Margaret River Brewhouse Backyard Brewing competition opens for entries

The region’s budding amateur brewers will have their chance to taste foamy glory again this year, with the Margaret River Brewhouse’s Backyard Brewing tournament now open for entries. The seventh iteration of the popular competition will challenge beer aficionados’ craft as well as their creativity. Looming over the competition is also the heady prospect of turning pro, with past competitors taking their wins as inspiration to start their own brands. As The West Australian’s beer writer Simon Collins noted this week, Travis Moore and friends went from winning the Brewhouse comp to planning their own Perth venue, Phat Brew Club, tasting success with their Phat Porter ale. Brewhouse co-owner Iliya Hastings noted others had also gone on to toast-worthy careers with the competition as their launch pad. “Our Backyard Brewing tournament is a community event, banding together brewers from across the region and further afar to share their passion and craft their own beer,” he said. “For competitors, we hope this competition helps to promote you, and best of all get you brewing with like-minded people.” Judges included Brewhouse mainstays Joe Grieg and Caitlin Ellis, Cowaramup Brewery’s Jeremy Good, and Running with Thieves senior brewer Reuben Herriman. The competition finishes with a popular awards night which former winner Scot Butson — who now owns and runs Mallokup Malt — said was a big drawcard for entrants. “Brewhouse put on an epic evening where you get to meet the Margaret River Brewhouse crew and a chance to meet like-minded, passionate, amateur brewers sharing ideas, listening to the lengths and stories that they went to for their entries, and tips for future styles that you may have not attempted to brew yet.” Entries close on May 25, with finished beers to be delivered by June 17. Visit www.margaretriverbrewhouse.com.au/backyardbrewing to get involved.