Better Living Through Zymurgy!

Contests have become a great part of the Irish Fest experience since they were launched a couple years ago. Dozens of bakers, photographers, knitters and writers have put their best up against their peers in our contest tent and the cream of the crop have come away with big prizes.

But great and successful as they've been, like most things in this world our contests could be improved by the simple addition of one magic ingredient:

Beer.

That's right, for 2009 in addition to our returning pageants in the baking, photography and knitting arts, The Kansas City Irish Fest presents its inaugural beer battle. Contest coordinator Cami Travis-Groves, our contest queen, explains.

BREWING CONTEST: THINK YOU CAN BREW A GREAT STOUT?
Attention all home-brewers, enter your home-brewed stout in the new Brewing Contest and find out if yours really is the best! Judged by experts, great prizes are up for grabs. The contest is free to enter, and is open to all ages, just amateurs only please. More details, with official rules and entry forms will be announced here soon.

Sadly, in spite of my long years of practice and research, I don't qualify as one of Cami's judging experts. If you're a home brewer or if you've been waiting for the perfect excuse to become one, here's your chance. Start working on that stout recipe now, win in September. Irish Fest opens in 207 days.