BARLEYWINE WINNER - HOMEBREW TO PROBREW CONTEST

LOCAL BREWER WINS SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN HOME-BREW TO PRO-BREW FOR THE SECOND TIME

Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, an all organic brewery located on the West Side of Santa Cruz, hosted their second home-brew to pro-brew contest on Sunday, July 1. The contest judged Barleywine recipe entries from local home-brewers. The winning recipe will be brewed and served at Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing next winter.

Dave Bossie, a home-brewer from Ben Lomond won the contest in a close finish with fellow brewer Larry Lynch-Freshner. Judge Emily Thomas stated that Bossie's entry was "a perfect match to an American Style Barleywine with well-rounded hop components."

This American Hombrewers Association (AHA) sanctioned contest was judged by a small panel, and the honorable judge John Watson was present for the event. John Watson has judged hundreds of amateur and professional brewing events as well as helped organize the Samuel Adams Longshot Competiton.

The home-brew to pro-brew contests gives Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing an opportunity to involve the community and fellow brewers in their small, family owned business. The winners of the contests get the opportunity to name their beer and brew the first batch in the brewery's 210-gallon system. This is quite an experience for most home-brewers who generally brew in 5-10 gallon systems.

Bossie, who is no novice to brewing beer, remains humble about his victory. He is the previous winner of Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing's first home-brew to pro-brew contest, and the story for his "Wilder Wheat" can be read on the label which is available at stores and restaurants throughout the state.

Barleywine differs from other beers mostly in terms of its alcohol content, which is how it got the name "wine". Most microbrews range from 5%-8% alcohol content, whereas Barleywines begin around 8.5% and can go as high as 12% alcohol.