By Kate Scriven
The art of homebrewing is something special to those at the heart of Dick’s Brewing Company. Founder Dick Young started his beer making career as a homebrewer in 1984 because, as Dick stated, he “was thirsty.” His passion, talent and following grew over the years, resulting in opening Dick’s Brewing Company in 1994.
Today, Brew Master Dave Pendleton is crafting Dick’s classic recipes along with his own new creations, but his roots also come from homebrewing. Pendleton’s love of homebrewing, like Young’s, spawned a business – Rocky Top Homebrew in Olympia – where he helped others with recipes, supplies and advice as they crafted their own beers at home. In 2007, Pendleton joined Dick’s, bringing his knowledge and skills to the growing brewery and allowing him to take the reins after Young’s death in 2009.
Today, the rich homebrewing roots of the Dick’s Brewing crew are carried forward in their Third Annual Beer for a Cure Homebrewer’s Contest benefitting the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The event, held on September 21, 2013 from 3 pm – 9 pm, gives local homebrewers an opportunity to share their best beer and receive feedback from professional brewers, something that most homebrewers do not get a chance to experience.
Katie Pendleton, Dick’s Marketing rep, shares, “It’s really great that homebrewers are able to brew their own beer as a hobby, but can now also brew to raise money for the American Cancer Society. It allows them to give back by enjoying a beer.” Pendleton continues, sharing how homebrewers view the competition. “It’s exciting for them to have their beer judged to help know where their strengths are and they take pride in their craft and having someone give them concrete feedback on their beer.”
Julie Young, Dick’s daughter and owner of Dick’s Brewing, enjoys honoring Dick’s homebrew roots and supporting the greater community. “It’s fun to give these homebrewers access to professional feedback and I really enjoy the community aspect of it – getting all the homebrewers together along with community members who come to support it – all in the name of giving back.”
Calling All Homebrewers
With Beer for a Cure coming up quickly, homebrewers need to be crafting their best brews now. Entries are being accepted through September 14, 2013 and brewers can enter up to three beers. To keep the competition fair, Dick’s provides standard labels for the bottles entered, making sure each beer gets an unbiased assessment by the panel of 10-15 judges. While the panel is not yet set, it will include professionals in the brewing industry including the brewing team at Dick’s, homebrew experts from Rocky Top Homebrew, and other local brew masters. Winners will be announced at the September 21 event and the Best In Show beer will be brewed on-site at Dick’s Brewing for a limited release.
No ciders, meads, sour or fruit beers are accepted. All entrants must be at least 21 years old and pay the $20 entry fee, all of which goes directly to the American Cancer Society. Entries can be dropped off at Dick’s Brewing or NW Sausage and Deli in Centralia, Rocky Top Homebrew in Olympia, or Bottleworks in Seattle. Full entry details, including entry forms, can be found here.
Come Join The Party
Not a homebrewer? You can still join in the fun and contribute to the cause in several ways. Of course, everyone is invited to attend the September 21 event at Dick’s Brewing in Centralia. Aside from cold pints of Dick’s beer, there will also be a live band, food, and a silent auction and raffle, all raising money for the Relay For Life.
The rich homebrew history found at Dick’s Brewing is what originally inspired their Beer for a Cure event. The desire to support the American Cancer Society’s work toward finding a cure for cancer, a disease that has touched nearly every life in our community, paired beautifully with the event, allowing beer lovers to drink for a good cause.
Together, they create a memorable event that is quickly becoming a beloved tradition.
