Cheers in Ambridge: Crush & Brew returns for amateur winemakers and homebrewers

AMBRIDGE ― The Ambridge Crush & Brew amateur winemakers and homebrewers event returns Sept. 7 to Old Economy Village.

Reserve your spot today for the 14th annual fundraiser, which this year adds a mead competition.

The Ambridge Historic District will host the event, starting at 5 p.m., featuring tasting and judging of home-made wines, homebrew beers and meads. Prizes will be awarded for the best as picked by judges and a separate People’s Choice contest.

Participating amateur winemakers, homebrewers and mead makers receive a free admission ticket, which includes a food voucher and entry to after-parties at local breweries and a wine shop. It’s free to enter your wine, homebrew and mead and engage the public.

Altered Genius Brewing Co. and Fermata Brew Company, microbrewers located in Ambridge, will judge the beers.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Beers will be judged using Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) styles.

"We encourage submission of historic class beers," Roberta Mikush Sciulli, Ambridge Historic District president, said.

Altered Genius is sponsoring the First Place Beer Prize. It includes collaborating with the home brewer to scale the recipe and offer it on tap at their Merchant Street location. Second Place winner is sponsored by Fermata Brew Company with prize offerings. The public will vote on People’s Choice. Brewers attending last year said, “Everything was great and I had a very enjoyable time. I loved the size of the event and the location. I will be back next year.”; “We had a fantastic time this year and will be back (with wine) next year!”

Wines and meads will be judged by Kevin Ostrowski, president of the Beaver County Chapter of the American Wine Society. Prizes include gift cards and various wine-related items to regional wineries. The contest accepts red, white, and fruit/sweet wines and all mead categories.

Winemaker Eric Gibson said, “This event encompasses all the factors that make an event successful, an iconic historical site, wonderful people, and for the grand finale tasty brews and delectable wines. The event accentuates what the power of positivity a community can produce."

Live music, food trucks, raffles are also part of the fun.

Proceeds benefit the Ambridge Historic District's economic development and have included a visitor kiosk, interpretative markers, welcome banners to the historic district, various small business grants and horse carriage rides.

For more information and to register to enter your beer, wine, or mead, email historicdistrict@gmail.com or call or text; 724-513-4668 or 412-855-0511.