Sept 2014 Meeting Notes

Just back from Dan and Alison Mages’ home and the September meeting. As usual, Dan went overboard on the food, with excellent cheese and bread and pickles and a wonderful tabouleh-like thing. Delicious.

Dan also showed off the swag he’s collected for SNERHC prizes. Completely over the top. SNERHC winners will be very happy. I can’t imagine how much time he must have spent wrangling this stuff out of the hop farms, brewers, equipment makers, and wholesalers he has persuaded to donate. Thank you, Dan!

The homebrews we judged were also over the top. Almost everything scored in the high 30s and some reached the low 40s. Absolutely outstanding brews. You shoulda been there.

Unfortunately, I’m an utter numbnutz when it comes to WordPress. I have no idea how to insert a table and fill it with the tasting notes. So I’m going to just give you the highlights here. Maybe someone who knows WordPress can fix this for me later.

  • American Wheat with Mosaic hops, brewed by Pastry Dan, scored 37. Melon and juicy fruit aromas. Well-attenuated. Mouth-filling. Much more interesting than your standard American wheat. A very yummy, drinkable beer.
  • Witbier, brewed by Pastry Dan, scored 30. Phenolic, grainy aroma. Lots of coriander in flavor. Dry finish. Bottle was a gusher which stirred up the yeast. Dan says other bottles have been better.
  • Biere de table, brewed by Pastry Dan, scored 40. Second runnings of the wit. Clean, bright, fresh nose full of noble hops. Lemony flavor. Clean, quick finish. 3% abv. Very drinkable.
  • Flanders Red with mulberries, brewed by Handy Andy, scored 42. Outstanding Flanders red base with a strong sour nose and balanced dry finish. Perfect acetic/lactic balance. Mulberries evident in aroma and flavor. Mmmmmmm.
  • Belgian Dubbel, brewed by Ted (I think, notes unclear), scored 32. Clovey, phenolic nose. Malty sweetness. Hints of licorice. Lacks carbonation.
  • American Stout, brewed by Colin, scored 35. Rich, dark, roasty, malty nose. Excellent malty sweetness up front. Could use a bit more hop bitterness in finish. Extremely flavorful.
  • Imperial Stout with coffee and cacao, brewed by Handy Andy, scored 34. Strong aged alcohol nose with some coffee and cacao. Port wine character in flavor. More of an old ale than an RIS. Flavorful but not to style. Perhaps has passed its prime.
  • Strawberry mead, brewed by Colin, scored 28. Aroma lacks honey florals, contains a bit of funk. Not much strawberry evident in aroma or flavor. Totally drinkable. Good first try at mead.

That’s all! I’m hoping Handy Andy has some photos we can post later.

 

SNERHC Entries Nearing 300 Mark

UPDATE: As of Sept 17, we have 332 paid entries. Not much room left!!

With 5 days left in the registration period, we are currently just shy of 300 entries for SNERHC.

This is an outstanding turnout. Thank you all!

Of course, it reinforces the need for MORE JUDGES. If you can help out with judging, please register now!

 

Homebrew Casting Call

I just received this in the mail. I have not vetted it. Just passing it along to you all.

Hello Underground Brewers of Connecticut,

I am a television producer with VPEtalent casting a new television concept alongside Original Media (producers of LA Ink, Comic Book Men, and Tatum Channing’s new series on A&E). You can find out more about us here at vpetalent.com and originalmedia.com.

Currently in development, the series will feature experts in the brewing and distilling world who create the best backyard alcohol. If you make the best hard cider out of your own home, then we are looking for you.

We are looking for the best of the best homebrewers and distillers to show off their skills as masters of homemade concoctions as well as follow their daily lives. We were wondering if you know of anyone in your club who fits this description or would be interested in this project.

The focus of our show will be presenting how our experts create alcohol as their passion and as well as their livelihood. If this has piqued your interest please feel free to respond to this email and I would be happy to discuss the project further. Or if you know someone who might be a great fit for this please forward this message along and we would be happy to speak with them as well.

I look forward to connecting with you at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Matt Drezdzon

SNERHC Entries Pass 150 Mark

*** UPDATE 9/10/14 ***

With 10 days left in the registration period, we currently have 225 paid entries in the system. That leave 150 open slots. There is still room for yours!!!

 

We registered more than 150 SNERHC entries in the first 24 hours, more than 1/3 of the slots available. Woot!

NERHBC 2014

Received from our friends to the north:

I’m writing ask for your help judging or stewarding at the 9th New England Regional Homebrew Competition, coming up on Saturday, October 18th.  We are expecting about 450 entries so we will need quite a few qualified staff.  This year’s competition, which again will be held at Martha’s Exchange, a great brewpub in downtown Nashua, NH.  If you can come and help judge, it would be greatly appreciated.  Also, as the proceeds for this competition will be donated to the American Cancer Society, you will be helping in a great cause (besides judging beer)!

NERHBC is an AHA and BJCP sanctioned competition.  The 2008 revision of the BJCP guidelines will be used for this event.

For out of town judges, we will provide information about local accommodations and activities, and we are currently looking at after-competition activities as well.  Please also share information about this competition with your fellow home brewers.

If you can join us on October 18th, please sign up at http://www.bfd.org/nerhbc.

All the best,

Eric Adriaansen

Organizer, 9th New England Regional Homebrew Competition

Eli’s/Maltose Express Competition Needs Judges

Maltose Express & Eli’s are VERY MUCH in need of judges for a pre-judging session on Monday, July 21st at 5:30pm at Maltose in Monroe. There are about 100 entries for this competition.

This is not a BJCP sanctioned contest, but all entries will be judged by BJCP guidelines.

If you’re able to help out, please give Tess or Mark a call at 203.452.7332

Food will be provided.

Oaktoberfest Homebrew Competition

I have received the following from Mark Thome, our long-lost brother out on the West Coast:

Hi Paul,

Hope this email still works.
My new brew club sponsors the Oaktoberfest competition. It is part of the oaktoberfest street fair in Oakland. As u can see, the best of show gets a lot more then a hardy hand shake.

Let’s show them what the UBCC can do.

Homebrewers,

The Oaktoberfest Homebrew Competition, hosted by the Mad Zymurgists, is pleased to announce this year’s new grand prize for the Best of Show beer.  While we know everyone enjoys the ribbons and recognition of winning in a category at this German style only competition, we are upping the WOW factor for the competition winner this year.
We have partnered with the 21st Amendment Brewing Company to offer a very special opportunity for the winning brewer—to have their winning lager or ale beer brewed by 21A for local distribution and special events!
Shaun O’Sullivan, co-owner, and Brewermaster had this to say, “We are so excited to be part of this great competition, and to do something exciting for the homebrewing community.”
There is still plenty of time to get a beer ready for Oaktoberfest.  If you don’t already have some in the works, here are a few that are easily finished by the entry deadline: Altbier, Kölsch, Weizen, Dunkelweizen, Roggenbier, Berliner Weisse, Rauchbeer, or a sped-up lager.
And as always, the winners will be announced live at the Oaktoberfest in the Dimond festival in Oakland on October 4th on the main stage!
Visit the competition page for more information: http://www.madzymurgists.com