The Brewsletter

June 2006

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

www.hrbts.org

The President’s Podium – Tom Byrnes

Well May indeed was a good month for homebrew. First the meeting at Rob and Jodi’s was very successful and brought in several new members. Thanks to Rob and Jodi for welcoming us into their backyard. Second was the very successful Town Point Park Beer Festival. While we did not have a display this year, I am told that all who attended had a good time. It is nice to get a local opportunity to sample various microbrews. Finally we had our IPA judging featuring a wide variety of IPA’s and commercial benchmarks. In case you haven’t noticed the HRBTS cup is closer this year than ever before. Several members are just one win away from first. This should add some extra excitement as we go into the second half of the year. Finally we decided at the last officers meeting that we will be phasing out the club library due to limited usage. We will be using the contents to bolster club raffles and our silent auction.

Around town there are also several happenings in the commercial beer arena. First is the June 10^th closing of Hilltop Brewing Company. While I'm not a fan of Hilltop Brewing, it is sad to see any brewpub in this area close. Our club had many memorable moments there, as it was the traditional site for our elections meeting. Many of our members both current and past have brewed beer for this establishment. Also they supplied the grand prize for the Taming of the Brews contest allowing the Best of Show entry to brew his recipe. I hear that they are selling ingredients pretty cheap in case there is an interest and of course their glasses have just become collectors items. However there is new life dawning on the brewing horizon. Gordon Biersch is going to open at VAB Town Center with the old brewer of Chesbay beer at the helm and another brewpub is set to open in Portsmouth (down the street from bier garden) sometime in June. I look forward to establishing a relationship with these new establishments. Our very own Mike Pensinger should be up and brewing at Williamsburg Ales Works toward the end of June. Rumor has it that he will be selling growlers and filling kegs. I look forward to touring and sampling the best of what they have to offer. Good luck to Mike on this new endeavor. Finally Bonvivant Market will be opening a second location in the Shoppe’s at Governor’s Point. This is significant because it is off 17 very close to the MMMBT, Churchland and Northern Suffolk. This shop will feature the awesome beer selection and a beer tasting once a month now enjoyed at the Smithfield location.

My vacation to the Florida Keys was very eventful. I was fortunate enough to meet Jim Brady, homebrewer and inventor of the wort wizard. Jim showed me places on the island to get good beers. Thank god, between Jimmy buffet and Corona, I was going crazy!!! Key West does have an amber ale called Key West Sunset Ale, which is no longer brewed in the keys. It is a mildly hopped, lager like ale, which is very smooth and has hints of caramel. I also met the head brewer Kelley’s Brewpub and got to help brew a batch of beer, my first in such a large quantity. Kelley’s was originally owned by Kelly McGillis of Top Gun fame and features a red ale, hefeweizen, IPA and pilsner. I was hoping to have pictures but since we attempted to take pictures of Robert the doll our film did not turn out. People familiar with Key West lore will know that Robert was a voodoo doll given to the son of a rich cigar manufacture by a disgruntled housekeeper. The doll was blamed for all of the family misfortunes and legend has it that he does not allow his picture taken. His exhibit contains numerous letters from people that have tried to take his picture and the misfortunes that befell their cameras. Moral of Story: Next year separate cameras.

As we approach the summer I wish all members well in their holiday travels. As you venture to different places and sample beers don’t forget your club and pick up some beer related mementos for the raffle. I also wanted to congratulate Brian Edgar for being the only HRBTS member to make it to the second round of the NHC, which will be judged at the National Convention in Orlando this June. Out of over 4128 entries Brian’s Barley Wine was 1 of 721 to go to this round. Great Job Brian! See you at the June meeting. Tom

This Month’s Meeting Location – Diane Catanzaro

When the beer goddess Ninkasi called for her loyal minions to take a break from baking bappir and mashing grains so they could have time to relax and taste the fruits of their labor, no doubt they hoped for a peaceful backyard, splendid weather, convivial company, and a wide variety of fermented grain-based beverages. On Wednesday June 7, HRB&TS members will be honoring Ninkasi by sipping suds and sharing salubrious salutations in surprising Suffolk at the home of Tim and Mini Hobbs. The meeting begins at 7:30.

Of course, homebrews are key to a successful meeting, so be sure to bring plenty! And, for you tasters, don’t forget we are looking forward to whatever kinky stuff you bring (beer-wise, of course). Need ideas? Some o’dat crazy Maharajah IPA by Avery, Three Floyds Alpha King, Dogfish Head anything (this is one time you can suggest a Golden Shower and your friends actually applaud), Houblon Chouffe Dobbelon IPA. This last is a hoppy Belgian tripel (!) from Achouffe and it is a home-run! We found it at Bon Vivant in Smithfield. Tasters, be experimental and let your freak flags fly by bringing something interesting to share with those who’ve provided homebrew at club meetings all year long!

