5th Unhopped Iron Brewer Challenge: Unhopped and Unplugged Brews

Try your hand at producing a prehistoric/early historic fermented beverage from any time period/geographic area using archaeologically/historically attested plants as hops substitutes!

On Saturday April 25, 2026 from 5:00-7:00pm in the Honors College (HON 196), 3363 N Maryland Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211 the Hortus Academicus/Brew Garden initiative at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will hold a tasting competition with three judges choosing the top three brews, all of whom are professionals associated with local businesses involved in brewing, dispensing, and/or reporting on fermented beverages.

The judges for 2026 are: Jerry Janiszewksi (Wisconsin Historical Foundation Board of Directors, Old World Wisconsin Historic Brewhouse Consultant), Daniel Kern (Head Brewer at Water Street Brewery), Rob Novak (Director, Old World Wisconsin Brewing Experience). There will also be a People’s Choice award with non-contestants casting their votes via ballot for their favorite brew. Joe Yeado has generously agreed to offer the winner the opportunity to brew their beer using the pilot brewing system at Gathering Place in River West with a launch party at GP to follow.

Any brews with archaeological/historical pedigrees are welcome (i.e., based on specific finds or documentary evidence for a particular Nordic grog, medieval gruit, or other beer) but feel free to experiment. We’ll also be asking all entrants to provide a grain bill/recipe as well as a few images presenting the story of their entry in the form of a short PowerPoint. Check out past entries at https://sites.uwm.edu/barnold/2019/01/17/unhopped-iron-brewer-challenge-2019/ and https://sites.uwm.edu/barnold/2024/06/21/fourth-unhopped-iron-brewer-challenge-april-6-2024/

Instructions on how to submit can be found here: https://uwm.edu/anthropology/calling-all-brewers-uwms-5th-unhopped-iron-brewer-challenge-is-now-accepting-submissions/