North Hills Home Brew Fest will bring 2 dozen beers to Harmar

If you read stories about breweries, you know that the biggest risk factor for becoming a professional brewer is trying your hand at home brewing.

A bunch of these amateurs — at least for the time being — will be vying on Sunday at the in-person return, after a COVID-19 break pause this spring, of the North Hills Home Brew Fest at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center Pavilion in Harmar.

The fun begins at 1 p.m. with a tasting and judging by those holding VIP tickets ($45). The brewer of the beer they judge to be best will get to make that recipe at Penn Brewery on the North Side. See what happens?

Actually, the 2019 grand champion winner, with a blueberry wheat beer called Bucco Blue, was Tim Guido, who at one time had wanted to open Hounds Run Brewing in Lower Burrell. He is one of the two dozen home brewers who’ll be participating in this fest, which features a very wide range of creative recipes that might surprise you.

“They’re excellent,” says one of

the event’s organizers, James Elmer.

Guido’s VIP entries are Hazy Dayz Kolsch and a hibiscus ale named Braeburn Beach Timeshare. He says he no longer wants to own a commercial brewery but still much enjoys brewing at home “and sharing with friends, having fun.”

That’s what he’ll be doing on Sunday. General admission ($25 online or $35 at the door) opens at 2 p.m. and runs until 4 p.m. Attendees get to sample the brewers’ wares, vote on their favorites, purchase eats and other items from a couple of vendors including the Starlite Lounge and Wood Stoked

Oven, and participate in a 50/50 raffle and one for beer swag. “Hop Nation USA” will be podcasting live.

For details and tickets, visit www. syriashriners.org/north-hills-homebrew