Summer is a great time to think about bringing some cooling hefeweizens or witbiers, fantastic for summer weather. Speaking of hefeweizen, Mike Quanty brought a hefeweizen marketed under Trader Joe’s label to the judging meeting. It rocked the house with an amazing banana-clove-wheat love triangle. A bit of internet research the next day led to the discovery that it is brewed by Gordon Biersch. A fantastic hefeweizen at an excellent price!

HRBTS campout in Creeds – Chris Jones and Will Walker

A bunch of HRBTS folks have been chatting over the last month of two about our desire, no our need, to go camping. Not just camping, but to go to a campground that will at least allow a bunch of grown-ups to stay up all night long for one or two straight nights, drinking some of the finest beers available to a Tidewater resident.

Ron Jones ran with that ball, and found a campground in the Creeds section of Virginia Beach that fit the bill – North Landing Beach riverfront campground and resort (www.northlandingbeach.com). Not too far from any of our homes, and not disdainful of folks sipping beers, with tent sites as low as $18.00 a night, it was the perfect destination for a weekend of beverages under the stars.

Will and Jonna Walker, and their friends Mike and Terrie Connell, landed at the Landing on Friday night in the Walker’s Minnie Winnie, an RV loaded with food, beer, sunscreen, beer, and … beer. They were destined to spend Friday night without visitors, because the rest of us were scared away from spending Friday night in a tent because of the weather. There was a deluge in downtown, a pour in Portsmouth, and bodacious amounts of rain everywhere … except in Creeds. While the rest of us were drowning on our driveways, Will and friends were on the waterfront in RV site 37, cooking out on a fire ring, having a casual malt assisted dinner at 10:00 PM, serenaded by a chorus of frogs of every imaginable pitch. Tree frogs, bullfrogs, and a couple of species in-between gave the Minnie Winnie and her denizens nature’s music to drink, reflect, and sleep by.

The next day, Saturday, the rest of us headed east, trying to get to the Landing before the oncoming storms. Curt Aasen, Ron and Jeanine Jones, Diane Catanzaro and myself, and Joe and Emily Andrews all arrived at RV site 37 to greet the Walkers, perhaps sip a beer, and get out of Dodge before the bottom fell out.

Well, you know how things get sometimes, you’re sure as hell not going to set up a tent on 6 inches of thoroughly soaked hardwood mulch, but you do have a couple of cases of beer chilled, you’ve brought food, and gee, it could be fun, if wet; what to do?

Right next door to RV site 37 was the answer to our hidden prayers – cabins for rent. Each one had sleeping space for four, with floor space for a fifth, a clean bathroom, running water, waterproof and was, yes, air conditioned for seventy bucks plus tax. Suddenly my soon-to-be-wet tent didn’t seem like such an inviting place to be. Wet ground, wet weather on the horizon, and forty bucks burning a hole in my pocket, well, you get the picture. We headed off to the camp store to rent two cabins.

Now we could get this party started! No sooner than we grabbed our first beers, the bottom fell out, and it rained torrentially for pretty much the rest of the afternoon. If you had some malt beverage in your hand you were able to mentally put yourself in another place and really just hang out, perhaps damper than you had imagined that morning, and enjoy your afternoon.

By 4:00 PM, the rain began to wind down, and within the hour, it had stopped. We got to see a killer sunset over the North Landing River, and began what was to be eight to nine hours of uninterrupted beverages, conversations, food and fun. There was, of course, homebrewed beer to drink, and a truly fine collection of commercially produced beer, including the Duchesse, Dogfish Head’s Fort, Chimay, Oer Bier, classic pale ales and IPAs, and many of the Flying Dog brands. Appetites were more than satisfied with starters of chips, salsa, hummus, peanuts, and crackers of every variety. For our main course, we had steaks, chops, salmon burgers, potatoes simmered with garlic and butter, garlic potatoes, potato salad, and slaws of every shape and color.

Post-dinner there was the obligatory campfire, with s’mores (courtesy of Jeanine), beer, conversation, beer, more s’mores, a star-filled sky, and a second night of the fabulous frog chorale.

After a great night’s sleep, most of us scooted home, while Curt and Diane spent the day boating along various spots of the North Landing River, scoping out birds, chasing turtles, and probably getting more sun than they had planned.

I’m pretty sure we’ll do it again, and next time, you should join us. Even in the dog days of August, one of those air conditioned cabins might just have your name on it.

Competition Corner, May 2006 “C.J.” Jones

Our monthly contest results: On May 24, we had a judging session at our house where we assembled to judge IPAs beers. This is typically one of more heavily entered contests, and this one was no exception – fifteen entries! We split the judging panel into two groups in an effort to ensure that the judging would finish before sunrise. Will Walker, Paul McKune and J. P. Messier were in one group, while Tom Byrnes and Jason Kuller were in the other.

