This Sunday, January 14, 2024, a new baking event begins in the Very Nice Brewing Company (VNBC) taproom; a friendly “competition” called The Great Brewery Bake Off, which will feature a different baking challenge every month for the entire year of 2024.

“I started to model it after The Great British Bake Off, but they’re pretty hardcore and I didn’t want to make it too competitive,” VNBC owner Susan Green told The Mountain-Ear, before adding that, though she was still refining the rules and process for the competition, the winner of each challenge will be determined by people’s choice vote. Her hope is to host something special at the end of the year with all of the Bake Off’s winners.

The first Bake Off challenge is to make a baklava. Green was already excitedly brainstorming her own recipe for a baklava entry when speaking with The Mountain-Ear.

“So many people are already planning their baklavas, so I guess it was a good choice,” Green laughed.

Contestants can bring their entries to VNBC any time on Sunday, January 14, before the competition is open to public vote from 3 to 5 p.m. Bakers are encouraged to use VNBC beers in their creations. Entries must be homemade, and contestants are expected to provide a list of ingredients for their entries.

Prizes for the people’s choice winner will be awarded at the end of the event, after the votes are tallied.

So far, Green has planned baking challenges for most of the year, including a focus on chocolate desserts for February 11, and a baked Italian dish challenge for March 10.

“Whatever people make for that one, whether it’s lasagna or baked ziti, that is going to be a delicious day!”

There will be a cheesecake challenge on April 14, a special Mother’s Day brunch challenge planned for May 12, and a meat-focused challenge for Father’s Day on June 16. Green has also planned challenges to feature citrus desserts and peach-based desserts for the summer, and breads, cookies, and shepherd’s pie challenges for the fall, with dates to be determined.

Be sure to check the Cracker Barrel in The Mountain-Ear, as well as the chalkboard at VNBC, or their social media, for updates on upcoming baking challenges.

Very Nice Brewing Company is located in the Caribou Village Shopping Center at 20 Lakeview Drive, Suite 112, and is open from 2 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 2 to 9 p.m. on Fridays, from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, and from noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information call 303-258-3770 or go to: https://www.verynicebrewing.com.