2026 North GA Homebrew Comp

This year's comp came and went. I was honored enough to judge and be judged. I can always count on Bill M.A.S.H. and the North GA Malt Monkeys to coordinate a smooth event. There's no poo pooing entries after judging and seems to maintain a high standard for the entries. Alas, jewelry eluded Occasionally and HOLD FAST!. 279 entries in 31 categories with some stiff competition. Occasionally garnered a 33 on some decent notes but I need to revamp that recipe from the hop/yeast side. I think the malt bill is solid but needs some definite tweaking to rid it of geraniol aromas. HOLD FAST! only eked out a 30. Good notes on it. Clean ferm was key, great color just wanted more of that NB aroma. May have to entertain the idea of dry-hopping that one?

Brew Batch #212 Cherry Wood Baltic Porter

This recipe hasn't been done in years and never in all-grain. Even I couldn't believe that part! Took a little bit more research than I thought to get it where I though a Baltic should be but then I realized PbnJT! Was exactly that, so I back off the abv in BeerSmith a voila. Had already built up quite a Wyeast 2112 reserve thanks to HOLD FAST! batches this summer. OG 1.062+0.001 @75F nicely. Should yield a decent 7% offering then it'll be time for some hydrated cherry wood chips for a bit. 

Brew Batch #211 Broken to the Fist

The mega pitch of multi-generational WL830 chewed it down! FG 1.004-0.001 @55F gives it a 4.1% quaff-ability. Hope that after a good bit of lagering it shines clear and allows the Sorachi Ace to display nicely. Moving forward though, I'll be using rice syrup solids instead unless I want to try different types of rice. I think I'll try to eke out one more iteration for the end of summer with solids and Safale 34/70 for the yeast.