The Brewsletter

September 2006

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

www.hrbts.org

The President’s Podium – Tom Byrnes

Well, this newsletter finds summer quickly coming to an end, and with the fall comes cooler temperatures and the resurgence of home brewing. The dog days of summer were greatly cooled last meeting by a dip in Ron and Jeannine Jones’ pool. Thanks to Ron and Jeannine for hosting our first pool party in many years. This month’s highlight was of course our club picnic. The weather cooperated, the homebrew was awesome and all had a good time. One of the picnic highlights was the attendance of the Gordon Biersch brewmaster Allan Young, along with several samples of beer featuring their Czech Lager, Hefeweizen, Marzen and Schwartzbier. All were great examples of their style and very tasty. Members are encouraged to visit this establishment and let them know you appreciate their support of HRBTS. I went there this evening and had the Ahai Salad and crab cakes. Both were well prepared and very tasty. Beer-wise, they have about six beers on tap. If you get the sampler, you get a taste of each for 5 cents, to satisfy the Virginia ABC laws.

My other highlight was attending the Shockoe Bottom Beer Festival with CJ and Diane. There were about 42 breweries represented, along with some very good music from local Richmond bands. This was a very fun day and well worth my 16 dollars.

Once again, we will be holding a silent auction at our Oktoberfest meeting. This proved to be very successful last year. Members who have items to donate for this auction should contact Rob and provide a description of the item. Items do not necessarily have to be beer related; last year we had homemade jellies, which brought in very hefty bids. We are hoping to get a variety of items and surpass last years fund raising total.

Also we have disbanded our libeery. I am sorting through our books and plan on using some in the silent auction and others for raffle presents. The remainder will be offered to members at gently used prices. Look for future emails about this.

Finally I wanted to thank all of those officers who worked very hard on the picnic. I know this can be a thankless job, but know that your efforts are appreciated. Also, thanks to JP Messier, CJ/Diane, Doug Boyd, Curt Asses & Ron Jones and Victor Perrotti for donating kegs of beer at the picnic. All of these beers were quite enjoyable and made for a successful day for all the partygoers.

September Meeting Location – Diane Catanzaro

Ah, September….the woody smell of sharpened #2 pencils…. the crunch of crisp new penny-loafers waiting to be broken in….the fresh dollar bills neatly ironed and folded to subdue a new crop of recess bullies…….geez I hate September! Farewell for now to the dolphins making merry in the surf as we board the little yellow busses that take us back to school. Oh wait…this is 2006. We don’t have to ride the yellow bus! We are grown up! We can drink beer! Life is good in September….warm enough to enjoy hanging out of doors, but not so sultry that mosquitos fly kamikaze-style into your beer for heat relief.

September is the perfect month to enjoy beers brewed with summer’s bounty of tasty ripe fruit. Homebrewed fruit beers are a perfect way to get your 3 servings of fruit per day without sacrificing vital beer consumption. And, the rural retreat of Jason and Lacy Kuller will be a perfect place to explore these tasty fruit beers, at one with nature. For those of you who are camping-inclined, feel free to pitch a tent on their property and spend the night. Jason says we are welcome to camp out, but alas he will not be able to serve you fresh scones and jam in the morning. So BYOPT (bring your own pop-tart). AND of course, homebrew and/or tasty commercial brews. And an extra for Jason and Lacy to show our sincere appreciation for their “hostiness!”

Beer boom in Japan

The flaming barbecue grills aren't alone in whipping up a thirst for cold brew at Shiodome Garden, a rooftop beer restaurant surrounded by flashing neon billboards.

Also whetting the appetite is Japan's rekindled economy. "I love beer," declared Akihiro Seki, a 39-year-old insurance accountant, downing his fifth icy glass in the muggy open air. "We know the economy's getting better, so we feel more confident spending a little extra."

Japanese beer shipments , according to Associated Press, are on the rise for the first time in a decade as the world's second-largest economy toasts a brisk recovery from years of doldrums. But the future of Japan's $24.8 billion beer industry is anything but bubbly.

Changing tastes, more healthful lifestyles and Japan's shrinking population are all looming buzz kills for an industry that has already undergone painful restructuring during a recently ended decade of economic stagnation.

Struggling to keep the profits coming, Japan's big brewers - Kirin, Asahi, Sapporo and Suntory - are trying everything from diversifying into baby food to expanding into China and introducing soybean beer. So far, they've had mixed results.

