For the first challenge of the year we were at basement to show off the dark beers the entrants had brewed, with the showcase being judged by Ben the Head Brewer and Owner of Basement Beer.
The Challenge
Entrants were tasked with brewing a dark beer of any style, with an emphasis on it being commercially viable to brew and sell. Ben had agreed to judge the beers, with the winner getting a brewday at Basement and their beer being sold by Basement. Ben had also offered to time it with a canning run, so the beer would also make it into cans and potentially out to trade if there was enough available.
The Showcase
Its safe to say that our brewers certainly have a taste for dark beers, with an excellent range of brews on show. Naturally the club favourite style of Black IPA featured prominently amongst a strong range of beer styles. We had everything from Stouts to a Weizenbock.
Here’s the full list of Beers and their Brewers.
Brewer
Name
Style
Luiz & Stan
Sputnik
Stout
Paul
Hop Telescope
Schwarzbier
Rob
Jaipur Noir
Black IPA
Ian
Raiders of the Lost Dark
Czech Dark Lager
Luiz & Stan
Ursa Major
Black IPA
Ian
The Dirty Secret
Premium London Porter
Pete
Black Basement IPA
Black IPA
Matt
Forever Batman
Black IPA
Will
Uther The Weiss Bringer
Weizenbock
Tom
Black as your Hat
Imperial Stout
Luiz & Stan
Black Hole
Stout
Ben took extensive notes on the beers as the individual brewers presented them, along with an explanation of the origins of the beer and the recipe. He’s going to take some time to deliberate and choose a winner, so watch this space for details of the winner and their brewday!
2024 was a busy year for the club, each month we do our best to meet up regularly. Often, either announcing a challenge or showcasing the beer from the previous challenge. Each challenge intended to push a brewer out of their comfort zone and try something they wouldn’t usually.
January
In an attempt to be all grown up, we kicked off our first ever club AGM at Wiper and True’s Barrel Store to give the members a chance to shape the direction of the club. Starting with the election of a new committee following the decision of Matt to step aside in favour of getting married.
Chairperson: Paul
Vice-Chairperson: Rob
Treasurer: Ian
Chief Outreach Officer: Euan
Amongst decisions made was the desire to host a club run BJCP competition, something small. Probably the last we will hear of that…
February
February is a big month with the National Homebrew Competition being hosted in Bristol, this year at Left Handed Giant.
Numerous members of the club were down as volunteers and judges, helping the event run really smoothly. And of course, as we have come to expect some very familiar names made it to the awards tables:
Rowan 1st place for his Czech Premium Pale Lager “Czech Yourself”
Paul 2nd place for his German Pils “Das Bier”
Ian, HM for his California Common “Tahoe Sundown”
Rob HM for his Czech Dark Lager “Appetite For Decoction”
With Sarah announcing that this will be the last year she will be running the competition, Rob stepped forward to take on the running of the competition from 2025, along with help from other willing members from HBC and the ‘other’ club in Bristol. Should be a fun challenge.
March
Challenge #20 Announcement
In March, we were fortunate enough to be offered a talk but the Global Brand Ambassador of Budvar UK, Radim. Hosted at the Llandoger Trow, on an unexpectedly busy evening, Radim talked us through how to brew and serve the perfect Czech beer.
Following on from Radim’s presentation we announced our first challenge of 2024 and #20 overall, to brew a Czech inspired lager, giving our brewers a choice to brew to exacting Czech standards with all Czech ingredients, try out some new hops, or try something completely different as long as they could explain the Czech connection. With a little over two months until the showcase, this offered the brewer plenty of time to perfect and age their brews.
April
April was a quiet month, and I can’t remember if we got up to much.
May
Back on it in May, as it was also the club’s 5th birthday it was only fitting we had a packed month!
Challenge #21 Announcement
Firstly, meeting up at Wiper & True’s Taproom we met up to announce challenge #21 which, in collaboration with Wiper & True was to brew a clone of their flagship beer Kaleidoscope. Given details on just some of the grain bill, the hops but not the ratios and the option to use some of Wiper’s house yeast we were sent away, to return in at the end of June with our versions of their brew.
Challenge #20 Showcase
Towards the end of the month was our challenge #20 showcase where everyone’s beers were put to the test and blind judged by Radim and our very own Rob with the following five each receiving Budvar merch, beer and for first place a Lukr tap! A very generous prize haul indeed from Radim.
Remy with “Hot Mess”
Pete with “TBC”
Rowan with “Saaz Mate”
Rob with “You Wouldn’’’t Dry Hop a Polotmave Pivo”
Paul with “Pěkne Pivo”
Once again, the standard of beers was excellent, highlighting what a great group of brewers we are lucky to have.
