A porter that that started life in a homebrew competition has gained a commercial release in Bristol thanks to a local brewery.
Basement Beer, the independent microbrewery and taproom at the heart of Stokes Croft in Bristol, has released Dusk, a porter brewed in collaboration with the Bristol and Southwest Homebrew Collab Club.
The beer comes in at 5.4% and is the result of the club’s first brewing challenge of 2026, in which members were tasked with brewing a dark beer with genuine commercial viability.
Entries were judged by Basement’s head brewer and owner Ben Evans, who assessed each submission as members presented their beers and talked through the origins and recipes behind them.
The field was a strong one. Eleven beers were entered across a wide range of dark styles, from stouts and schwarzbiers to a weizenbock and an imperial stout, with the club’s favoured black IPA featuring prominently throughout. Ben took extensive notes before deliberating, with the prize being a full brewday at Basement and the winning beer going into production, including a canning run with potential trade distribution.
The winning recipe came from club member Ian Parks, whose Premium London Porter, entered under the name The Dirty Secret, was selected by Ben to be scaled up and brewed on the commercial kit. The resulting beer, now renamed Dusk, is rich and dark with the depth and drinkability that made it stand out in a competitive field.
Parks said, “A huge thank you to Basement for their generosity in making this happen – it was an opportunity I’ll never forget. Thanks to Ben’s expertise, the day went without a hitch, and it was fascinating to see firsthand how brewing on a homebrew scale translates to a full commercial system. I loved every moment of the day and can’t wait to see the finished beer on tap.”
Ben Evans, owner and head brewer, added, “The standard of entries was genuinely impressive, and it made for a really difficult decision. Ian’s Porter stood out for its balance and drinkability – exactly the kind of beer I’d want to see on the bar.
“Getting to brew it up on the full kit with him was a great day, and I think Dusk is something both Basement and the club can be really proud of.”
Dusk is now available on draught and in cans from the Basement taproom. Venues interested in stocking it are welcome to get in touch directly.
This is not the first time the Homebrew Collab Club has made its way to Basement. The taproom is a regular host for the club’s monthly meet-ups, where members gather to share what they have brewed and take part in themed challenges.
The club’s most recent Basement evening was particularly memorable, with the surprise appearance of founder and former leader Matt, who was over from Belfast for the occasion.
