By Mark Ambrogi
Tom Wallbank is always looking for an edge to expand his brewing knowledge.
The Zionsville resident typically takes a European business trip each year and uses free time to visit different breweries. In 2016, he and his wife, Belinda, visited Belgium. In July, he took his wife and children, Camilla, 14, and Thomas, 12, on a three-week summer vacation to Germany, the United Kingdom and France.
“I think it helps with brewing, judging, and it’s good to taste the styles we can’t get fresh in the United States, especially English ales and Germany lagers,” said Wallbank, an engineer for Eli Lilly Co.
While he was away, Wallbank missed the awards ceremony, where he earned his second consecutive Homebrewer of the Year title from the Indiana State Fair Brewers’ Cup. He also won in 2012.
“I think I’m the only three-time winner,” Wallbank said. “My buddy Tim Palmer has won it twice. I figured there was a risk he was going to get it, so I had to put in some beers to fend him off.”
During his trip to Europe, Wallbank especially wanted to visit Tegernsee, a resort town with a brewery of the same name.
“I had their beer in Munich, and it was fantastic. I just wanted to get the beer fresh from the source,” he said.
Wallbank also visited a monastery in Germany.
“We got off and then had a mile hike to the monastery (Kloster Andechs) where they make some of the best doppelbock,” he said.
In addition, Wallbank visited a town in Bamberg, which is known for its smoked beers.
“These are intensely smoky, amber-colored beers,” Wallbank said. “My only first place in this year’s contest was with that style of beer. So I was doing research and checking up on the competition by going directly to the source.”
Wallbank took first place in the smoke-flavored and wood-aged beer division in the Brewers’ Cup.
“I home-smoked the malt in my backyard cooker, and I used pecan wood rather than traditional beechwood,” Wallbank said. “It made a tasty beer.”
Wallbank placed second in European amber lager, amber hybrid, English brown ale and sour ale divisions. He took third in English pale ale.
