Here is the January 2018 edition of the Bosmopolitan!
Bloated and Quoted…By an Actual Writer
Club Brewing Demonstrations and Beer Education Programs
Have you recently toured a brewery, been to a new favorite beer bar, or have some other beer related news you’d like to share with the club? Let us know and we’ll include it in the newsletter.
January Board Meeting Minutes
Meeting Start: 5:20 PM
In Attendance: Roxanne, Rob, Ray, Steve, Jerry, Emma, Joe (eventually), Sarah
Treasurer’s Report
We are down about $2000 from last year, due to a loss from Beer & Sweat. But we still have money. We are solvent.
Board Meeting Locations for 2018
The intention is to rotate to different parts of town each month to enable more members to join us for board meetings. Locations may include members’/board members’ homes, public spaces, etc. The February board meeting will be at Rob & Roxanne’s on Monday, February 5th. Locations for meetings later in the year will be determined soon.
Upcoming Meetings
February 2018: Fundamentals of Kegging
March 2018: March Beer Madness
April 2018: TBD
May 2018: Bloat Open
Bockfest 2018
Entries are open! Get your registrations in for the competition and judging!
Committee led by Roxanne, Tyra, and Pete B. to do a Tasting and Beer Evaluation session for the public at Bockfest 2018. There will be a registration fee for the session and it will include a flight of approximately five styles plus appropriately flavored foodstuff bites to highlight specific flavors and aromas in the beers. Please let us know if you’re interested in assisting with this mini-Beer Camp as we will need volunteers!
On Saturday, we will be manning a merchandise and informational booth about BBL. We are looking for someone to oversee the booth setup, signage and merchandise sales as the Minister of Propoganda is unavailable that day due to a wedding. Please also let us know if you are able to volunteer for a shift.
Possible Topics for 2018 Meetings
- All Things Yeast
- Yeast Experiment
- Mashing Chemistry
- Decoctions
- Brew-in-a-Bag Techniques
- Safety (5-10 minute topics before formal topic for all meeting)
- Beer Swap Night
- Blending Night (TRASH Guest)
- Factors that Affect Efficiency
- Chime in with additional suggestions!
Beer & Sweaters
There is scheming of a bus trip to visit our friends in TRASH sometime in February or March 2018. Cost is TBD, but likely $75 for bus, plus hotel cost…and whatever you’re drinking. At this point, we have several potential stops lined up. Execution has been delayed, but we’re hoping to
Beer & Sweat 2018 + 2019
Location has been approved by unanimous board vote for the next two years.
Potential Mentorship Program
Wayne is writing up a proposal to present to the board regarding a possible mentorship program to help connect potential new members interested in learning to brew with Bloats willing to mentor them.
Vote to Add Board Position
A proposal was offered to the board to make the Competition Coordinator a board position. A written resolution was to all members via email and also presented for a vote at the board meeting on Saturday, January 20th. The resolution was unanimously approved.
Meeting adjoured at 6:04 PM.
Have you recently toured a brewery, been to a new favorite beer bar, or have some other beer related news you’d like to share with the club? Let us know and we’ll include it in the newsletter.
Bloated and Quoted…by an Actual Writer
Check out our President in the news! Read Roxanne’s answers to the Five Questions With weekly section from The Beer Blog.
Club Brewing Demonstrations and Beer Education Programs
The club has been receiving a large number of requests lately for brewing demos and beer education programs. In the past we have had a small number of people that would take care of these requests, but now that the requests are coming from far and wide throughout the Tri-State area, we now have a need to call on our membership to ask for volunteers who would be willing to lead some discussions and beer education events. If you are interested in speaking when these events come up, please talk to a board member or officer so that we can take your name and contact information. A power point presentation and/or discussion materials can be provided if needed.
Have you recently toured a brewery, been to a new favorite beer bar, or have some other beer related news you’d like to share with the club? Let us know and we’ll include it in the newsletter.
BBL Membership Cards
As you’ve probably seen in our member benefits, you can receive a 10% discount on supplies at local homebrew supply stores when you show your Bloatarian membership card. But to do that, you first need to renew or become a member! Renew or join today…
**NOTE: If you paid online and still need a card, please see Ray at the check-in desk at the monthly meeting! Come out and join us.
Have you recently toured a brewery, been to a new favorite beer bar, or have some other beer related news you’d like to share with the club? Let us know and we’ll include it in the newsletter.
Flanders Red Solera
The club has participated in various group brew barrel projects in the past. About a year and half ago we started a Flanders Red Solera. The idea behind a Solera is that you periodically remove some beer from the barrel and then add more new beer into the barrel. Theoretically the Solera can keep going for years. It took some time for the beer to initially sour, so the beer is finally ready to start the cycling process.
In general, participants provide 5 gallons to put in the barrel and then later receive about 4 gallons back out. Our plans are to draw from the barrel once per month. At that rate, a person who adds to the barrel will be drawing their share from the barrel one year later.
Dave Harsh has agreed to be the point of contact for the barrel (thanks Dave!). If you are interested in contributing beer to the barrel, let Dave know ASAP and get that beer in there!
For those of you who are interested, here’s the Flanders Red recipe we used. This came direct from Brian St. Claire and it is the recipe he used for his Flanders Red which took Runner-Up Best of Show at the 2007 National Homebrew Competition.
Bourbon Barrel Flanders Red
5 gallons
OG: 1.054
IBU: 12
5 lb vienna
1 lb carahell
1 lb cara vienna
1 lb aromatic
8 oz special B
1.5 lb flaked corn
handful UNCRUSHED carafa III in sparge for better color, optional
1 oz Mt Hood flowers at 3.7% AA at 45 min (may substitute with another equivalently low %AA Noble hop; check first)
Wyeast # 3763 Roselare yeast (No starter, use it right from the packet)
mash in at 156 degrees for 90 min, boil 80 min, chill to 69, oxygenate one min, ferment in glass then add to barrel when yeast drops out (20 days.)
Have you recently toured a brewery, been to a new favorite beer bar, or have some other beer related news you’d like to share with the club? Let us know and we’ll include it in the newsletter.