A Kelowna man was named the winner of the Okanagan Home Brewers Club year-long competition was at Bad Tattoo brewery working on the company’s new brew.
Derek Hyde has won the opportunity to brew a beer at Bad Tattoo’s brewing facility with head brewer Robert Theroux, and to launch this beer on Canada Day.
His first large-scale commercial brew will be a seasonal beer released under Bad Tattoo’s label. Hyde was chosen from a group of 15 local home brewers as the winner of the competition.
As one of the founding members of OKBrewers, the official name for the Okanagan Home Brewers Club, Hyde has a strong foundation in home brewing with more than 10 years of experience.
“Sometimes when I tell people I make my own beer, they think I’m brewing bathtub gin. Brewing with Bad Tattoo legitimizes my hobby,” said Hyde.
Hyde worked closely with Theroux to craft the selected beer style. The beer will be a cherry Belgian witbier made with a 100 litres of fresh-pressed cherries from CC Orchards in Naramata. The pair kicked off the first stage of brewing on May 21 and will produce 2,000 litres.
“If you’re a craft beer fan, make sure you mark your calendar and swing by on Canada Day to be one of the first to taste the new brew,” said Martin Lewis, director of beer and co-owner of Bad Tattoo Brewing.
Founded in April 2013, OKBrewers now consists of more than 90 members who are dedicated to furthering the practice of home brewing in the Okanagan.
Regular social gatherings, competitions and tastings are held for members. Home brewers across the Okanagan can request to join the club by visiting http://okbrewers.ca