October 2003

[Greenblood]

Announcements

Local GABF Winners
Several local breweries won medals at this years Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Lawrence's own Free State Brewing Co. took home a Bronze for its Wheat State Golden and Old Backus Barleywine. Blind Tiger in Topeka won a Silver for their Tailwind Rye. Kansas City's Boulevard Brewing scored a Bronze Medal for Zon. McCoy's Public House, also in Kansas City, won Silver for their Ginger Shandy.

You can find the complete winners list here.

Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day
Saturday, November 1st is the Fifth Annual Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day. The American Homebrewers Association sponsors this event to help introduce people to homebrewing. The AHA website states, "Each year on the first Saturday in November, homebrewers around the world are encouraged to invite non-brewing and brewing friends and family to celebrate Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day and brew a batch of beer together."


Minutes of the September 11th meeting
Seminar: Pete gave seminar on creating your own beer labels. He displayed many good examples and gave some insight on his creative process.

Treasurers Report: Balance: $2292.90. This includes a $50.49 refund on a bank error.

Old Business
Seminars: Ray will provide seminar for October meeting. He will be speaking about his recent visit to a number of Colorado brewpubs.

Brewery Tour: Dale has contacted Blind Tiger in Topeka to schedule a brewery tour.

New Business
Shirts: Dale suggested we order new T-shirts for members who pay their 2004 dues.

Tour de Fat: Joe Yoder won the "slowest race" award at the Tour de Fat. His prize: a snazzy, genuine polyester shirt with light-up buttons.

Rob Dewhirst in BYO: Rob Dewhirst gave more details on his article in the August issue of Brew Your Own Magazine.

Barrel Aged Beer: Rob Dewhirst reported that he discussed with a winery the possibility of using old wine barrels for aging beer. Because of lingering sulfites, they should not be used for beer, but cider might work well.

Big Brew: For the next Big Brew, it was suggested that we secure another bourbon barrel and brew a barley wine. Possibly follow it up with a lambic.

LBG in UDK: The September 11th edition of the University Daily Kansan featured and article about homebrewing. The Guild was mentioned, and Joe Yoder was pictured siphoning beer from the Bourbon Barrel. You can find an online version of the article on the UDK site.

Meeting adjourned.

Dale Wheeler-Secretary

Beer Contributions
Chuck Cider, IPA, Honey Wheat from BrewFest, Simple Mead, Light Barleywine
Joe Yoder Cider
Barry Fitzgerald American Pale Ale
Pete Belgian Wheat, Cider
Dale Two Different Ciders from Two Batches of Apples from 2002
Ray Tommyknocker's Butthead Dopplebock
Jarre Creek Ranch Golden Ale-Sedalia, CO
High Desert Brewing Co. Imperial Stout-Las Cruces, NM
Ken Fat Tire, Boulevard Pale


Tasting: Cider
Joe brought a selection of commercial ciders. They were compared with four ciders provided by Guild memebers.

1. Woodchuck Amber: Comments: sweet not tart, Yum! Lots of apple, Low alcohol, Too sweet and cloying, Is this Dickens?
2. Woodchuck Granny Smith: Comments: No aroma, more dry and balanced, tart flavor, crisp, tastes like "real" cider.
3. Woodchuck Pear: Comments: tastes better than it smells, smells like a fruit bowl, smells like a crayon, bottle of perfume dropped in it, jolly rancher, ought to be dispensed from a curve necked bottle (thanks Joe).
4. Woodpecker: Comments: good apple aroma, tastes like it comes from real fruit, tart but less so than #2, a little thin no mouth feel.

Four ciders from our members were also sampled:

1. Pete's: comments: sulfur aroma, high alcohol, thin but quenching, puckery, needs more apple, lingering tartness.
2. Dale's cider A: comments: Hardier, alcohol a bit high, bigger flavor.
3. Joe's: comments: fresh apple aroma and flavor, play-dough aroma, biggest flavor profile so far, it's gone lactic, puckery
4. Dale's cider B: comments: balanced, alcohol present, tanic sharpness, Lisa likes it sweeter.


25th Anniversary of Federal Legalizaton of Homebrewing
On October 14, 1978, President Carter signed House Resolution 1337. Senate Amendment 3534 to that resolution called for equal treatment of home beer brewers and home winemakers. This law allowed that brewing up to 100 gallons per adult or up to 200 gallons per household per year was permitted for home use. The amendment was proposed by Senator Cranston of California, Senator Schmitt of New Mexico, Senator Bumpers of Arkansas and Senator Gravel of Alaska.

The original resolution limited the quantity of homemade beer at a residence to 30 gallons, which was countered by Senator Cranston who stated that "Beer must be aged to acquire an acceptable taste--meaning it should not even be tasted until 2 months from the day the yeast was pitched. And 3 months is better. Many homebrewers have multiple batches going and with the standard 3-month aging period, the 30-gallon limit would penalize them by reducing the amount of beer they would be allowed to make in a calendar year.

From the American Homebrewers Association website.


Recent Beer News from RealBeer.com
Another wind-powered brewery
Sept 19, 2003 - Brooklyn joins New Belgium in using windmills

Interbrew buys Spaten
Sept 18, 2003 - Belgian company now largest brewer in Germany

Budvar not for sale
Sept 8, 2003 - Czech minister indicates brewery will stay in state hands

Hamm's Bear homeless
Sept 4, 2003 - St. Paul council rejects offer to put monument in city park

Copyright 2003 by Real Beer, Inc.


Discount Days at Bacchus & Barleycorn
LBG members receive a 10% discount from Bacchus & Barleycorn, October 6-10. Please show membership card. Bacchus & Barleycorn is located at 6633 Nieman Rd. in Shawnee (913-962-2501).