"Until now, the beer market has been shrinking because people wanted cheaper drinks," said Shuji Takimoto, a spokesman for the Brewers Association of Japan. "But just judging by the changing population, the future of beer also looks tough."

The good news is that in the first half of 2006, domestic shipments of beer rose 0.3 percent, the first increase in a decade, as rising wages and consumer optimism encouraged people to dine out. Shipments of all beer products climbed 1.1 percent, to 230.66 million cases, its first increase in five years.

The Japanese weren't even brewing their own beer until 1872. But by 2004, Japan was the world's sixth-biggest consumer, guzzling 1.7 billion gallons a year.

On a per-capita basis, the country is Asia's No. 1, with each Japanese imbiber quaffing an annual average of 13.5 gallons - or one 12-ounce can every 2½ days. But that grand drinking tradition is under attack from several corners.

Wine and spirits are slowing converting taste buds, and health concerns are turning more people off to alcohol in general. And Japan's declining population and rising ranks of elderly - at 21 percent, the world's highest proportion age 65 or older - mean a future with fewer beer drinkers, not matter how devout.

(Article copyright Belgianshop.com, 2006)

Competition Corner, August 2006 – “C.J.” Jones

We had two different events that lead to points being accrued and the HRBTS Cup ranks being shuffled about – our picnic at the Olivers’ house, and our fruit beer contest.

First, our picnic. Anybody who brought a five gallon keg, or the equivalent amount of bottled beer, earned three Cup points; each person had a two keg, or six point, maximum that they could pick up. Here’s who brought that much beer to the picnic:

Victor Perotti - six points for two kegs, a Belgian Abbey Ale and a Wheatsworth Bavarian Hefeweizen;
J. P. Messier - three points for one keg of Cherry Dunkelweizen;
Curt Aasen and Ron Jones - three points for two cases of One For The Road Pale Ale;
Doug Boyd - six points for two kegs, a Northern English Brown Ale and an Irish Red Ale; and
C.J. and Diane - six points for two kegs, one Lavender Ale, and one Imperial Pale Ale that was "randalized", plus enough bottles of other flavors of homebrew to make up for using "short" kegs.

If you attended our picnic (and you should have), you know sipped some mighty fine beverages.

Second, our monthly contest. This time around, we judged fruit beers, a wide open category if there ever was one. On 23 August, four brave souls (Will Walker, Diane Catanzaro, Tom Byrnes, and J. P. Messier) all agreed to taste a selection of fifteen different beers made with fruit. There were beers made with raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries, including one made with all three. Pomegranates, apricots, cherries, lemons and limes all ended up in someone’s fermenter, and subsequently in our glasses.

When the numbers were crunched, here’s how things stood:

First Place, a tie, between J. P. Messier with his Triple Berry Blast, a berried Belgian Golden ale, and the OVBS with an Apricot Pale ale; each of these entrants earned three HRBTS Cup points;

There was no Second Place, due to the tie for first; and

Third Place, the OVBC with a Raspberry Pale Ale, earning them one HRBTS Cup point.

The current HRBTS Cup standings follows this text. As you can see this competition remains very close, and it is anyone’s contest to win. There are three more judging sessions for this HRBTS Cup contest (September through November of 2006; the beers you judge in December 2006 are actually the first beers in the 2007 beer calendar), and the winner will be someone who stepped up to the plate and grabbed victory in a “heady” photo finish. This could be the closest Cup contest in our history!

Remember, even if you have zero points at this stage, with three contests left, you have in front of you a possible 18 points to gather at contests (3 – 2 – 1 per month), so you could go from not in the standings to second place overall in three months. Brew on, brothers and sisters!

2006 HRB & TS CUP STANDINGS (as of 24 Aug 2006)

Name of Brewer(s)	Total Points Accumulated
Chris Jones and Diane Catanzaro	19
J. P. Messier	15
Jason Kuller	14
Doug Boyd	7
Tom Byrnes	7
Brian Edgar	7
Curt Aasen and Ron Jones	6
Victor Perotti	5
OVBC	4
Phil Swanson	4
Mike and Melissa Pensinger	4
Richard Pidgeon	3
Bill Berry	1
This could easily be you ….	…. if you get brewing

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?
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 beers (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

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.