The first annual Sonoma County Home Brewers Competition took place on Saturday, May 23rd at the Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building. Dozens of home brewers entered over 60 home brews vying for bragging rights of the best home brewer in Sonoma County. The grand prize winner will be brewing their winning recipe at 101 North Brewing Company.

Event attendees received a souvenir glass and 20 tastings. Live music, and outdoor recreation were enjoyed by many as well. Food trucks lined up in front of the Veterans Building offering bites at an additional cost. Festival goers were made judges for a day, deciding who the top ten brewers were.

After the top ten brews were selected, they were poured for a judge’s panel of nine industry professionals who then voted for their top three. The judge’s panel included brewers from 101 North Brewing Company, Petaluma Hills Brewing Company, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Henhouse Brewing Company, and Dempsey’s Restaurant and Brewery.

The top three beers, in order are………drum roll please:
1. Mojo Chocolate Milk Stout, brewed by Joe Monostori and Jerimiah Konen
2. Give Them What They Want IPA, brewed by Mike Kelly and John Arends
3. Midnight IPA, brewed by Darren Koop, Marcel Delagnis and Andrew Willis

Congratulations to all the winners! It seems fitting that the winning team are members of the Coast Guard and the festival took place on Memorial Day weekend. Look for the Mojo Chocolate Milk Stout to be brewed and released for distribution in the near future. We will be sure to do a follow up blog with details of the release.

-Peter Lopez Jr.