After a number of meetings at local breweries, we recently returned to our usual practice of meeting in members’ homes. And since one particular deadbeat member hadn’t hosted a meeting in years, it was time for him to step up, stop being a slacker, and do the hosting thing.
That particular member would be me, of course.
Now, in my defense, I will remind you all that I now live out on the far eastern frontier. Guilford is a very long drive for many members. That’s been my excuse, anyway. But, yeah, I owed the club one.
Since we’ve been in collaboration mode lately – co-hosting SNERHC with the Krausen Commandos, banding together with Brew Haven for the cider pressing, sharing the “CT Ghetto” at Homebrew Con with most of the CT clubs – I thought it would be good to invite members of M.A.S.H. to join us as well.
It was a small but lively meeting attended by members of both clubs and featuring a number of excellent beers and ciders. The nominal “Oktoberfest” theme was quickly forgotten once everyone realized that Mara had brought IPAs from Treehouse. Food was eaten. My brewing space was shown off. There was much discussion of RO water and brewing systems. (I’ve switched to an indoor, induction-fired, BIAB system for nearly all my beers now.) Etc.
In short, we had a good time. I guess I shouldn’t wait another 5 years before hosting again.
Tasting notes:
- New Word Cider, dry, sparkling. Pivo. Nose of apples, pears, and berries with some funk and leather. Quite tannic. Very drinkable. Would really pop with more carbonation. Cider Days juice with elderflower and tea. 38
- Cream Ale. Mark V. Sweet up front with a dry finish. Estery and fresh. Slight vegetal note blows off. Very drinkable. 39
- New World Cider, dry, still. Liam. Strawberry and papaya. Slightly solventy. Chlorophenol? (Andy makes that go away with a plastic bag.) Made with sweet mead yeast. 30
- New World Cider, dry, still. Liam. Brett and apples. Much more inviting. Very clear. Complex yet very drinkable. Made with Belgian ale yeast. 38
- American Strong Ale. Patrick. Toffee, dark fruit, caramel, licorice. Lots of burnt sugars. Balanced bitterness. Great for sipping. 38
- Trappist Dubbel. Pierre. Fruity, peppery, spicy nose with some sweetness and bubblegum. Fantastic head with lace. Malty and peppery but a tad too bitter. Maybe a little too dry. Very young. Will mellow. 39
- American Wild with Fruit. Patrick. Strong butyric acid aroma blows off leaving a surprisingly drinkable beer. Tart. Lots of tannin. 30
- Sour Imperial Belgian Quad with Zante Currants and Concord Grapes, 14.5% ABV. Andy T. Fruity, with lots of malt. Just a little tart. Brown sugar, molasses, and grapes. Super sweet with tons of fruit flavor. Can’t taste the alcohol. “3D” mouthfeel. 3 years old. 46 and it deserves every stinking point.