HIT’s exciting brewing competition is back for 2024

It was so good last year, we’re doing it again! 

For the second year running, we’re launching HIT’s hugely successful apprentice brewing competition ‘UnTapped’.

The 2024 ‘UnTapped’ Apprentice Brewer of the Year competition challenges brewer apprentices to create the best tasting original recipe beer – and showcase their skills on a national stage.

Open to all current apprentices on the HIT Level 4 Brewer programme, a team of expert judges are ready and waiting to unveil the next batch of brewing talent, looking for not only technical skills and knowledge but creative skills too. 

This truly is a competition that puts brewers on the map!

Here’s what last year’s winner Aureja Jupp from Three Blind Mice Brewery had to say:

Winning ‘UnTapped’ was brilliant! The experience was exhilarating and rewarding, and I was even invited to spend the day at theHouse of Commons to inspire and connect with fellow brewers and industry leaders.

Finalist Andrew Thomas, from Hook Norton Brewery, said the competition challenged him to take his brewing to another level:

It was a great experience, and I would highly recommend anyone to do it. The beer I brewed for UnTapped actually made it out to trade because of how happy we were with it. It got a great response from the pubs and we’re hoping to bring it back again this year.

What the competition involves

The preliminary ‘Into the Mash Tun’ round asks brewers to submit an original beer recipe. Entrants will be asked to explain the provenance and characteristics of its principal ingredients and how it contributes to the beer’s style and character.

This will include colour, beer style, flavourings, choice of yeast strain and International Bitterness Units. Ingredients must be readily available at commercial rates from standard industry suppliers to meet entry requirements.

Apprentices are also required to provide a story of why they got into brewing, summarising their journey so far and offering their ambitions for the future.

Judges will be looking for original flavour profiles and how they suggest certain characteristics in the beer.

The top six beers – known as ‘The Super Six’ – will then be marked by judges on their aroma, appearance, flavour balance and mouthfeel as measured against the characteristics indicated in their submission. Judges will also look at label designs which must contain the name and any branding associated with their partnering employer. Allergen labelling requirements will also be considered.

The final

The ‘UnTapped’ competition’s grand finale will take place at the Brewer Apprenticeship Graduation event at the University of Nottingham in October. The three top beers will be announced – and the overall winner crowned!

Keeping you posted

The deadline for entries is Tuesday 30th April and we’d like to wish everyone the best of luck. Look out for our socials for ‘UnTapped’ updates.