SALEM — Adam Walsh never played a down of organized football, but that won't stop New England Patriots fans from lining up for him this fall at Gillette Stadium. And the 22-year-old deserves all the attention because he accomplished something the Patriots failed to do last season — win a championship.
The Boston College senior beat out nearly 200 competitors to win the 2008 Patriot Homebrew Contest sponsored by The Boston Beer Co., brewers of Samuel Adams beers. As a reward, his homemade brew will be served at every Patriots home game next season at the Samuel Adams Brewhouse in Gillette Stadium.
"I've actually only been brewing for six months," the former Salem High golfer said yesterday during a break from writing a final paper for an English class. "... I do it in my backyard."
With no more than a propane burner and the moral support of three BC roommates — and official tasters — Walsh brewed three or four batches of beer last fall in the backyard of his Newton apartment building. He was notified in January that he was a finalist and last weekend that he had won.
"I got a call from Jim Koch himself," he said of the Samuel Adams founder. "I was at a family wedding (in Jamaica), so I didn't have my cell phone on. When I was flying back, I had two voice mails — one from Jim telling me I had won. Midway through the message, he said, 'This is not a joke. This is actually Jim Koch.'"
Walsh was flying home with his parents, insurance company owner John Walsh and his wife, Kathy, who works in the Salem public schools.
"I let them listen," he said. "They were pretty excited."
Koch is also excited about Walsh's beer.
"Adam's IPA is terrific," Koch said in a statement. "It's not easy to brew an IPA (India Pale Ale) that has a lot of flavor and maintains its balance, but Adam got it just right."
Walsh, who won $2,000, will get to help out at the Boston Brewery when Samuel Adams brews his Patriot Homebrew IPA to be served at Gillette Stadium during the 2008-09 season.
As for his future plans, Walsh said his immediate goal is to graduate from BC in two weeks. After that? The law? Medicine? Foreign travel?
"I'd love to work for one of the American craft breweries," he said. "It's something I'm passionate about. I love talking about beer with people."
He should get his chance this fall at Gillette Stadium.
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