Dave Steel, a pastor at the Crossroads Christian Church, has two callings, tending to his flock and brewing beer.
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This weekend he will put the Bible aside to compete in the 2011 ACT Amateur Brewing Championships.
The event, run by Canberra Brewers, has attracted a record 210 entries this year. Judging will be conducted at the Wig & Pen on Saturday and Sunday, although Canberra Brewers president Tom Dixon stressed that while open to the public, the large number of entries could make viewing room tight.
''We're a bit of a victim of our own success. We don't want to turn people away, but we want them to be aware of our limitations,'' Mr Dixon said.
The success of the Canberra Brewers has been considerable. Over the 15-year history of the Australian National Amateur Brewing Championships, the ACT has won the top beer award seven times and the champion brewer title nine times. Craig Webber, of Wanniassa, took out the top brewer award last year.
The ACT has also been named champion state three times over the past five years.
The Canberra Brewers club hopes to improve on that record at the national championships in Adelaide next month by winning the state title for the third year running.
A team of 25 judges will assess each beer on its appearance, aroma, taste and overall ''drinkability'' over the weekend, with the top three entries from each category qualifying to compete in the nationals.
Mr Steel is no stranger to success, taking out a few awards of his own, including the best beer on club night at the 2009 Australian Amateur Brewing Championships, held in here in Canberra. The beer's label ''God & Man'', symbolised Mr Steel's approach to brewing.
''The Canberra Brewers take a very naturalistic approach to brewing beer. We use lots of natural ingredients from around the region ... I see very little difference between perfecting a good beer and enjoying God's other works, such as a nice wilderness walk,'' he said.
Mr Steel has been brewing beer for 15 years and hopes to win this weekend, but said the Canberra Brewer Club's true benefit was the camaraderie it created.
''Jesus liked to drink with people ... Beer is a social facilitator and best enjoyed in company.''
He said the club's monthly meetings offered ample opportunity to socialise, share recipes and enjoy home-brewed beer.