mince Pie-A-Geddon was a beasty 8.5% Belgian Dark Strong, packed full of rich Christmas delights that really brought out memories of a dessert that inspired the beer.

    This was a beer that will only get better with age. If the bottles make it into the new year that is…

    Here’s to 2026!

    As always a huge thanks to all our brewers who made it out on a cold Wednesday night to share their beers, and celebrate a fantastic year together. If you fancy joining us in January, or joining the chat, find us on Discord.

  • November 2025 Meet-up

    November 2025 Meet-up

    We were back at Basement for our penultimate meet before the end of the year.

    A small turn out – classic November – but still great to see everyone, and as always, great hospitality from Ben and the team.

    And excitingly, a new challenge, this time set by Ben. Brew a dark beer, any style you like, just less than 7%, and think of commercial viability.

    Our brewers have until we meet back up at Basement at the end of February to craft their best dark beer.

    Fancy joining in? Sign up on Eventbrite as always, our Patrons can always sign up for free, take a look at supporting us here

  • Collab 26 – 5.6 Pack

    Collab 26 – 5.6 Pack

    For our October meetup we were back at Wiper and True’s beautiful taproom. This occasion we had a challenge showcase and our Christmas draw.

    The Challenge

    As is a commonly regarded fact, if a beer’s ABV is unknown its probably 5.6%, and when you think about it, the best beers in the world are 5.6%. Augustiner Edelstoff, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale to name two.

    Challenge 26 couldn’t have been more simple, brew a beer that is 5.6%.

    The Showcase

    All 5.6% are equal, but some are more equal than others, as always this sort of challenge brings out the creativity of our fantastic brewers, each putting together

    For the beer reveal details were sparse, allowing the brewers a chance to truly showcase their beer. The usual approach is to sample the beers in a rough ABV order, but that just wouldn’t cut-it, so EBC it was.

    BrewerNameStyle
    WillMosaic EverythingAmerican Pale Ale
    BenPendingWest Coast IPA
    Luiz50 CentHoppy Lager
    AlmericMy First American BeerAmerican IPA
    TomI’ve got 5.6 ProblemsJaipur Clone
    MattSmoky Old KenSmoked Amber
    Matt (again)Red(ish) AleRed Ale
    PeteSaison SombreDark Saison
    EuanEuan’s American PorterAmerican Porter
    PaulMountaineer PorterAmerican Porter
    Rowan2X + 1Imperial Stout

    A wide variety of fantastically well-made brews, and I know for sure a few sore heads the following morning. Maybe a lot of 5.6% beer isn’t as sessionable as first thought, and maybe some were exactly 5.6%(?)

    After a few trips to the bar, it was time to draw the pairings for the Christmas challenge

    Christmas Challenge Draw

    As has been tradition from the very beginnings of the club the Christmas challenge pairs up brewers and assigns them an inspiration based on a category. This year we have Christmas desserts.

    BrewersDessert
    Paul & MattChristmas Pudding
    Remy & LuizYule Log
    Tom & EuanTrifle
    Ben & PeteMince Pies
    Rowan, Almeric & RobStollen

    Anything that inspires the brewers can be put towards the beer. Going to be expecting a good number of boozy dark beers back at Wiper and True for our Christmas meetup on the 17th December. All welcome!

  • September 2025 Meetup

    September 2025 Meetup

    Somewhere new for our September meet, Basement Beer down in Stokes Croft. Starting up in 2019 in the basement of the Robin Hood pub, they now have a beautiful little taproom with a great selection on the bar.

    Big thanks to Ben and the team for hosting the club, I encourage you to follow Basement on Instagram, and better still pop in ASAP, you won’t be disappointed

    After working our way down the taplist, and after the last straggler arrived, it was time to sample each other’s brews. As is common for the club now, we had a wide range of styles to try:

    BrewerBeerABV
    Luiz & StanPilsner3.7%
    WillPiquet3.7%
    IanCali Common4.2%
    RobHazy Pale4.5%
    RowanNZ Pils5%
    PeteRaspberry Lemon Saison4.5%
    PaulFestbier6.3%
    Will & LuizHazy Brut IPA6.5%
    RowanAmerican Amber6.6%

    A new venue for some, but everyone was in agreement we will be back!

  • Collab 25 – Ale Fresco

    Collab 25 – Ale Fresco

    The Challenge

    For our first ever Summer Pairs Challenge, we paired up brewers and randomly assigned a ‘summer drink’. Their job was to collaborate and brew something inspired by their assigned cocktail.

    Maybe an ingredient in the cocktail, maybe a flavour profile or maybe brew a beer that tastes like the inspiration, it didn’t matter, they just needed to work together and explain their logic.

