Fourth Unhopped Iron Brewer Challenge April 6, 2024

Archaeology of Alcohol, Posts

The Fourth Unhopped Iron Brewer Challenge was held at the Honors College on the UWM campus on April 4, 2024 after a four year hiatus due to COVID. Between 65 and 70 people attended the event and six amateur brewers submitted entries, including one UWM undergraduate (Gwyn Parker) and one UWM graduate student (Arthur O’Meara). The submitted entries spanned multiple continents and time periods but the common denominator was the absence of hops as a flavoring/bittering additive, in keeping with the theme of the event.

Here is the list of entries:

  • Jason Puskar and Dan Kern “Medieval Bog Nog” (gruit ale with bog myrtle and millet)
  • Gwyn Parker “Juellinge’s Prize” (Iron Age Nordic gruit ale)
  • Josh Driscoll “Heart of the Agave” (Mesoamerican pulque)
  • Arthur O’Meara “King Midas’ Curse” (Iron Age Anatolian grog)
  • Jeff Enders “Chicha Horchata” (South American purple maize beer)
  • Ricky Kubicek “My Heart’s in the Highlands” (leann fraoich/Scottish heather ale)

As in past UIBC events there were three judges with professional experience in the world of brewing: Rob Novak, Director of the Brewing Experience, Old World Wisconsin; Jerry Janiszewski, Pabst Mansion and Wisconsin Historical Foundation Board of Directors; Nick Salo, Assistant Brewer, Gathering Place Brewery, Riverwest.

TrueBrü Homebrew Supplier in New Berlin, WI generously provided a $25 gift certificate to Arthur O’Meara, the winner of the People’s Choice Award. Arthur also won the Judge’s First Prize for his entry, the first time both prizes have been won by the same contestant. Congratulations, Arthur! His name has already been engraved on the UIBC trophy, which will be on display on the second floor of Sabin Hall, 3413 Downer Ave. Long-standing event partner Gathering Place Brewery in River West has again agreed to give Arthur the opportunity to brew a scaled-up version of his beverage on their pilot system this summer. Watch this space for an announcement of when the beverage will be available at a limited launch in the Riverwest taproom! And thanks again to Joe Yeado and GPB brewers Matt Cisz and Nick Salo, for their support of the UIBC.

We would also like to thank the following volunteers: Homer Hruby, Jean Hudson, Jeff Enders, Maryam Biyabani, Kate and Mark Czarnezki, Laura Jean Spear, Mark Noegel, and Jay Stallman. We couldn’t have done this without you!