EAST LONGMEADOW – The Beer Shop hosted its inaugural Homebrew Competition on Feb. 20.

Judges from local breweries such as Amherst Brewing Company, Abandoned Building Brewery, Brewmaster Jack and Glass Bottom Brewery adjudicated 25 entries, followed by members of the public, who were allowed to sample and vote for their favorites by making a donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County.

Mark Avery was the big winner; his Let’s Get Tropical American India pale ale (IPA) won best in show and best IPA while his Coffee Break America porter took first place in the dark beer category. Andrew Woodward’s Burley American IPA took second place in the IPA category, followed by the Tea Bag double IPA made by Sparge Homebrew Club’s Ron Rodriguez. Mark Netzer and Shaun Hedges’ Heavy PreCITRAtation also earned an honorable mention in the IPA contest.