It had been a few years since Evan Monroe had homebrewed. But, having moved back to Michigan, he wanted to take part in 7th Annual Homebrew Competition, and it paid off.

Freedom of Peach. his hoppy saison brewed with peaches, beat out 145 other entries.

Winning is an “honor,” Evan said.

“It’s almost overwhelming. Bell’s has such a legacy … I grew up on Bell’s beer, it helped me build my foundation on what I consider good beer to be.”

His beer used the base wort given out to participants in September. It was chosen by Bell’s employees and announced on All Stouts Day.

Originally, Evan wanted to a brew an East coast-style IPA, but decided against it when he got the wort. His parents had a lot of peaches they had grown in Three Rivers, so he decided to use them during fermentation. He then dry-hopped it with Nelson Sauvin hops.

Evan is looking forward to brewing his yet-to-be-named beer at our downtown Kalamazoo brewery — he’s currently enrolled in Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Sustainable Brewing program.

“I’m looking forward to getting hands on experience with the real equipment. It’s so much different than 5 gallon batches at home or listening to someone lecture on what you have to do on a larger system.”

Monroe will get to brew his recipe at Bell’s original brewery to then go on tap at the adjacent Café. He will also head to the 2017 Great American Beer Festival in Denver as a guest of Bell’s and compete alongside a Bell’s brewer in the Pro-Am Competition.

Keep an eye here and on our social media for updates and release info.