Homebrew competitions help perfect the craft and inform the public

SIKESTON -- The craft of beer and wine making continues to increase in popularity, and residents will have the chance to sample some of the area's best creations next month during two homebrew competitions in Scott County.

For three years now, a homebrew competition has been part of Historic Downtown Sikeston's upcoming St. Patrick's Day Celebration. Set for noon to 4 p.m. March 15 at Malone Park, admission is $10 and includes a stein and beer samples.

The Oran Jaycees will host its third homemade wine and beer competition and offer samples to the general public from 2 p.m. to 4 pm. March 22 at the Jaycee Hall in Oran. Cost is $10 to sample as many beverages as one can.

Last year's competition in Sikeston drew 37 entries and hundreds of attendees, according Kathy Medley, ex officio for Historic Downtown Sikeston.

It was Medley who pitched the idea for a homebrew contest to the committee planning the first St. Patrick's Day Celebration in Downtown Sikeston three years ago.

"My nephew home brews in his basement and he was talking about the different competitions, and I thought it'd be a neat addition to our event," Medley said.

Including a homebrew competition went over well and has continued since, she said.

"We had no idea it would be so popular (that first year)," Medley said. "The craft beer is so popular and is a pretty serious hobby for some people. Some even open their own business."

The Oran Jaycees first offered the competition a year ago.

"We've had a lot of positive feedback about our event," said Travis Bickings, president of the Oran Jaycees who also home brews beer and wine.

Since then, the Jaycees decided to host a competition twice a year -- once in the spring and then again in the fall, Bickings said.

"We decided to do that so people could submit their seasonal-type beers," Bickings said.

Last fall, the competition drew 35 to 40 beer and wine makers from as far as south as Charleston and north from Jackson and Fruitland, Bickings said.

Bickings estimated 20 to 25 members of the general public have turned out to sample the wine and beer.

"We've had decent turnouts, but we'd like to see more," Bickings said. "We're trying to get the word out about the sampling to the general public."

For the complete story, see the Thursday edition of the Standard Democrat.