Erie County Fair Beer

2022 Home Brew Competition

The first step in the process to determine which home brew will be named the 2022 Erie County Fair Best In Show Beer has been scheduled. The annual summer release of the limited run, craft beer based on the winning brew has become an anticipated tradition at the Erie County Fair for beer lovers.

Home brew hobbyists have until Friday, April 29th to submit their beers for judging. In addition to the opportunity to win a gold medal for excellence, the Erie County Fair Home Brew Competition’s top entry will be professionally brewed and be named the 2022 “Erie County Fair Best In Show Beer.”

Click here to find out how you can enter this competition for a chance at being brewed!

2021 Best in Show Beer

Kolsch Takes Top Home Brew Honors

A Kolsch brewed by Rick Felser of Orchard Park took top honors in the 2021 Home Brew Competition. A panel of judges and master judges evaluated the submissions according to nationally recognized Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) protocols.

Kolsch is a German pale ale that is easily mistaken for a cream ale (to the untrained taster), it is brewed with noble hops and light pilsner malt. Winning brewer Rick Felser has been brewing beer for 5 years. He also placed in the top 10 with this beer at the Kolsch Beer Competition in Austin Texas. He recommends pairing this beer with a sausage sandwich at the Fair. Felser also brought home a total of 4 medals with entries in other categories in the Erie County Fair Home Brew competition this year.

Once crowned “Best In Show,” the winner submitted the beer’s recipe to the professional brew staff at Hamburg Brewing Company for commercial production and will be available at the beer gardens during the Erie County Fair.

Click here for a full list of the 2021 results.