Lombard homebrewer hops into Sam Adams six-pack
See that guy on the beer label? That's Rodney Kibzey, a Lombard homebrewer who struck liquid gold in the Sam Adams American Homebrew Contest.
Kibzey's Weizenbock, a hybrid of rich, malty bock and fruity weiss (wheat) beer, appears alongside a Grape Pale Ale (no joke!) in the Boston Beer Company's Longshot six-pack.
A Milwaukee brewery tour six years ago inspired Kibzey, 39, to try his hand at concocting his own beer.
"I liked good craft beer, but I really didn't know about the different styles," he recalled.
After joining a homebrew club, DuPage-based Urban Knaves of Grain, he started entering his beers in local competitions. Over the years he's won a slew of suburban and regional competitions.
"I'm a very competitive person," said Kibzey, who supports his habit as a Web site developer. "Some of the other guys are just as competitive, so it makes me strive to do better."
The Weizenbock was one of eight beers Kibzey submitted for the Sam Adams contest; five of them made it to the "best of show" level during the regional round in Chicago last year. He got to visit the Boston brewery and pour his winning beer for visitors on the brewery tour.
"To see people amazed by it was amazing," Kibzey said. He describes the beer as dark, but not too roasty, more chocolatey. "What really gives it flavor is the yeast; when you smell the yeast you get clove, banana, plus, raisin."
Weizenbock beer isn't for lightweights, weighing in at a hefty 7.2 percent alcohol.
Then he and the three other regional winners headed to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver last October, where their brews went head to head in the final round.
Even with the $5,000 royalty check in the bank, Kibzey said he's not ready to quit his day job and seek professional brewing opportunities. He said he'll continue making beer in his garage (he's done a batch every weekend since the beginning of the year, except when the temp hit below zero), and he'll keep entering local contests. Check out the calendar section of the Urban Knaves of Grain site, knaves.org, for upcoming events.
Your turn: Because of his 2007 win, Kibzey isn't eligible to enter the 2008 American Homebrew Contest, but you can.
Brewery representatives will accept bottles from April 15 to May 1. Find rules and entry forms at www.samueladams.com.
Pizza battle: If beer isn't your thing, maybe pizza is.
As part of its 125th anniversary, Bolla Wines, which bills itself as the Official Wine of Pizza, invites you to enter the Taste of Your Town Pizza Battle.
If you're older than 21, all you need to do is submit a pizza recipe that best reflects Illinois. Your pie could incorporate locally produced ingredients (pork and soybeans, maybe?) or play off a signature food (hotdogs and popcorn?). Then decide which Bolla varietal best complements your recipe.
Contestants have until Aug. 31 to submit recipes. Regional winners will receive a pizza oven and other Bolla prizes. The grand prize winner will win a trip to Europe to visit Bolla's winery in Verona, Italy, and attend the 2009 World Pizza Championships.
For entry info, head to www.bolla.com/taste.
Hard cooked: Making hard-boiled eggs for spring celebrations shouldn't be difficult, but I often find it is. I end up walking out of the kitchen and return to a pot in full boil. Did it just start, or has it been boiling for 3 minutes already? The timing means the difference between eggs with soft yolks or those with that green ring around them.
I'll fret no more with Chef'sChoice Gourmet Egg Cooker.
This stainless steel countertop appliance (model 810) can cook seven eggs at a time and you can cook them to varying degrees of doneness -- even in the same batch. I just fill the reservoir with water, turn the timer to the hard-boiled setting and turn my attention to another household task until I hear the ready signal. The tray lifts out with one hand so you can rinse the cooked eggs or carry them to the table for decorating.
The Gourmet Egg Cooker costs $39.99; look for it at department stores and online retailers.