| Beer expert, classically trained brewer, beverage raconteur, and popular bartender, Jeff Levine can now add another title to his description - New Jersey State Fair Champion! Jeff won an unprecedented two medals at the recent 2007 fair. This was the first time he ever entered this prestigious competition in which he faced over 100 of the state's best home brewers. While that would be a bit intimidating to most, Jeff said " I actually entered this particular contest because I had some beers ready at the right time. It turned out to be an exciting, fun experience." Jeff described his blue ribbon championship entry, called Maui Wowi, as "an American pale ale, HOPPY!!! Citrusy. I don't keep good notes as to Original or Final Gravity or alcohol content when I'm home brewing. It's more fun to trust my intuitive judgment when I brew at this level." He went on to say, "my second entry was called Magically Delicious Wit. It was a beer with great spice/malt balance." "The pale ale recipe is one Ive been brewing and slowly evolving for years; the wit recipe is from Dan Soboti (owner of Gaslight Brewery). It's only the second time I've brewed it." While many of the entrants in the contest boasted of having the most updated equipment, Jeff described his as "a guerrilla brewing system that has evolved over the years. I use kegs which were borrowed from big breweries that I have converted for my hot liqueur tank and kettle. I use an Igloo cooler for my mash/lauter tun. I built my heat exchanger from some copper tubing, copper fittings, and hoses. As for my fermenter, I custom built it with a pump that was bought from an industrial supply place. I also built the frame and electrical system." That system certainly seems to fit a person who said he became a brewer because he " always loved beer and when you combine that with being a tinkerer along with being a bit of mad scientist, brewing became my only option." The judges rated each beer on a 30 point scale in four separate categories: aroma, appearance, flavor, and overall adherence to style. While many of the contestants struggled to remain calm during the stress filled judging period, Jeff said that the toughest time of the competition had nothing to do with waiting for the results. It "was not drinking all the beer before the contest. I actually filled my entry bottles with the pale ale 3 weeks before the entry date because I knew it would be gone by then (it was)." "Everyone loves the brewer...when the beer is good" said Jeff. "Brewing is a great hobby. My best advice to anyone thinking about brewing for the first time is simple. DO IT!" |
| Click on Pictures To Enlarge |
Wit wins medal
| Winning Beers on Display at the Fair |
| Jeff has graciously agreed to answer any questions about home brewing for BeerNexus readers. Send your questions to webmaster@beernexus.com |
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| BeerNexus - interview with award winning brewer JEFF LEVINE |
| The Champion Pale Ale |
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| The winning duo. |
by Vince Capano