October 2002

[Greenblood]

Announcements

4th Annual AHA Teach A Friend To Homebrew Day-November 2. Find that friend or family member trapped in a boring non-brewing existence and show them the way to the exciting and fulfilling world of homebrewing!

Planet Buzz, a Celebration of Mead, Cider and Perry-November 8 & 9 in Chicago. Taste over 50 meads, ciders and perrys from around the world.
Minutes of the September 12th meeting

Old Business
Ray from El Paso, TX, visited the meeting. We hope he had a good time and will become a member.

Clean-Up: Glenn Hudspeth

Beer Contributions: Jeff-Anchor Summer Beer, a wheat only found in the Bay area; Pete-Golden Ale (pale ale); Glenn-Alt and a lager.

Seminars:
October-John Toomey from Boulevard Brewing Co. will speak about their state-of-the art operations.
November-seminar still open.

New Business
Christmas Party: Date still open. We need to get that settled at October meeting. Start brewing holiday ales.

Contest: Our second contest will be held in March. The beer is stout. You need to designate which style of stout you are entering on the form

Good Reference: John Palmer's Howtobrew.com has a concise list of all common beer defects. Was passed to give president permission to buy book for the club, around $16.99.
Seminar

Pete gave an interesting and informative seminar on partial mash. He said some of the pros to this technique are that he can brew in his kitchen, he still receives benefits of using grains, and he can brew in half a day-four hours is his record. Some of the drawbacks, he said, are expense-the extract costs a bit more-, light beers are difficult to achieve-light copper is about the lightest he can get, and the possibility of hot-side aeration. Thanks, Pete, for sharing with us.


Commercial Tasting: American Ambler Ale
Here are the Beer Judge Certification Program guidelines:

Aroma: Often a mild to strong hop aroma from dry hopping or late kettle additions of American hop varieties. Some caramel aroma common. Esters vary from low to high. Diacetyl medium-high to none.

Flavor: Moderate to high hop flavor from American hop varieties. Malt-bitterness balance can be on either side of even and is more likely to be on the malt side, but usually not too far from center. Caramel flavor is moderate to strong. Diacetyl medium-high to none.

Mouthfeel: Body is medium-full. Carbonation typically moderate. Appearance: Light copper to light brown.

Overall Impression: Caramel usually balances the bitterness.

History: Called West Coast amber ales by some authors, this sub-category was spun off from the American pale ale style.

Comments: In the past, this category used to be part of American pale ale. American amber ales differ from American pale ales not only by being darker in color, but also in having more caramel flavor and uwsually being balanced more evenly between malt and bitterness.

Ingredients: Pale ale malt, typically American two-row. Medium to dark crystal malts. Amreican hops such as Cascade, Centennial, Brewer's Gold, Columbus and Willamette, but others may also be used.

Vital Statistics: OG: 1.045-1.056 IBUs: 20-40 FG: 1.101-1.015 SRML 11-18 ABV: 4.5-5.7%

Beer 1: Capital Amber, Wisconsin (Voted favorite as well as best to style)

"Malt aroma, malt flavor, hops balanced from center out to edge of tongue."
"Finishes dry."
"Smooth, middle of the road, balanced."
"Clean, no diacetyl."

Beer 2: Berghoff Amber, Monroe, WI

"Little darker than #1."
"Apples, green apples on the nose."
"Citrusy, Tangy, the yeast? Sour."
"Poor hop aroma."
"Cleaner looking than #1."

Beer 3: Abita Amber , Abita LA

"More red/copper color."
"Smells like DMS."
"Big brewery, Rolling Rock?? Stinks."
"Yuck."
"Heavy DMS."

Ellen Jensen-Secretary

Recent Beer News from RealBeer.com
Paying a premium
SEPT 24, 2002 - Specialty, microbrewed beers lead growth in U.S. beer consumption

'Good Beer' salute
SEPT 23, 2002 - CAMRA's Good Beer Guide praises great pubs, but attacks greed of giant companies

A-B scores against Budvar
SEPT 20, 2002 - U.S. brewer wins court decision in New Zealand

Beer drinkers wanted
SEPT 12, 2002 - Wynkoop begins search; Super Bowl of Suds Jan. 18

Copyright 2001 by Real Beer, Inc.


Discount Days at Bacchus & Barleycorn
LBG members receive a 10% discount from Bacchus & Barleycorn, October 7-11. Please show membership card or bring newsletter. Bacchus & Barleycorn is located at 6633 Nieman R. in Shawnee (913-962-2501).