JOHN DAY – A team from Canyon City brewed up the Best of Show in the first-ever Grant County Fair Home Brew competition.

The honor went to the porter beer called “Whale’s Tail,” submitted by Jeremy McIntosh, Eric Bush, Kyle Johnson, and Stephanie Powers.

The team wins a free entry in the national competition held by the American Homebrewers Association and a $50 gift certificate from Brews Brothers, a homebrew supply business in Hillsboro.

Tom Winters of Canyon City won first place for his entries in the pilsener and pale ale categories; Kevin Mohler of Portland won first in India pale ale, and the Canyon City team won first in porter.

The nationally sanctioned competition in Grant County was judged by Ted Hausotter, Baker City, grand master judge and one of the top homebrew judges in the Northwest; Randy Scorby, Baker City, master judge and the 2011 international homebrewer of the year; Kari Doyle, Bend, assistant brewmaster at Deschutes Brewery, and Jay Jennings, Hillsboro, a partner in Brews Brothers.

The complete list of winners:

Category 1 – Pilsener. First place: Tom Winters, Canyon City.

Category 2 – Pale ale. First place: Tom Winters, Canyon City.

Category 3 – India pale ale. First place: Kevin Mohler, Portland. Second place: Jeremy McIntosh, Eric Bush, Kyle Johnson, Stephanie Powers, Canyon City. Third place: Max Garner, Haines.

Category 4 – Lager. No entries.

Category 5 – Porter. First place: Jeremy McIntosh, Eric Bush, Kyle Johnson, Stephanie Powers, Canyon City. Second place: Max Garner, Haines.

BEST OF SHOW: Porter – Jeremy McIntosh, Eric Bush, Kyle Johnson, Stephanie Powers, Canyon City.