March 10th Meeting Notes

meeting recaps

Our monthly meeting was moved to March 10th, since St. Patty’s day may leave some of us rather…occupied.

Attendance: Nick P, Andrew N, Tyler B, Steve M, Nick K, Aaron D, Kelsey, Justin G, Dave T, Matt P

  • Introductions/misc. 
  • Announcements

    • Pracna takes care of us, our first beer is free during meetings, everything else is happy hour prices.  Imports are no longer included.
    • It has been verified we get 15% off discount at The Four Firkins with our membership card.
    • Physical Library (Chaired by Nick P) If members are willing to lend out any books, we will be creating a peer lending library.  The basic rules are 1 book at a time, and you will have to sign out the book.  Let Nick know if you have any books or magazines or any material related to zymurgy you would be willing to let others borrow.  A vote in favor of this library passed 8-0.
  • BAMF March 1st meeting recap
  • Non-Profit Status
    • Nick talked to other HB club presidents regarding this.  President of Jack of All Brews are in the same situation as us.  The MN Home Brew club is a non-profit group.To become a nonprofit we have to pay $75 once, yearly renewal is free.Benefits: Bank account and tax ID are held by the officers of the club, changes with the officers as they change.  Very low maintenance.We cannot be taxed for incoming funds.We can carry a profit, but we will have to file taxes claiming our position.General consensus is that we should pursue becoming a non-profit.

      At the next BAMF meeting we will determine a recommendation for the club.  A vote will be held at the April Club wide meeting.  If you cannot attend but want to vote, send your vote by proxy to the scribe, Tyler Bye, prior to April 21st.

  • Financial Update
    • We currently have about $350 in club funds, all from member dues.  If you know of another homebrewer, let’s recruit so we can have a great summer get-together.
    • It has been verified we get 15% off discount at The Four Firkins with
  • Recruitment
    • We are moving forward with the Farmers Market this summer, to increase club awareness.  Getting a booth will only cost $25 a weekend.  The idea is to have a booth 4 consecutive weekends to maintain a presence in the community.  IF we get 2 members a weekend, it is more than worth our cause.
    • It has been verified we get 15% off discount at The Four Firkins with
  • Public Involvement
    •  Local homebrew contest: Nick is meeting this Thursday to discuss the possibility with the 2nd annual Nordeast Big River Beer Fest.We need to explore the cost of adding judges (BJCP sanctioned or not), and determine the style guidelines we want to hold entrants accountable to.
    • It has been verified we get 15% off discount at The Four Firkins with
  • BJCP Judging
    • Please also refer to the March BAMF notes for a background.
    • At this point, we should try getting a study group or two together, so that we can begin the process.  This is a personal commitment more than anything, and it isn’t an overnight process.
    • If we can become more knowledgeable judges, we can help critique our beers, and become better brewers.
  • Barrel Project
    • 8 people have paid, notes show Justin, Aaron, Dave T, Tim S and Kevin S all want in.
    • TIME TO PAY UP!
    • The next step is to buy grains in bulk.
    • The goal is to have grains for distribution by the next meeting.
    • Once we get ingredients, we can transfer the beer after primary fermentation at the April or May BAMF meeting.
  • Education Session: Dave T – Stir Plates & Yeas

    • When breweing a big beer or a lager, you want healthy, plentiful yeast.  You can either buy several yeast packs, or make a starter.A yeast starter is essentially a ratio of 10:1 water to DME boiled and cooled in an Erlenmeyer flask (simple wort), and then yeast is pitched.  The goal is to grow large quantities of active, healthy yeast.  In order to propogate the yeast, you need to shake the yeast to bring in oxygen.  Rather than doing it by hand, you can use a stir plate to keep things in suspension.  This gives the yeast the most contact with the starter wort.Pre-fabbed stir plates are expensive.  You can make your own for around $20.  An automated sitr plate will let you stir the yeast for 18 hours without having to pay attention to it.  Dave brought in a great homemade stir plate using a cigar box and basic materials.  A hand out was passed to anyone present.Once you make the starter, you cold crash it and decant off the spent
    • If you want a copy of the handout, let Dave know.  Dave, send me a digital copy and I’ll throw it on the site.
  • Chocolate Mint Beer Update
    • Refer to the email sent by Andrew regarding tastings.
  • New Business
    • Harriet is doing a fundraising beer competition, the Handy Andy Benefit Homebrew and label competition, for an employee who dropped a carboy on his hand.  Deadline is April 28.  $10 and two bottles to enter.  The top 3 scoring will get to brew beer at Harriet  for the party.
    • Justin: Knows a guy who makes glass tap handles.  Perhaps we could sell these at an upcharge to raise some funds (maybe at farmers market).
    • ~NEW PROJECT (Nick P – who else): Return of the Single Hop Project!
    • This was done last year.We brew a simple recipe, and each use only one hop strain each to profile the new flavors.  The goal is to do this using hops that have only become available recently (Southern Hemisphere spring harvest, New Zealand, new blends).  More details coming.
  • Tastings – BJCP judging sheets were used for the first time.
  • Tyler B: 23A. Specialty Beer/ 6D. American Wheat or Rye Ale
  • Steve M: 14C. Imperial IPA
  • Justin:1776 Ale –  1C Premium American Lager

 

 

Next Meeting April 21st, 4:00pm @ Pracna!