For a lot of homebrewers, having their beer brewed commercially and sold all over the country is a dream.

Each year, Samuel Adams gives them that chance in the form of the LongShot contest. Each year, thousands of people enter for their chance to be included in the newest LongShot American Homebrew pack. The latest edition recently hit liquor store shelves and will be available during American Craft Beer Week, May 15-21.

“The craft beer industry continues to grow because of homebrewers who take their passion of homebrewing and pursue it professionally,” said Samuel Adams founder Jim Koch in a statement. “In the 20 years of hosting our LongShot American Homebrew competition, we’ve identified the best of the best homebrewers, some of which have gone on to become professional brewers, opening their own innovative breweries and contributing to the craft beer revolution.”

Two of those past winners who went on to become professional brewers, Cesar Marron of Sketchbook Brewing Company in Illinois and Mike Robinson of Newburyport Brewing Company here in Massachusetts, were judges in the latest completion. Other judges included Koch and a group of beer writers, including me.

The pack includes two beers from homebrewers and a third beer from a Samuel Adams employee.

This year’s beers are David Cousino’s Barnstorm Saison, Duane Wilson’s Wild Child American Wild Ale and Graham Johnson’s Coffeehead Imperial Stout.

The Barnstorm Saison, brewed by Cousino, of Akron, Ohio, is a 7.8 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) saison. Brewed with wheat, it has a soft and creamy mouth feel and ends with a spicy hit of pepper.

Overall, this is a solid saison. It would probably be better with food, rather than a standalone beer. It is a little too boozy and would benefit from dialing down the alcohol a little.

Wilson, of Horseheads, New York, submitted a 5.7 percent ABV wild ale. This was popular at the final round of judging last year, but, unfortunately, it does not seem to have translated well to the larger batch size.

The beer has a slight sourness, but the tartness is barely there. The fruit flavor is muted. Fans of wild ales would want more, while those who aren’t fans of wild ales would still probably avoid this beer.

The start of the mixed pack is Johnson’s Coffeehead Imperial Stout. The 7 percent ABV stout was brewed by Johnson, a Samuel Adams employee from Marblehead.

Coffeehead has a strong, roasted coffee aroma and flavor, along with some chocolatey notes from the use of cocoa nibs. Although only 7 percent ABV (low for an imperial stout), the beer is full-bodied and creamy. This beer would be worth of being in a six-pack on its own.

The LongShot pack is available now and should cost $10 to $11.

For those interested in entering this year’s contest, go to www.samueladams.com/longshot.

Source: Telegram