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Canfield Fair premieres Homebrew Competition
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Leetonia resident Jared Channell of BirdFish Brewing was pleasantly surprised when he learned the Canfield Fair would debut a home-brew competition this year.
By EMMALEE C. TORISK
CANFIELD
Jared Channell recalls his immersion into the world of home brewing in this way: He started to drink craft beer, then to like craft beer, then to realize just how much cheaper it was to make it himself.
So, he picked up a starter kit and commissioned his kitchen stove for the task. That was four years ago.
“Once we made a batch and it actually turned out good, we were hooked,” said Channell, 28, of Leetonia, who brews with his cousin under the name BirdFish Brewing.
Channell said the two have entered a few competitions throughout the state, placing highly in most of them, and so were pleasantly surprised when they learned that the Canfield Fair would debut a home-brew competition this year.
The new contest will join several hundred other competitions — in categories ranging from photography to poultry to pumpkins — at the 168th Canfield Fair, which will take place Aug. 27 to Sept. 1.
Penny Less, one of the organizers of the home-brew competition, said the fair is always looking to attract new and younger exhibitors, and is hopeful that the contest, even in its inaugural year, will draw in more people, especially those in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
The home-brew competition’s other organizer is Debbie Roman.
“We’ve just been seeing and hearing so much about beer tastings and breweries and different kinds of beer everywhere you go,” Less said. “We were trying to get something new that people haven’t seen” at the Canfield Fair.
Less added that the Canfield Fair’s home-brew competition is open to all Ohio home brewers and to any home brewers who belong to an Ohio home-brew club. Home brewers of all skill levels are welcome to enter, and will receive feedback from experienced judges.
Judging will follow the rules and regulations of the Beer Judge Certification Program. The entry form is available on the Canfield Fair’s website, www.canfieldfair.com, though entries must be mailed in paper form, along with the $5 fee per entry, to the fair’s office by July 8.
Home brewers are encouraged to enter their product in the category and subcategory in which they feel it will perform best. The 23 categories of lager, ale and mixed-style beers each include several subcategories. The India Pale Ale category, for example, has three: English IPA, American IPA and Imperial IPA.
The competition’s next deadline comes about a week after the first. All bottled entries — competitors are required to send two bottles for each entry — must arrive at the fairgrounds between July 14 and 18, and between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Brown bottles containing between 12 and 16 ounces are preferred.
Less pointed out that only the first 100 entries will be accepted, and that all others will be returned. She said that neither she nor Roman “knew anything about beer or beer competitions” and wanted to start small.
“We’ll grow from this year,” Less added. “When we do something at the Canfield Fair, we want it to be done right. It doesn’t have to be the biggest, but it has to be done right.”
Entries will be judged in closed sessions July 26, and will be scored based upon appearance, aroma, flavor, mouth feel and overall impression. All will be displayed during the Canfield Fair in the hay, grain and fruit building, or Building 26.
As for Channell, he’s already submitted his entry forms and fees. This year, BirdFish Brewing will enter four beers: a gluten-reduced chocolate IPA; an American Pale Ale with homegrown hops; an American Wheat with grapefruit, lemon and orange peels; and a brown ale with maple syrup.
He said the possibilities inherent in home brewing are endless — which is perhaps his favorite part, aside from now spending 40 or 50 cents per beer, instead of $10. And though he brews about two or three 12.5-gallon batches each month, he’s hoping to one day turn his part-time hobby into a full-time business.
In the meantime, he encourages others to try it out. It’s easy and fun to get started, Channell said.
Less said she’s also looking forward to finding out more about home brewing through the competition.
“We’re really excited about this first year,” she said. “It’s a learning process. I hope everyone gets as excited as we are.”