November 1997

[Greenblood]

Minutes of the October 9th Meeting

Seminar: Ellen Jensen gave a lovely seminar and informational chat on the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). Classes this year will be held November 16, December 14, January 18, February 25, and March 15. The examination for certification will be held March 29, 1998. Jeff Jensen, Ellen, and Dwight Burham attended all of the courses last year, but decided, strategically, not to take the exam. If anyone is interested, these same three will be following the course again this year. Phone numbers are available in the Guild phone list.

Clean Up Crew: Chris and Joe dutifully volunteered. Thanks guys!
Old Business:

The meeting started at 8:00 P.M. sharp (a rare occurence).

Up-coming seminars: Jeff Jensen mentioned the need for topics and asked for volunteers. Someone suggested Barry Fitzgerald do one on bottle labels-after all he's an award winner. Barry however was not yet present to accept or decline the honor.

Glasses: The honorable, if rarely seen, Vice-President Rex Russell informed the members present that he will know(everything) and will have placed the order, by the next meeting. The Guild previously voted on two dozen straight pints, with shadow-grey design labels. An estimate of $175 was given Rex.

BrewFest Cash and the Guild Archives: A committee was called and formed by Jeff Jensen, Joe Yoder, Robb Hensley, and the somewhat disreputable Guild Archivist Robert Johnson, to finalize their plan for a Guild lending library. They will meet and present their plan at the November meeting.

Other Ideas for BrewFest Cash: A motion was made to purchase a large cylindrical water cooler like the Lawrence city workers have. The motion was seconded and tabled before the money is to be spent.
New Business:

Dwight requested thirty-two dollars reimbursement for stamps to mail our much-envied and much-maligned Guild Newsletter. Motion made and seconded.

Potential Scandal: Doug and Sherry Holub, our illustrious President and First Lady still have not given the BrewFest money to the Treasurer. Rex volunteered to round up the unaccounted for money and will make the deposit-thus avoiding a leak to the Press, scandal, investigation, and the inevitable independent legal counsel. Rex also volunteered to locate the Guild financial records for Bob, Guild Treasurer, or Barry Fitzgerald, Secretary.

Treasurer's Report: There was no report because there was no Treasurer. But the Guild balance was attested to be $679.22. The Archivist received deposit receipts for $100 and $340. (Editor's Note: Current balance: $273.64. Year to date interest: $5.05. Most recent deposit: $71.00 from dues. Info from Treasurer October 29, 1997)

Newsletter: A motion was made to post the meeting dates and times in every Newsletter. Dwight begged for any and all submissions by the first of the month.

Further Motions: To contact Barry F. and ask to give seminar on bottle labels; to have ideas at the next meeting for seminar topics; for a committee to be formed to call membership as a reminder of the meeting (nothing was finalized on any of these motions).

Attendence: Jeff J. brought to the membership's attention the need to generate interest in the Guild in order to gain new members and increase attendance. Jeff suggested a (nicer, more eye-catching) poster for the Lawrence Brewer's Supply wall-add some color and info to the existing black and white poster. Someone volunteered to call Barry. Jeff also suggested a little ad in the Lawrence Journal World. The most popular idea was to give Ryan (dutiful Brewer's Supply employee) informative hand-outs to put in customers' bags.

Christmas Party: Jeff and Ellen graciously offered their house for a December meeting-Christmas Party.
Monthly Tasting

This month's commercial beer month's tasting was Oktoberfest. Jeff told a little something about this month's style. The festival traditionally lasts from the third week in September to the first Sunday in October. It has its origins in a wedding banquet for the Princess Therese and the Crown Prince Ludwig I. Characteristic flavors are derived from the use of Vienna malt. Many commercial examples are now available all year long. Negra Modelo is purportedly the oldest example of an Oktoberfest-style lager currently being produced year-round in North America.

Hacker-Pschorr (The evening's favorite)
"malty, dry finish"
"one of the most well-bodied, well rounded beers; just a complete product"
"everything's in balance"

Paulaner
"sweeter, more caramelly in the maltiness"

Spaten
"That's a damn good beer"-Dwight
"a more malty, thicker nose"
"burnt caramel maltiness"
"well-balanced"-Rob J.

