July 2009

[Lucile]

Tasting – IPAs - by Lee

Four IPAs to try this month:
Beer #1: Orangey, good mouth feel, American hops.
Beer #2: Ellen : “Are you sure you didn't pick up a pilsner by mistake?” Lee: “Hey, be nice, it's a donation.” Ellen: “Oh, no!” (at least it was a microbrew – not a homebrew). Much different from the first, much less hops. Perhaps more like a typical British IPA.
Beer #3: Much darker, amber color. Bitter. Maltier. Some vegetable flavor.
Beer #4: More hoppy notes. Higher gravity.
Discussion: how to get more hop flavoring from your hop additions, when you add them, dry hopping. Perceived bitterness versus actual/measured bitterness. Check the forum for the style guide for IPAs.

Overall review:
Beer #1 Mojo IPA. Well liked, classic IPA. Amarillo hops – citrus-y. Lee – I use this as a last, late addition.
Beer #2: Alexander Keith's (?) IPA. From Nova Scotia, Canada. Not well received – not true to type (or our expectations).
Beer #3: Ft Collins Rocky Mountain Brewery IPA. Well liked, but a little too sweet/malty. A few people liked it best.
Beer #4: Avery IPA – Quite a few people liked this. Definitely hoppy, drier. Finishes bitter.

Seminar - by Sean, Andy, Clint, Lee

Various software programs to document your beer/recipes/process (so you figure out how you screwed up so you don't do the same thing again).
PROMASH (Andy) - Software can be downloaded (free demo, $$ license) from http://www.promash.com/
BEER SMITH (Sean) - Software can be downloaded (free demo, $$ license) from http://www.promash.com/
BREW DAY TIMER (Clint) - Software can be downloaded for free from http://www.beerbelliesbrew.com/Download ... 0Timer.zip
STRANGE BREW (Lee) - Software can be downloaded for free from http://www.strangebrew.ca/
Q BREW (Lee) - Software can be downloaded for free from http://freshmeat.net/projects/qbrew/

Business meeting:

New members/visitors: Welcome!
Brian
Jim
Tom

Clean up crew – Jim, Brian. Thank you!

Treasurer’s report: 117 members. Wow. Accounts total: $4867.40

Librarian's report: there's stuff to check out. Use it – but bring stuff back or we'll shame you!
Lee – Sean has donated “Brew like a Monk” - awesome book. Thanks, Sean. Suggest new books if you think there's stuff we need.

Old Business: Andy and Kim, thanks for “Muggs for Juggs”! Raised more than $3600 – awesome! Thank you. And yes, there will be future Muggs for Juggs! Woo-hoo!

Monaghan: Renaissance Festival. New rules – what do we want to do? Liquor license issues, no selling glassware, no free tastings any more. Maybe only a brew demo – unlikely we'll be able to do a fundraiser, because we came to the attention of the Food and Beverage guy, not just the events coordinator. John will keep us posted.

Ellen: For the record, thanks to everyone for last month's meeting going so efficiently and getting so much done.

Tents are ordered, new boxes (“coffins”) will be made for them. Cool.

Quartermaster, new duties: Jeff J., speaking for the committee: Quartermaster will be an officer position, will be responsible for managing, checking out, fixing club equipment. Deposits, late fees, determined by the Quartermaster. See the forum posts for current proposed by-law changes.
Trailer will only be used for Guild-specific events, grain-buys, etc. Also, still in the process of getting tags and insurance for the trailer.
Ellen passed around the suggested changes to the Guild by-laws for the Quartermaster.
Ellen: all in favor of the amendments as stated? Majority. Opposed: none. Passed.

Brewfest committee reports:
Sean: Food committee: Karen and Bev want $800 plus all ingredients plus comp tickets. Comparable costs for catering $10 - $15 per pound plus expenses, which for 300 people would be at least $3000 (approx. $10 per person). Last year Karen and Bev did the barbecue for comp tickets only.
Rob: it's worth it to have someone else do the work and not have to rely on Sean to do all the cooking. Sean: this last year was the first time I really enjoyed Brewfest.
Melissa: This past year was the first time I enjoyed Brewfest, too. It's good to have someone else come in to be responsible for the work, rather than having the club members do so much work and miss out on the event.
Discussion will be tabled pending further information, additional barbecue bids, discussion on the forum, decision to be made at the next meeting.
Issue is that this increased cost will double the Brewfest food budget.

Wendy: Brew-Ha-Ha at the American Royal beer tasting. See the Events section of the Forum.

Brewer of the Year plaques – Clint. They've been ordered. New cast brew taps – cool, aluminum tap handles available for purchase. Look to the forum for more info. $25 each.

Shane: Bourbon Barrel Brew – discuss distribution of current batch after the meeting.

Lee: Brewfest beer committee will meet at the end of July. Keep an eye on the forum.

Rob: Hey everyone: “Grain buy” isn't just grain! It's extracts, spices, supplies, too. See more on the forum.

Ellen: move to adjurn. Seconded. Done.

[twedelc]

A new version of Brewday Timer was released last month.
http://www.beerbelliesbrew.com/download ... Timer3.zip
Tabbed environment, more Hop timers, nutrient timer... with an installer.