TOPIC:

are there many homebrew competitions going on in Ireland?

Just the Trouble one, that i know of.

I have to say I am very disappointed with the home brew competitions - or lack of.

I believe that if we have say one every quarter it would give to something to brew for - a target. You would get a critique of your beer and your brewing would improve.

We have talked about it before but there are some legal hurdles to overcome.

I know in Sweden they have them about once every 8 weeks. You arrive into a hall, and setup a bar with your cornie keg. The beer is evaluated in catagories, 50% of the vote is by the public and 50% by the panel. The public vote is done by handing out voting cards as people come into the hall and then as people sample the beer they vote.

You pay 10 or 20euro (can’t remember the exact figure) to enter the hall and competitors enter for free.

1) Beer is not being sold
2) Its a private function – it’s by invitation only (but I appreciate that’s a bit woolly)
3) Everyone is over 18

One thing I’m not sure about - if the building is licensed to sell beer.

It would be interesting to get the opinion of a Guard or a lawyer. I'd imagine it’s all a bit grey and it depends.

If (for example) we hired a rugby club (ehem) on a quiet day, and it’s a licensed premises, having a homebrew competition would be no more legal (or illegal) to having the tastings we do at the B&C – it’s just the entrance fee that would be the problem. Unfortunately the way around that is you pay 10euro to enter the competition and entry is by invitee only (and free). Then you get your monies to keep the rugby club sweet.

The rugby club is well off the beaten track - so you wont get joe bloggs coming in and getting messy (of course this club is fictional <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

&amp;quot;Partridge9&amp;quot;:9o4f82f0 wrote: If (for example) we hired a rugby club (ehem) on a quiet day, and it’s a licensed premises, having a homebrew competition would be no more legal (or illegal) to having the tastings we do at the B&C – it’s just the entrance fee that would be the problem.

[snip]

The rugby club is well off the beaten track - so you wont get joe bloggs coming in and getting messy (of course this club is fictional <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->[/quote:9o4f82f0]

If only we knew of a fictional rugby club in Malahide ??

Maybe that's what the F in MRFC stands for

Will

Ps: Dep3ending on the feed back from "They who Know Such Things" I'll see what we could do - in theorey of course

What about somewhere like Block T in Smithfield, it regularly runs events which charge a nominal fee at the door and have a BYO policy. It would be important to have it somewhere that is easily accessible by Public Transport so peeps can drink an unholy amount of fermented goodness.

Any venue would do the job. Your not selling alchohol so no need for any special licences IMO. Its all donw to whether the venue will allow you being beer on to the premises.

Its just a case of finding a venue, charge a small amount for Beoir members to enter and away you go. not much different from the monthly meet ups. A conference / function room in a hotel or bar would be ideal.