BANGOR— The judges have rendered their decision and the winner of the Bangor Historical Society’s first History on Tap Home Brewing Contest is Jerry Robichaud‘s Kentucky Common brew.
“I’ve been brewing for 3½ years and have brewed about 36-37 different beer styles,” Robichaud said. “I like to see all the differences there are. I heard about Kentucky Common on one of the beer podcasts I listen to and thought it was a style I would like.”
Kentucky Common was a popular type of beer, primarily in the Louisville, Kentucky, area, in the post-Civil War and pre-Prohibition era. It’s short and inexpensive production made it popular — so popular that in the early 1900s, Kentucky Common was responsible for 75 percent of the beer sold in Kentucky.
As the History on Tap contest winner, Robichaud’s recipe will be produced as a Limited Edition Release by Geaghan Bros. Brewing Company. He also will receive prize packs from Geaghan’s, Central Street Farmhouse and the Bangor Historical Society.
“It’s no secret that brewing has a long history,” BHS Executive Director Melissa Gerety said. “We launched this program as a way to connect a popular — and growing — hobby with the historical significance attached to it. We’re learning a lot, too.”
With the winning recipe chosen, Geaghan Bros. Brewing Company will begin the process of brewing it for commercial production. Samples of Robichaud’s creation will be unveiled during a September History on Tap event to benefit the Bangor Historical Society.
The Bangor Historical Society and Thomas A. Hill House Museum is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. For information, call 942-1900 or visit bangorhistoricalsociety.org.