Pittsburgh Shrine Center Hosts 9th Annual North Hills Home Brew Fest in March

The Battle of the Homebrews returned to Pittsburgh's North Hills on March 21, with the Pittsburgh Shrine Center Grand Ballroom hosting the 9th Annual North Hills Home Brew Fest for the first time in its new indoor, March-date format.

The evening ran in two distinct phases. VIP ticket holders got exclusive access to a blind tasting and judging session from 5 to 6 p.m., while the public tasting and judging opened to the full crowd from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees sampled homebrewed beers submitted by local brewers and cast their votes, with the competition culminating in the crowning of a Grand Champion homebrewer. A Brewers Challenge also featured on the card alongside the main judging.

Tickets were priced at $45 for VIP, which had to be purchased in advance and included a $5 food truck coupon along with the early admission blind tasting. General admission ran $25 at the pre-event sale price and $35 at the door. Designated drivers could get in for $5. Cash ticket sales were available at the door, though that option excluded both VIP and the pre-sale general admission price; an ATM was on-site for convenience. Brewers who submitted an entry form were admitted free of charge along with one assistant, and each received a $10 food truck voucher.

Beyond the competition, the fest included a 50-50 raffle, basket raffle items, and homebrew vendors on the floor. Food was available throughout the night via food trucks, with VIP holders' $5 coupon and the brewers' $10 voucher built into their respective admissions.

Proceeds from the event benefit Pittsburgh's Syria Shriners. Ticket prices are not tax deductible.

For information on future events or results, reach the organizers at Nhhbrewfest@gmail.com or visit syriashriners.org/north-hills-home-brew-fest.