Home Imbrewment

May 2004

 

 

The Official Newsletter of the Hampton Roads Brewing & Tasting Society (HRB & TS)

www.hrbts.org

 

The President’s Podium – Chris “C.J.” Jones

 

Well, the big news for our Club is that four of our members recently sat for the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Exam early in April.  Tom Byrnes, Diane Catanzaro, Richard Pigeon and Will Walker all stepped up to the plate and took the test.  In about two to three months, we’ll find out if we have new judges in our midst.  Congratulations to these four folks are certainly in order.

Our last meeting was at Granby North in the Ocean View section of Norfolk.  It was a good time, especially for our OV crew. 

We had a Porter judging at our house earlier this month.  Who won?  Were the beers all great?  Any pale ales accidentally entered as Porters?  Keep reading and you’ll find out.

We have brew haikus to peruse.  There’s a list of them in this newsletter for you to examine.  At our May meeting, we’ll pick the top three and award bottles of Bigfoot Barleywine to each of the respective haiku gurus. 

 

The Next Meeting Location – Diane Catanzaro

 

Ah, the flowers are blooming and spring has sprung. Tis the season to enjoy an outdoor meeting, with the sweet smell of homebrewed porter dallying with the dancing daylilies that lurk along the lake.  Rob Sissom will host the May 5 meeting in the yard of his home in Chick’s Beach. Rob traded in his Willoughby beach condo for a little slice of Shangri-la on the lake. Feel free to bring a lawn chair. Also, since it is Cinco de Mayo, maybe some guacamole and that cool salsa with the mangoes (Doug, are you reading this?) or other snack items.  Rob says if you want to bring hot dogs or veggie burgers or whatever he can fire up the grill. If you want to show up around 7 pm to grill Rob says that would be great.

 I wouldn’t recommend showing up too early because you know new homeowners always need work done around the house. Next thing you know you’re mulching or whatever. But don’t show up too late, or you may miss the “possible unicycle demonstration prior to the meeting”.

 

Bring any kind of homebrewed or commercial beers (wait, I was NOT talking about Corona, thank you!). Feel free to bring some cool commercial beers you may have discovered recently.  Dress for outdoor weather!!

 

 

C.J.’s BJCP Exam Study Guide, Part 1 – C.J. Jones

 

As mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter, some of our Club members, Tom Byrnes, Diane Catanzaro, Richard Pidgeon and Will Walker, proudly marched into the breach and sat for the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) exam in early April.  After they struggled with their exams, they called me and said “We only wish some learned beer sage could have helped us with one of the more difficult problems on the exam.”  I asked which question was it, for I may, in fact, know said sage.

Here’s the question :

“Compare and contrast the following beer types: Cream Ale; Helles; and Koelsch.”

 

Man, what a tough question.  Why, these three beers are some of my absolute favorites.  Some may think that they are all insipid, atrocious bland-assed beers, but not me.  I know there is a subtle difference in them.  Two of them are bland-assed German beers, while one of them is a bland-assed American beer!  I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders.  If only I had taken a more active role in their preparation, maybe, just maybe I could have helped them, and in my own little way, delivered these four people to the Promised Land, the Land of Beer Judge Certification. 

 

So, a day late and a dollar short, I cannot help them, but I can help you, the Club members who will follow in these folks’ footsteps and take the exam in the future.  Here is part 1 of  “C.J.’s BJCP Exam Study Guide”, where I give you the info you need to “Compare and contrast the following beer types: Cream Ale; Helles; and Koelsch.”

 

First, Cream Ale, BJCP category 3C.  SRM = 2-4, approximately the color of urine after drinking a six pack of swill, cream ale, helles or koelsch.  IBU = 10-22, almost as much bite as a Diet Coke; ABV = 4.4 – 5.7 %.  Overall style characteristics = Low hop aroma, low maltiness, some character from corn (that’s just great!); clear to brilliant in appearance, due to the low levels of anything of taste or value used in the manufacturing process; insipid, boring, tasteless crap … or a light, refreshing thirst-quenching beer, it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other.  Love that corn or rice, mmmm good!    Originated in America!  Take that, France!

 

Next up, Helles, BJCP category 2D.  SRM = 3-5, approximately the color of urine after drinking a six pack of swill, cream ale, helles or koelsch.  IBU = 18-25, almost as much bite as a Diet Coke with Lemon.  ABV = 4.5 – 5.5 %.  Overall style characteristics = Might actually have a grainy flavor, or flavour as they say in England.  Slightly sweet, and malty, especially when compared to other wimpy, tasteless lawnmower beers.  Has some flavor, but not enough for you to actually want to drink one.  Created in Munich in 1895 at the Spaten brewery in an effort to dumb down the overall quality of German beers.  Large sales volume of this beer in Deutschland has lead the country “going to helles in a handbasket.”  

