"Ladies, fire up your brew pots ..."

The Los Angeles Times says home-brewing ain't just for the fellers any more:

"It's one of the many home brew competitions that take place around the country each year. There's the panel of certified judges, the international entrants in 28 categories of beer and mead -- and there's the hops-filled afternoon of sipping and scribbling until a winner is crowned.

"But photos on the website for the Queen of Beer's Women's Homebrew competition -- this year's judging takes place Oct. 25 -- hint at the special flavor of the contest held for the last 12 years in Placerville, east of Sacramento. Last year's grand-prize winner glams for the camera in a rhinestone tiara; a few scrolls below, Miss Queen of Beer 2005 models a pink faux-fur crown, a bottle of her winning Russian Imperial stout proudly in hand.

"Ladies, fire up your brew pots and polish those carboys. Your pint glasses are waiting."

Read the rest of it here.