KDaLe Homebrew Competition
KDaLe is excited to present the seventh annual “Book Inspired Brewing” home brew contest! Imagine taking your favorite book, shoving it into a carboy and letting the magic of fermentation turn it into liquid literature gold. Kent District Library, in collaboration with Gravel Bottom Brewing, Railtown Brewing, Horrocks Market and Pike 51 is calling on home brewers to enter this unique competition; creating a beer inspired by your favorite titles or authors.
The top 4 brewers will get a chance to brew a scaled-up version of their winning beer with professional brewers at either Gravel Bottom Brewing, Railtown Brewing, Horrocks Market or Pike 51, to be released sometime next summer (Date and Place TBD).
Judging
In addition to being judged on flavor, aroma, mouthfeel and appearance, your beer will be rated based on how well it fits the theme (Book Inspired Brewing) and the story behind it.
Judging will be done with a panel of Gravel Bottom, Railtown, Pike 51, Horrocks and KDL staff, along with local home brewers and other industry professionals.
How the beers are scored:
- Inspiration (Theme connection, creativity, etc…) - 15 Points
- Mouthfeel - 10 Points
- Aroma - 10 Points
- Flavor - 15 Points
- Appearance - 5 points
Restrictions
Please do not use nuts.
Due to time constraints, please no Pilsners or lagers.
No Barrel Aged Beers
No beers with added alcohol (i.e. tinctures, chips soaked in spirits, etc.)
Sign Up
This form is now closed. Email webmaster@kdl.org with questions.
Key Dates
Deadline to sign up (the first 50 entrants will be accepted): January 27, 2023
Deadline to submit your three (12 oz.) bottles: Feb 28, 2023
Judging: March 6-10, 2023
Winner Announced: March 17, 2023
Brew Day: Late Summer/Early Fall (To be worked out with Breweries after winner is selected)
Beer Release Party: Fall (Time and Place TBD)
Submission
Beers must be submitted at one of these partners:
- Gravel Bottom Brewing (418 Ada Drive SE, Ada)
- Railtown Brewing (3595 68th St SE, Caledonia, MI 49316)
- Pike 51 (3768 Chicago Dr, Hudsonville, MI 49426)
- Horrocks Market (4455 Breton Rd SE, Kentwood, MI 49508)
Submit three (12 oz.) bottles on or before February 28, 2023.
Please include the recipe, beer # and a brief statement about how your beer fits the theme of “Book Inspired Brewing.”
Need Some Brewing Inspiration?
Check out these book/brew combos by past winners:
Nick and Osama brewed a "Gold" Coffee Stout called Cassims Misfortune that was based on One Thousand and One Nights, or more specifically, the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
Nathan made a Saison called Saison Melange that was inspired by the Melange mined on the planet Arrakis in the novel Dune.
Harry Porter and the Goblet of French Toast inspired by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Although it isn’t a polyjuice potion, when the notes of coffee, vanilla, cinnamon, and maple combine, your senses are transfigured. If you do finally make it to the bottom of the glass, you’ll feel like you’ve won the TriWizard Cup.
Where the Tart Things Are – A Guava Berliner Weisee inspired by none other than Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. After a few sips, we were shouting “I’ll drink you up!”.
James and the Giant Peach Gose - A Peach Gose that hit all the right notes of quality in a beer, mixed with a phenomenal story tying the beer and brewing process to the book James and the Giant Peach.
Or take inspiration from your favorite author:
Poe Stout - A dark and bitter brew guaranteed to put you on edge.
Kinsella Cider - Light and bubbly, crisp and sweet, this cider is best shared with friends and over good stories.
