The 6th Annual Iron Homebrewer Challenge Charity Festival occurred on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024. It was another fun day of sampling unique one-of-a-kind beers while raising money for the Italian Greyhound rescue of the Gulf Coast.

Iron Homebrewer is inspired by the long-running Japanese and American Television Series “Iron Chef.” Homebrewers enter the competition not knowing what secret ingredient they will receive that they must incorporate into their beer.

Three of our members entered the challenge this year; Matt Hunsworth was assigned “Mint” and brewed a Mint Chocolate Sweet Stout, Khrysti Hunsworth drew “Bacon” and created a Smoked Blonde with Bacon Ale, and Nathan Kraemer was given “Chocolate Candy of Choice” and made a Dark Chocolate Marzipan Milk Stout.

There were some incredibly creative beers this year. Beers that incorporated ingredients like – Worcheshire Sauce, Key Lime, Gummy Bears, Kiwi, Egg Nog, Siraccha, Butterscotch, Candy Corn, Mango, and Hing, to name a few!

All in all, 38 separate and unique beers featuring 41 secret ingredients were served at the festival, each demonstrating the creativity and talent of homebrewers from all over the state of Florida.

Ultimately, Nathan was awarded the Bronze Medal for his Dark Chocolate Marzipan Milk Stout, bringing home another win under the Brewers Anonymous Flag.

Other medalists of the challenge were:

Second Place: Key Lime fruit Beer by Brandon Smith from the Pasco Brewers Guild

First Place: Jaleopino Gose from Procrastination Brewing

Hardest Ingredient: Hing featured in a Hing Gose by Lee Branham with the Brandon Bootleggers

Brewer’s Choice: Worcestershire Sauce featured in a Vienna Lager by Mike Connelly from The Central Florida Homebrewers

Peoples Choice: Maple Syrup in a Maple Coffee Stout brewed by Brandon and Shelby from One Eleven Brewing.

Thanks to the Pasco County Brewer’s Guild for another great event! We look forward to it every year and hope to get many more of our members involved for the year to come!

Cheers!