June
Challenge #21 Showcase
June was our showcase of challenge #21 our Kaleidoscope clones. A great showing back at Wiper & True’s Taproom, where we got to taste each other’s hazy pale version of Kaleidoscope against a few jugs of the real thing. Some variation, some incredibly close, but what we can agree on is the house yeast definitely gives the beer its distinctive character.
July
Challenge #22 Announcement
For July’s meetup we left the warmth and comfort of Bristol and travelled over to Bath to see how the other half live. Hosted at the Royal Oak, Euan’s local we got to try the great selection of beers behind the bar, share a few of our own and meet up with brewers from the Bath club also frequented by Euan, Pete and Sam.
This was also a chance to announce challenge #22. A popular one, in which the brewers were challenged to brew a farmhouse style ale, with the showcase meeting up in September.
A really great evening, only let down by the shocking state of the trains over such a short journey.
August
Im sure we did something in August, but I have a feeling it was a quiet month.
September
Love and Beer
We were lucky enough to be invited to Love & Beer 2 at the Hackney Taproom hosted by The Craft Beer Channel and The Malt Miller. As one of eight clubs representing in the homebrew marque it was a big deal, and one we couldn’t turn down.
On the day we had a total of eight beers to offer the punters, as every homebrewer knows all too well we can’t sell them, but we were able to serve them semi-professionally through a couple of borrowed Lindrs. On tap we had:
“Phantom Costello” Hazy IPA – Brewed by Sam, this was incredibly popular people came flocking in the afternoon session for it, and it was the only keg to kick.
“Jake Bullet, Cybernautics Detective” Black IPA – Brewed by Rob and Will, people were coming back time after time for more and raving about it.
“Copenhagen Suborbital” Baltic Porter – Brewed by Matt, we were frequently told this was their favourite of the festival, no mean feat! A Baltic was also called out on the Craft Beer Channel’s podcast, and there was only one at the festival…
“Überraschung” Red Festbier – Brewed by Paul, and accidental collaboration with the Malt Miller, as their supplier sent Red X instead of Pilsner malt. Weird by worked.
“Geborgenheit” Festbier – Brewed by Paul, what the above was supposed to be!
Just to add to the party we also brought along a stash of bottles to round out the evening session including:
Belgian Dark Strong – Brewed by Rob
American Barley Wine – Brewed by Paul and Matt
Saison – Brewed by Matt and served in a 3L jeroboam! Man knows how to please a crowd.
We definitely had far too much beer with us, but better to have too much than too little right? Not so sure when your car’s suspension is grounding out! But its incredibly rewarding and flattering to be told multiple times people came to our bar “I’ve been told everything you serve is great”, and so proud I am of our club!
And to top off an otherwise great day, we were voted in as third favourite bar by the attendees. Incredible work all, we are small but mighty! Here’s hoping we are invited back next year.
Challenge #22 Showcase
The end of September marked our meetup for the Saison Showcase, this time at Wiper & True’s Barrel Store. A venue always popular with the club, who looked after us as always as many saisons of varying styles and alcohol levels were consumed.
A messy evening, but a great time had by all.
October
Challenge #23 Announcement
October kicked off with a meetup at Wiper and True’s Taproom and our special annual announcement of the Christmas challenge pairings. Challenge #23 ask our brewers to brew something inspired by their assigned Christmas movie. Read more here
Matt’s Leaving
October ended with a sad farewell to our much-loved club founder, and man that brought us all together, Matt Hazley. Matt is now off travelling the world until returning to Northern Ireland in April 2025.
We can be confident that it won’t be the last time the Bristol brewing scene sees Matt. Read more here
November
A relatively quiet month where a small group met up for a bottle share at Alpha in Bedminster.
December
Challenge #23 Showcase
Wow, end of the year already! For our Christmas challenge #23, we brought along beers inspired by the assigned Christmas movies. And as an only be expected from our brewers we ended up with quite a variety!
Movie
Brewers
Beer Name
Style
ABV
The Santa Clause
Ian & Dan
Milk & Cookies
Milk & Cookie Stout
4.5%
Jingle All The Way
Pete & Rob
Turboman
Vienna Hazy SMaSH
5.6%
Home Alone
Euan & Paul
Shot in the Plums
Plum Porter
5.6%
The Grinch
Remy & Ben
Oh the Humanity
Smoked DIPA
8.0%
Die Hard
Kendon & Will
Happy Trails
American Imperial Pilsner
8.3%
Gremlins
Matt & Sam
Mogwai/That Gremlin Beer
Hazy DIPA/Imperial Fruited Frankenweise
8.0%/8.5%
Although some bizarre styles were presented, each and every one was fantastic and highlighted the creativity of our brewers.
Here’s to a great 2024, and looking forward to whatever challenges 2025 might bring, including the National Homebrew Competition.
