Fellow Homebrewers,
As I write this entry, summer is still officially one day away. You wouldn’t know by checking the thermometer. This week we’ve been treated to a steady diet of 90+ degree days. Just last week I was wondering why I didn’t take a jacket to Grand Rapids! Even if you’re a backyard or garage brewer, don’t let the heat be an excuse for stowing away your brewing gear. Follow a few common sense approaches to your brew day. Get organized the evening before and start your brew day early. I try to roll out of bed around 5:00 a.m. after having milled the grains and collected my water the night before. After a couple cups of coffee to loosen the cobwebs, drink plenty of water and hold off on the beer until later (I’ll admit to having problems with this one.) You might also try breaking up your brew session. On a couple of occasions I’ve mashed and lautered late in the evening and did my boil early the next morning. If you mash out at around 170 degrees and cover your boil kettle, you should still be well over 120 degrees the next morning when you start your boil. I’ve noticed no ill effects when following this schedule. Regardless of your brewing technique, you’ll probably want to have plenty of ice on hand as chilling your wort becomes an issue in the summer as the groundwater warms. Maybe we can have an open discussion at the next meeting to share tips and tricks on how to beat the heat!
The highlight of last month’s meeting was the quarterly calibration tasting and judging. Thanks to Kenny Purcell for his willingness to have his American wheat judged side-by-side with Carson’s Eville Wheat. I think the consensus was that both beers, while quite hoppy for the style (ala Three Floyd’s Gumballhead), were tasty brews. Thanks to John Mills and Carson’s Brewery for providing the Eville Wheat. Our next calibration tasting event will be in August when an anonymous homebrewer will offer up a Scottish Ale for review. Just a reminder, Category 9, Scottish and Irish Ale, is the category for this year’s Big Turkey contest.
Thanks to all of you who helped with the 2014 Zoo Brew. I know Sky greatly appreciated your assistance. I’d especially like to recognize Dan Mills for transporting the equipment to and from the event. I also want to give a special shout out to Jack for allowing us to borrow his serving cart. Seeing dual brew carts was kind of awesome! Aside from some foaming problems and the late downpour, the event went pretty smoothly, at least to the untrained eye. Our attentions now turn to the SWIRCA BrewFest, August 2, 2014. Tickets can be purchased online at www.swirca.org. Board Member Jill Mecklenborg is coordinating OVHA’s participation. so stay tuned for more information.
Well, the OVHA team (Cesar and Amelia Gonzalez, Chris Norrick, Don Heisler & Jeff Smith) made it safely back from the National Homebrewers Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I’m only aware of one rookie mistake, but it’s hardly worth mentioning, is it A.G.? IMHO, it was great experience and especially so when sharing it with friends. If you get a chance, go to the OVHA forum page and check out some of the pictures. Most are from Club Night when the OVHA was one of 70 clubs serving beer to a few thousand of our fellow Homebrewers. The highlight of that night came when our taps were taken over by the Gnomes! I’m sure we’ll post more pictures in the coming days. The conference was a “who’s who” of the American homebrewing community. Many of these notables were presenters for the numerous seminars offered. I encourage you all to cross the NHC off your bucket list. Your next opportunity will be in San Diego, June 11-13, 2015.
I’m sure you remember this past March when we puckered up for Upland sour beer presentation. We still have 18 bottles remaining – 6 blueberry, 7 raspberry, and 5 strawberry. We paid $25 + tax per bottle. These bottles are extremely scarce and were sold by Upland via a lottery. We are proposing to sell our remaining bottles to club members at $25 per bottle through a lottery process. Members in good standing may purchase lottery tickets for a nonrefundable cost $2 each. Keep in mind this is a lottery, not a raffle. A winning ticket gives you the right to purchase a bottle. So, if you buy five tickets you could conceivably walk away with five bottles and you would be $135 poorer ($10 for tickets and $125 for beer.) Then again you could just be $10 poorer if none of your tickets is drawn.
I want to remind everyone about the quarterly canned food drive at this month’s meeting. Bring a canned good to receive a door prize ticket. I’m sure Sky will be willing to accept cash in lieu of a canned good. Either way, he will deliver the donations to the local food bank. Thanks in advance for your generosity!
Finally, Sky will be subbing for me this month (June 25) since I’ll be in Seattle, most likely tipping back a northwest-style IPA. If I don’t see you before, I’ll catch you at Tin Man for our July 30 meeting.
Just Brew It!
Jeff
