Calling all Rotherham home brewers - here's your chance to get your prized pint on the pumps

Steve Burns, of Rotherham CAMRA, saw a dream come true after his Two Magpies porter took the Yorkshire Champion title at the Rotherham Real Ale Festival.

It ended up being brewed commercially by Parkgate-based Chantry Brewery and stocked by its two town centre pubs.

Now Steve and Chantry directors Mick and Kevin Warburton want to help another amateur brewer follow suit with a competition at this month’s CAMRA autumn beer festival at The Trades.

Steve said: “Three years ago, I was 60 and approached the guys at Chantry and they made Two Magpies.

“It went on to win the Yorkshire Champion title. I want someone else to have that opportunity.

“So I’ve arranged with Chantry that in November we will to invite all the home brewers to put forward one of their beers to be considered by a panel of CAMRA-accredited tasters.

“Whatever wins, Chantry will brew and put in on the pumps at its pubs and at the Magna beer festival. 

“We want people to give us a couple of bottles to taste at the festival. 

He added: “We need to know how many entries we're looking at — if it’s six to eight entries we can do it all at the festival but if we’re looking at 30 to 40 there will need to be a preliminary tasting.

“You never know — in the next couple of years, the winner could be the Champion beer of Yorkshire!”

Brewer Kevin said: “They winner will come down to the brewery and we’ll go through the process with them.

“It will all be their recipe but we'll do it for the commercial side and it will be on the taps at the New York Tavern and the Cutler’s Arms.”

As for Three Magpies, Kevin revealed Steve’s pride and joy will be making a seasonal comeback, adding: “We’re going to start brewer it again in the next couple of weeks and it should be in the pubs by Christmas.”

Anyone keen to put their home brew to the test should email Steve at [email protected] including details about what kind of ale they plan to enter for the contest. 

CAMRAs autumn festival will be held at The Trades from November 28 to 30.

The ale will be flowing from 6pm to 11pm on the Thursday and Friday and noon to 11pm on the Saturday. Admission is £3 on the door.

Proceeds will go towards CAMRA’s real ale-promoting work but the value of spare beer tokens handed by drinkers will be given to charity.