Homebrew competition winners

We are delighted to announce the winners of our Homebrew competition. We've had a fantastic response from some brilliant home brewers. The lucky winner will have their recipe put into production by us and will see their very own beer in stores later this year.

Wet and refreshing; almost too drinkable. At 6 percent alcohol by volume, any more than a few glasses will make you loopy.

We sampled a few 12-ounce bottles of this cider, chilled down to 40 degrees. Light, fizzy bubbles rise to the top while pouring. Very pale yellow color. Low carbonation. At first glance, you might almost think this is a white wine. Smells of a blend of Pink Lady, Granny Smith and McIntosh apples; a bit buttery and musty in the back. Sulfites are very hard to detect. Very light body, very white-wine-ish.

Everything you want in a brew

Tartness leads the way, soft but with a bite. Light, earthen notes; apple skin and apple pulp, middle to back. Sweet and sour apple flavor in the middle. Kiss of warmth from the alcohol. Wet and refreshing; almost too drinkable. At 6 percent alcohol by volume, any more than a few glasses will make you loopy.

Oude Tart is our Flemish-style sour red ale that has won back to back World Beer Cup Gold medals in that category, as well as a Great American Beer Festival gold medal for the same. This is that same beer, but now with cherries to compliment the flavors of dark fruit, leather and toasty oak that the original is so well known for. While this beer will certainly age fine, we think that fruited beers are best fresh as the fruit character can dissipate with time.