In July, the WateReuse Association issued a challenge to Florida home brewers – turn recycled water into the best beer on the planet. More than 100 home brewers from the Tampa area accepted the challenge. On September 10, two dozen certified beer tasters will determine whose home brew rose to the challenge – making the best tasting beer from recycled water. Winners were named in four categories and listed in order from first through third places (gold, silver and bronze, respectively):
Water (14 entries). Joe Fullerton, Czech Premium Pale Lager for Get Shane; Gary Holmer, American Lager, for Special Hoperations and Kent Reuille, Czech Premium Pale Lager for Reuille’s Premium Pilsner
Malt (29 entries). Robert Bandl, Dark Mild for On a lighter note; James Randel, Scottish Light and Jon Ray, Irish Red Ale for Drunken Leprechaun
Hops (25 entries). Kurt Knippel, American Pale Ale; Brian Bickel, Double IPA, Come Sail Away and Jack Shannon, American Pale Ale, Alicia Pale Ale
Yeast (20 entries). Tim Owens, Wit is What it is; Michael Thompson, Weissbier for Traditional Bavarian Hefe and Gregory Brown, Fruit Lambic for Kriek
Best of show award went to Robert Bandl for his Dark Mild entry, On a lighter note. People’s Choice awards were bestowed on Daniel Shirah, Tropical Stout for Stoutly Water; Jessyca Glover, Saison for Strange Desire and Jason Wiggs, Specialty IPA for Honey Poo Poo Red IPA.