 

And last but not least, Koelsch, BJCP category 8A.  SRM = 3.5-5, approximately the color of urine after drinking a six pack of swill, cream ale, helles or koelsch.  IBU = 16-30, almost as much bite as a Diet Coke with Lemon, with a lemon slice added.  ABV = 4.0 – 5.0 %.  Overall style characteristics = low to no maltiness.  A low sulfur aroma is acceptable, to at least the BJCP.  I don’t know about you, but sulfur is not something I usually try and find in a beer.  OK, maybe after drinking 12 of them you can generate a little sulfur of your own, but that’s another story.  Clear to brilliant in appearance.  Smooth crisp mouthfeel.  Smooth = no discernable flavor characteristics.  Brewed at ale temperatures, then cold-conditioned to reduce fermentation byproducts … like flavor, or flavour as they say in England.     

 

There you have it, one exam question down, and many to go.  Now let’s get studying!

 

This Year’s Brewing Schedule – C.J. Jones

 

Cut this out and tape it to your refrigerator along with those pictures drawn by your children! 

 

Month

Beer of the Month (BJCP Style #)

AHA Club Only Contest (Yes/No)

HBBTS Judging Date

June

California Common (6C)

No

5/19/04

July

American Pale Ale (6A)

No

6/23/04

August

Wheat beer (3B, 17, 19B)

Yes

7/21/04

September

Stout (16)

No

8/18/04

October

Octoberfest (9A)

No

9/22/04

November

India Pale Ale (7)

Yes

10/20/04

December

Barleywine (12)

No

11/17/04

January 2005

Spiced beers (22)

No

12/22/04

February 2005

Strong Belgian Ales (18)

No

1/??/05

March 2005

Will be decided by 2005  HRB & TS Club Officers

 

 

Competition Connection- Tom Byrnes

 

This month we judged 7 porters representing all of the styles.  Again the competition was fierce and all categories were represented. All scores ranged in the 30’s.

 

 

The finalists of the Porter Contest are listed below:

 

First Place: CJ/Diane. Robust Porter

Second Place: Richard Pidgeon/OVBC Tied with Brown Porters

Third Place. Richard Pidgeon Brown Porter

 

Again thanks to all who entered and helped with this contest. Please check the BJCP guidelines prior to entering. These can be accessed at www.beertown.org.

 

If you would like to hold a judging meeting at your house, please let me know.

 

Since we have new members here are the rules for the HRBTS CUP: This years contest will run from January through December of a given year. Members will accrue points from entering and winning the contests sponsored by the club. The only criterion is that multiple entries in the same contest must be different recipes. Points are as follows: 5 points for 1st place, 4 for 2nd, 3 for 3rd and 1 point for entry. The entry point is not awarded if the beer places in the contest. It is intended to encourage entries.  The club officers may also award points for members brewing for special events. The Competition Coordinator will keep the points. The club president will be the final arbiter of any disputes.

 

Here is the current HRBTS Home Brewer of the Year points.

 

HRBTS CUP 2004 STANDINGS

BREWER

CUMULATIVE POINTS

CJ/Diane

29

Richard Pidgeon

26

Tom Byrnes

16

OVBC (Mike Q, Rob, Erin, John and Catherine)

15

Mike Pensinger

10

Doug Boyd

10

Victor

7

Will Walker

4

Phil Swanson

4

Corey Pettiford

1

Joe Rainer

1

John Pearson

1

 

Next month’s contest will be California Common. Category 6C. Please consult the guidelines for more information.

 

Congratulation to Diane Catanzaro, Richard Pidgeon, Will Walker, & Tom Byrnes for taking the BJCP exam on April 10th. This tests demanded answering 10 essay questions and judging four beers in a three-hour period. Scores should arrive in about 10 weeks. Also thanks to John Mitchell for administering the exam and conducting the local study group. Now that we have judges our club can consider hosting a contest.

 

I would like to remind members that both Virginia Beach Homebrew Hobbies and Wine and Cake offer HRBTS members a 10% discount when you pay by cash or check. A similar discount is available at Homebrew.com. In order to qualify for these discounts you must have your dues paid up and be on the member list that Doug provides to these retailers.

 

 

 

About the HRB & TS

 

The Hampton Roads Brewing and Tasting Society is dedicated to promoting the enjoyment of home brewing.  The annual dues are $15 per individual and $20 per family.  Members are encouraged to support the reasonable enjoyment of beer and observe the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Federal government, and the Golden Rule.  Persons attending HRB & TS meetings and events are solely liable for actions attendant to their participation.   HRB & TS maintains a NO SMOKING policy during all meetings so that members may better enjoy fine beers.  Smoking is permitted in meetings held in restaurants in the facility’s designated smoking areas.

 

Visit the HRB & TS online at www.hrbts.org.