Iron Brew Champion Crowned

Earlier this month Mellow Mushroom Avondale owners Johnny Hudgins and Joshua Broome presented Nick Gavalas co-founder of the Gavalas Kolanko Foundation (GFK) and GFK board member and Charleston City Councilman Dean Riegel with a $5,000 check that was raised during the second annual Iron Brew competition.
GFK awards scholarships to students with disabilities so they may attend either College of Charleston or Charleston Southern University. Broome also serves on the GFK board. “As a graduate and supporter of the College of Charleston, the cause really speaks to our hearts,” he says GKF has been providing scholarships for physically disabled individuals to have a better life at the collegiate level. It’s all about the kids!
Put on jointly by Mellow Mushroom and Holy City Brewing, the annual Iron Brew home brewing competition brings out the best and brightest home brewers the Lowcountry has to offer. Each year, a “secret” ingredient is revealed and participants must incorporate that ingredient into their brew. Back in May the second annual Iron Brew Competition kicked off with the announcement of this year’s “secret” ingredient(s), to be used in any combination. They were lavender, coriander seed, basil, and rosemary,
Just a couple weeks ago a tasting party was held at Holy City’s North Charleston Brewery with hundreds of local beer enthusiasts and dozens of home brewers in attendance. Judges selected this year’s Iron Brew champion, Joseph Niedzwecki a.k.a. Nifty Brewing, and his Imperial Storm Trooper White IPA. He used basil and coriander in the boil and lavender in the dry hop to make the competitions top brew.
“It was a great blend and best showing of the Iron Brew Ingredients. Great flavor and aroma,” said Holy City’s head brewer and co-owner Chris Brown.
As a reward, Niedzwecki’s beer will be brewed on Holy City’s 15-barrel system at Holy City Brewing for distribution exclusively at Mellow Avondale, Downtown, and soon in Summerville. He also received $100 house cash to Holy City Brewing, $100 house cash to Mellow Mushroom, and 10 beer cards that are redeemable at HCB or Mellow for a $1 pint of the winning beer.
The second place team was Dark Wasser ‘s whose pale ale used corriander in it. The People’s Choice Champions were the John’s Island Misfits and the Best Name Award name went to a beer named Rosemary’s Basil.
In it’s second year the Iron Brew competition firmly established itself as on of the premier home brewing events in Charleston. “We had a great turn out and had some really impressive beers being made,” said Broome.
As for the future of Iron Brew, expect Mellow Mushroom and Holy City to continue to make it a bigger and better event each year. “This year was much better than last year. We had 49 entries this year as apposed to 31 last year,” said Brown, who along with his team will be returning to Denver in October to defend their gold-medal-winning Pluff Mud Porter at the Great American Beer Fest. “We leaned a lot from this year and will keep trying to make it a better competition.”
 
Once Joseph Niedzwecki’s Nifty Brewing’s Storm Trooper White IPA is brewed at the Holy City Brewing, you will be able to get it in West Ashley at Mellow Mushroom Avondale, located at 19 Magnolia Road.