It took a while to do all of that thinking, but when the foam fizzled, here’s how things stacked up:

First Place, Jason Kuller, with “U Feelin’ Lupulin, a 14B, American IPA, good for three HRBTS Cup points;

Second Place, Curt Aasen and Ron Jones, with an Imperial Pale Ale, a 14C, good for two HRBTS Cup points; and

Third Place, a tie: J. P. Messier, with a Left Coast IPA, an English IPA, 14A; and Curt Aasen and Ron Jones, with an American India Pale Ale, a 14B, good for one HRBTS Cup point.

Here’s the current HRBTS Cup Standings:

2006 HRB & TS CUP STANDINGS (as of 3 June 2006)

Name of Brewer(s)	Total Points Accumulated
Jason Kuller	11
J. P. Messier	8
Chris Jones and Diane Catanzaro	6
Brian Edgar	6
Victor Perotti	5
Tom Byrnes	5
Phil Swanson	4
Mike and Melissa Pensinger	4
Curt Aasen and Ron Jones	3
Richard Pidgeon	3
Bill Berry	1
This could easily be you ….	…. if you get brewing

Curt and Ron are playas – two out of three ribbons went to their posses, so with six more contests left in the HRBTS Cup season, that cup is still very much up for grabs.

See you at the June meeting.

2006 HRB & TS Beer of the Month Schedule – C.J. Jones

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

Month (2006 unless stated otherwise)	Beer style name (and 2004 BJCP beer style category number)	Beer judging date ; usually two weeks before Club meeting)	Winner goes to an AHA Club Only Contest?
January	Imperial Stout (13F) & Imperial Pale Ale (14C)	21 December 2005
February	Doppelbock (5C) and Barleywine (19B & C)	18 January 2006
March	American ale (10)	15 February 2006
April	Extraction (extract recipes only)	22 March 2006	Yes
May	Wheat and Wit (6D, 15, 16A)	19 April 2006
June	India Pale Ales (IPA) (14)	24 May 2006
July	Meads (24, 25, 26)	21 June 2006	Yes
August	Stouts (13)	19 July 2006	Yes
September	Fruit beers (20)	23 August 2006
October	Octoberfest (3B)	20 September 2006
November	Thanksgiving Ales (an ingredient is associated with the Thanksgiving holiday) (23)	18 October 2006
December	Belgian (16, 17B-F, 18)	15 November 2006
January 2007	Holiday Season beers (21B)	20 December 2006
February 2007	Barleywines (19B & C)	24 January 2007
March 2007	To Be Determined (TBD)	21 February 2007

Recipe of the Month – C. J. Jones

Part of what makes homebrewing great is messing around with your ingredients, not with an eye to a particular style, but with a desire to stretch your limits a tad, and make something experimental. You might like it, and you might not, but you’re going to make it anyway and see.

There is a move afoot among some Belgian brewers to make more aggressively hopped beers appealing to an American market. Brasserie D’Achouffe, the folks that make LaChouffe, now make Houblon, a “dobbelen IPA tripel”, a big 9% ABV Belgian beer made with Amarillo, Tomahawk and Saaz hops. If you can’t get to the Bon Vivant in Smithfield to buy a bottle of this, make something like it at home. Here is a recipe that Diane and I formulated to make our own version of a heavily hopped tripel. Enjoy.

TRIPEL IPA – C. Jones & D. Catanzaro

STEEPING GRAINS – steeped, cold water to 155 degrees F, then removed;

1 # flaked oats

0.5 # crushed wheat

MALT

6.6 # Muntons Extra Light liquid malt extract

2.0 # Muntons Extra Light dried malt extract

0.75 # Muntons dried wheat malt extract

1 # Belgian clear candi sugar

HOPS

1 oz Amarillo pellets (7.3 AAU/oz) – 60 minute boil

1 oz Amarillo pellets (8.3 AAU/oz) – 50 minute boil

1 oz Centennial pellets (10 AAU/oz) – 50 minute boil

2 ox Cascade pellets (5.4 AAU/oz) – 0 minutes

SPICES

1 oz Sweet Orange peel – 15 minutes

0.5 tsp black pepper - 15 minutes

0.5 tsp grains of paradise - 0 minutes

YEAST

White Labs Trappist ale yeast WLP 500

BREWED – 29 May 2006

SECONDARY – 4 June 2006

BOTTLED – Sometime in June 2006

About the HRB & TS

The Hampton Roads Brewing and Tasting Society is dedicated to promoting the enjoyment of home brewing. The annual dues are $20 per individual and $25 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.