KV Homebrew Lawnmower beers

Kanawha Valley Homebrew Club members held their annual club picnic and summer beer competition on Saturday, and it was a fun one. The theme: Lawnmower Beer.

Following indulgence in a delicious picnic food spread, the beer competition began. Each club member could enter one beer, which had to have a lawnmower beer inspiration. Lawnmower beers are beers that have an affinity for being consumed following your lawn mowing activity on a hot summer day.

They should be light, thirst quenching, and very easy to drink. Some would say the beer’s trademark is infinite quaffability.

The best beer styles for a lawn mowing days range from basic pale lagers, blonde ales, Kolsch, and cream ales, to unadorned American wheat beers. The best ones are typically lower ABV brews, which helps in their quaffability. No adjuncts or flavorings are recommended.

At the KVHC picnic, the brews were set out on a long table and the attendees, which numbered around 30. sampled the beers. Each taster judged the brews, and then voted for their top three entries by placing bottle caps in a cup next to the beer. Brewers were not allowed to vote for their own beer. Bottle caps (votes) were tallied and the winners noted.

Lawnmower Beer winners announced

Matt Brummond had the top vote getter. His German-style Pils was lightly hopped, clean, and ever so quaffable. Tied for second place were Christopher Brown and Christian Robinson. Brown entered a beautifully-made Kölsch-style brew, and Robinson, a simple Citra Smash ale.

Prizes for the winners (three $25 gift cards at Fife Street Brewing) were provided by WV Beer Roads co-host Erin McCoy, Brilliant Stream, and Fife Street Brewing.

Next year’s competition theme will focus on a different beer style, but it will be hard to top the fun the group had this year with Lawnmower Beers.