HOME BREWS CLEAN UP

THE last drop out of Jeremy Dooley’s keg left sitting in a plastic bottle in his fridge for eight months has won him a national brewing award.

Mr Dooley was one of four Tasmanians to take out a top prize in their category at this year’s Australian Amateur Brewing Championships held at Hobart Brewing Co on Friday.

The 58-year-old’s Kolsch – a German-style beer – won the pale ale category, despite only coming fourth in the local club competition.

“I kept it from our state competition because it won, and then I thought I better keep some for the nationals,” he said.

“I brewed it so long ago and I wasn’t going to brew that beer again. I will now though.”

Mr Dooley humbly attributed his success to a “really great yeast” from Tasmanian Home Brewing Supplies.

“I’ve been brewing on and off since I was a young man, but only really seriously in the last 10 years,” he said.

“It’s about friendship and enjoying a shared interest.”

Simon Tongs was another successful Hobart Brewing Club member, winning the Pale Lager category with his Munich Helles.

“This is the first time it’s been held in Hobart, and our best performance we’ve had,” Mr Tongs said of the awards.

“It’s an unreal feeling to have a beer that you’ve made and designed yourself make it to the nationals, and then to get a place is even better.”

Tasmanian Joel Yeomans won best cider with his Apple Pie brew, and local Justin Vincent’s Altbier was deemed the best bitter ale.