Name: Western Slope Big Brew Challenge
Start: 2025-05-04T10:00:00-06:00
Location: Gemini Beer Company

Bookcliff Home Brew Club is thrilled to announce Big Brew Day 2025! Not only is this the biggest homebrewing day of the year across the U.S., but for the first time ever, we’re teaming up with Black Canyon Home Brewers from Montrose for the Western Slope Big Brew Challenge – a friendly brewing competition you won’t want to miss!
✨ Sign Up & Join the Challenge✨ https://bookcliffhomebrewclub.com/index.php/big-brew-day/
This year, we’re putting our own spin on the event. Instead of brewing the official AHA Big Brew Day barleywine recipe, we’ll be making our own Grand River Amber Ale—a Western Slope-inspired brew designed to be more approachable. Check out the recipe in the comments!
👉 👉 Bookcliff Home Brew Club is providing the ingredients for this recipe to our members - at no cost! Members will only need to source the yeast for this recipe.
While BCHA’s brew day will take place on Saturday, May 3rd, at Pomona Brewing, we’ll be brewing at Gemini Beer Co. on Sunday, May 4th, starting at 10:00 AM. By hosting on different days, members can experience both events. And yes—since it’s May the Fourth Be With You, we’ll be celebrating Star Wars Day with themed activities while we brew!
What’s Provided:
✅ All grain and hops to brew the Grand River Amber Ale
✅ Water (supplied by Gemini Beer Co.)
✅ Hoses, wort chillers, and grain mills
✅ Tasty food for purchase from local food trucks!
What to Bring:
✅ Your homebrewing equipment (including tables and chairs)
✅ Electric brewers: Bring your own extension cords
Brewers will need to source their own yeast for this brew - SafAle US-05 is the recommended yeast for this beer, but brewers are welcome to use any amber ale yeast that they are comfortable with. 🚫Please no yeast pitching onsite at Gemini!
We’ll be brewing on the lawn of the Lowell building on 7th Street, providing great public visibility. Expect some curious passersby—we hope to introduce more Grand Valley residents to the joys of homebrewing!
🍺 The Force of homebrewing is strong within you...will you answer the call of this brewing challenge? Do or do not..there is no try..sign up today!