Ayinger
"extremely malty"
"a little more hop bite"-Rex

Pete's Wicked Octoberfest
"Sorry, Pete"
"Good Lord," with a look of disdain. "No body"
"Just blah, there's nothing there. No nose... Pour that one out"
"There's nothing there but color."-Rob J.

Robert Johnson, Acting Secretary
November Tasting: Dark Beers Other Than Stouts or Porters

Orig. Gravity, Bitterness (IBU), Color (SRM), Alcohol (Vol.)

Munich Dunkel 1.052-56, 16-25, 17-20, 4.8-5.4
Schwarzbier 1.044-52, 22-30, 25-30, 3.8-5.0
Amer. Dark Lager 1.040-50, 14-20, 10-20, 4.1-5.6
Eng. Brown Ale 1.040-50, 15-25, 15-22, 4.2-6.0
Amer. Brown Ale 1.040-55, 25-60, 15-22, 4.2-6.0
Dusseldorf Altbier 1.044-48, 25-48, 11-19, 4.6-5.1
Specialty Beer 1.030-110, 0-100, 1-100, 2.5-12.1

Source: American Homebrewer's Association 1997 Style Guidlines
Message From the President

Election of Officers is coming up, so begin thinking about your ability to take some responsibility for the future of the Lawrence Brewer's Guild. According to the by-laws, no one can hold the same office for more than two years in a row. We will be needing some new blood for several offices, including President, Vice-President, and Biermeister. Feel free to talk with current officers about the responsibilities and time commitment involved. Your help is needed.

Doug Holub

Biermeister's Corner
While doing a less than admirable job in September filling in for Poobah Doug, I had borught up the monthly seminars subject so that we could toss around a few ideas to fill the next six months or so. We were supposed to come back to that at the end of the meeting, but didn't. That is probably just as well, since we all need time to ponder such things. For those of you that are new to the club, we have a half hour informal seminar or "topic" at 7:30 each meeting. This is where someone in the club volunteers to talk about a certain topic as it relates to brewing and/or its methods. In the past we have covered such topics as: mashing, kegging, sanitation, and even "beer songs of the world" to mention a few. It is a great way for the club to share ideas and methods with one another.

What would you like to hear about in the upcoming months? Is there an area or aspect of brewing that interests you? Would you like to share it with the rest of us? Not only do we need ideas, but we need voluteers to give the talks as well. Think about areas of brewing that you would like to delve into, and bring them up at the next meeting. It would be nice to see some new faces giving some talks. It would also be nice not to have to form a committee to organize these seminars. This should be something that we can knock out in under five minutes (yeah right!)-if you bring your ideas and your volunteerism!

Jeff Jensen, Biermeister

Beer Judge Certification Program
The Beer Judge Certification Program training sessions for 1997-98 will be held on November 16th, December 14th, January 18th, February 25th, and March 15th. The Exam is March 29th. The cost is $25.00 per session ($10.00 of which goes to cover the cost of the Exam, which is $50.00). Contact Alberta Rager at 913-894-9131 for further information.
Fall Seminars

Bacchus & Barleycorn will hold four seminars on home wine making and four on homebrewing to be held at the Soroptomist Community Center at 6219 Martway, Mission, KS All seminars start at 7:00 P.M. and end at 9:30 P.M. In addition to the enrollment fee, there will be a $5.00 per person tasting fee at each seminar.

Bacchanalia (Oct. 23, Nov. 6, & Dec. 11. Enrollment fee: $25.00 per person.)

Topics include:
Tools of the trade: Yeast-selection, use, and preparation
How sweet it is: Sugar and acid measurement and adjustment
Free bubble up: Making champagne and other less familar styles
Another fine mess you've gotten us into: Fining, filtering, and bottling
There may be a little dust on the bottle: Wine storage and stability

Oktoberfest (Oct. 30, Nov. 13, Dec. 14, & Dec. 18. Enrollment fee: $25.00 per person)

Topics include:
Let's get down to "Brewing basics" Yeast-selection, use, and preparation
Grains, it's not just for breakfast anymore
Fining. on a clear day you can see through your brew.
What's hoppening? Hop usage from Alpha to IBU

Contact Bacchus & Barleycorn at 6633 Nieman Rd. Shawnee, KS 66203. (913) 962-2501