Show home brew judge has tough job
COCONUT rum. Butterscotch schnapps. Chocolate cream liqueur. Sweet black gin.
Tasting these beauties is a tough job, but someone has to do it.
That someone is Tony Goodwin, who has been the official judge at the Mount Larcom Show home brew competition for the past five years.
"They just keep on asking, so I keep on coming back," he said.
Mr Goodwin judges each entry on three main criteria.
Firstly, the condition. How does it look?
"Is it murky or clear? Dark or light?" he said.
Second, the aroma.
"People say it mostly applies to wines but I think it applies to all beverages, even beer," Mr Goodwin said.
And finally, the taste, of which Mr Goodwin has experienced the good, the bad and the ugly over the years.
"Some have no taste at all. Some are good, and some are very, very excellent," he said.
Mr Goodwin said his favourite part of the gig is not knowing what is lurks beneath the bottle cap.
"I love the opportunity to discover a little treasure, and being able to encourage a competitor with an appropriate prize," he said. "There was a stout here a couple of years ago which would have stood up in any commerical company."
Mr Goodwin selected the winners of the competition today. They will be displayed at the Mount Larcom Show.
The show
- Will be held at the Mt Larcom Showgrounds, 21 Narrow Road this Saturday and Sunday
- Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for school students.
- Bar is open from 10am
