This is the winning beer from the 2010 "Extreme Homebrew Challenge sponsored by Jose Pistola's, Home Sweet Homebrew, and Dogfish Head" during Philly Beer Week earlier this summer. Homebrewer Kyle Kernozek won the challenge and brewed the beer (along with our own brewers) at the Rehoboth Beach brewpub on August 4th. In addition to hosting the brew, Dogfish will submit the Jormungandrs Revenge for the Pro-Am Competition at the 2010 Great American Beer Fest in Denver, CO this fall.

First the beer...This beer is a Gotslandrika, an older beer style from the Norwegian region. For the brew, a juniper branch with berries is first boiled for ninety minutes - this is the strike water that is used to mash with. At heart, this is a smoked beer but with the juniper branch and berries added, as well as adding honey in the secondary. The Juniper flavor is present throughout the beer with Juniper aroma being prominent.

Then the homebrewer...

Kyle Kernozek and his wife Michele started brewing approximately 5 years ago. Both of them get into the mix, but Kyle gives lots of props to Michele.

From Kyle... "My wife was very active in the beginning and has focused on helping formulate flavor profiles as well as quality control during fermentation. Our house styles are the bigger, malty beers such as Strong Scotch Ale, Dark Belgian Strong Ale, Imperial Stout, Imperial Irish Red, Abby Dubbel, and the Double Imperial Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Stout. Last year, Frankenelf, a lambic joint brewed between myself and Chris Vachon, took first place at HOPS BOPS and took third as best of show. We also dabble in Meads. Typically fruit and sack meads. There's a few cases aging happily in our basement.

My wife and I appreciate Gins which was the beginning of the exploration with Gin in the brewing process. We have participated in the Extreme Brew Event at Jose Pistolas since the beginning and last year I started exploring juniper in brewing with my Sahti that was well received (http://www.slashfood.com/2009/03/10/do-homebrewers-do-it-better/). This year we continued the exploration into the traditional recipes that use juniper which led us to brew the Gotslandrika.

My wife and I are registered Architects (registered in Pennsylvania). I've been a registered beer judge for approx. 3 years and live in Philadelphia with our two helpers; Maximilian (Max), our American Tabby, and D'Artagan, our lopped ear rabbit. Our favorite local watering hole is Standard Tap which frequently has Dogfish on tap."

Best of luck in the GABF Pro-Am Competition Kyle!

Jormungandrs Revenge will go on tap at Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats on Friday, August 20, 2010 and will be available until it is gone.

Due to limited availability of our Brewpub Exclusives, Jormungandrs Revenge will not be available to go in growlers.