Community Corner

Something is Brewing at Union Hall

The Union Street bar hosts a series of homebrew competitions

Fritz Fernow is perhaps something more than just a beer enthusiast—any who have seen the giant kegerator adorned with a neon green monster in his Cobble Hill bedroom can testify to the fact.

But after last night, he is also a beer champion, after winning the final round in a series of homebrewed beer competitions at Union Hall.

Beginning in June, the Union Street bar has hosted a series of four homebrew competitions—inviting beer nerds from Park Slope and beyond to try their suds out on the willing (and thirsty) public.

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Over the course of six months, 30 contestants entered their brew, the winners of the first three contests advancing on to compete yesterday for the grand prize: a chance to brew a keg of beer at Sixpoint Craft Ales in Red Hook, and drink it at a private party at Union Hall.

In the first three rounds, beers were voted on by a series of beer experts, including folks from Kelso, Sixpoint and the Brooklyn Brew Shop. Last night, though, past contestants chose the winning brew—the "Horny Ryenocerous Ale," a hoppy, citrus-fragranced rye beer that Fernow said is actually something of an ode to Sixpoint's own Righteous Rye, though the two beers are very different.

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Beer geeks will be interested to know that Fernow used six different varieties of hops, with a dry hopping at the end.

"This is one of my favorite beers to brew," said Fernow. "Its pretty much custom tailored to my tastes—it's a beer with good character."

Of course, Fernow was up against some stiff competition: Sforzato, an India Pale Ale from Dylan Mabin and Andrew Thomas, a Park Slope-Prospect Heights duo who collaborate under the auspices of Billingsgate Brewing; and Black Pepper, a brown ale by Timothy Evans of Brooklyn Heights.

This year's competition may be over, but next year's begins in April.

Let the brewing begin.


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