    CocktailBrewers
    Pimm’sEuan & Rowan
    Pina ColadaLuiz & Will
    MargaritaRob & Tom
    Gin and TonicIan & Sam
    Aperol SpritzPete, Paul & Matt

    The Showcase

    The group met at our regular home in Wiper and True’s beautiful taproom in Old Market, Bristol.

    For the beer reveal, as it should be, each brewing pair kept the details of the beer to themselves until the showcase.

    To start us off, we had to raise a glass to a fallen comrade. Rowan & Euan’s Pimm’s brew took an unwanted dose of wild yeast and made it into the drain before a glass. A tragic loss as a 7% sour, with notes of strawberry, raspberry, caramel, spices and zest was very promising.

    First up, at at 4.2% was Sam and Ian with Laverstoke, an excellent kettle soured hazy pale ale-based on a gin cocktail with Citra and Motueka hopped, with elderflower, lime zest, juniper and ginger. Incredibly well made and very drinkable.

    Second, with the Margarita, Rob and Tom were inspired by the famous Margarita of Napoli and presented their 4.5% Italian Pils, with Mittlefruh and Lórien hops. This crystal clear lager was fresh, light and very refreshing.

    Next up at 6.4%, was Paul, Pete and Matt with Spritz and Giggles, a classic westie inspired by Aperol Spritz featuring Chinook and Centennial hops and surrounded by orangey hops including Amarillo, Ahtanum and Ekuanot. Loaded up with fresh rhubarb and both orange peel and juice. Served with a slice of fresh orange just to finish off the experience.

    Finally, Luiz and Will’s 6.5% Pina Colada inspired NEIPA with stacks of Sabro, Galaxy and pineapple juice, really bringing out the notes you would come to expect from the cocktail. Fantasic beer!

    The night was finished up with several trips to the bar and the opening of remaining brews, including several lagers, a fantastic American Wheat-Cold IPA (WhIPA?) by Remy, and the announcement of the latest challenge.

    Another fantastic night, with a great turn out, and as always big thanks to Wiper and True for hosting us.

  • Matt’s Leaving Do

    Matt’s Leaving Do

    Bristol’s Loss is Belfast’s Gain

    Last night was a great night out tinged with sadness as we send off our much-loved club founder, and man that brought us all together, Matt Hazley. Matt is moving back to Northern Ireland in a few days before travelling the world in 2025. Of course, we only know one way to do a send-off properly and that’s with beer!

    Starting at the Swan with Two Necks the group quickly grew, bringing friends together who haven’t seen each other for years. After a few pints had very quickly disappeared we made our way to the club’s home at Wiper and True’s beautiful taproom, where Evs made a surprise appearance. After drinking through their extensive tap list, last orders were called, and the group separated to make their way home.

    As all good nights in Bristol must go, a few stragglers made it to Elmers for just one more, which always guarantees a headache the following morning.

    Matt’s passion and dedication was the driving force in setting up the club in 2019, and attracting high quality, skilled homebrewers from all over Bristol and the South West. His absence at the club meets will be felt immediately, and more importantly his beers will be missed.

    I know for a fact Matt will be making regular trips back to Bristol and we now have plenty of excuses for club trips to Belfast in 2025 and beyond, so this isn’t the end, just an exciting new chapter. On behalf of everyone from the club, we wish Matt and Nic all the best for their new adventures.

  • October 2024 Meetup

    October 2024 Meetup

    Christmas Collab Challenge – Brewer Pairings

    Another great night out at Wiper and True’s Taproom, and our special annual announcement of the Christmas challenge pairings. Each year, brewers signup to the challenge, to get paired up and random and their challenge assigned. This year they will need to brew something inspired by their assigned Christmas movie.

    MovieBrewers
    The Santa ClauseIan & Dan
    Jingle All The WayPete & Rob
    GremlinsMatt & Sam
    The GrinchRemy & Ben
    Die HardKendon & Will
    Home AloneEuan & Paul

    We all have until the Christmas meetup on the 18th December back at Wiper to present our finest work.

    In addition to the annual challenge admin we opened a few bottles of our own beer we had ready to go, as is tradition, going from low to high ABV:

    BrewerNameStyleABV
    WillOrgimmar-WeisseHefeweizen5.0%
    EuanExplorerExport India Porter5.9%
    PeteNot Brut IPABrut IPA6.0%
    Paul & MattElectronSaison6.0%
    PaulWillamette Falls IPAEnglish IPA6.4%
    Paul & MattSurveyorAmerican Barley Wine8.4%

    As usual, the beer quality was exceptionally high, with a few sore heads this morning!