The Brewsletter

April 2009

 

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

www.hrbts.org

 

President’s Podium – Jonna Walker

 

Greetings to HRB&TS members,

 

Due to the location, our next meeting is for members only.  If you have not yet paid your dues, you must pay before joining in the festivities of the evening.  The April Fools joke will be on those people hoping to just drop in and drink beer freely.  So if you invite someone new to join you, be sure to inform them of the dues required;  $20 per person or $25 for family membership.  The club will be providing some food, see “meeting Location” for more details.

 

It is Spring and that means rain showers, Beer Festivals, tappings and other reasons to drink.  Passover begins April 8th (drink prior).  Full Moon is on April 9th (AaaWoooh, Werewolves of London…!).  Easter is April 12th.  Gordon Biersch is having their Maibock Tapping starting at 6 PM on April 14th.  Tax day is April 15th  (a good reason to drink).  The movie “Beer Wars Live” is April 16th;  www.beerwarsmovie.com   We can meet before the movie or after.  Sertoma Club of Norfolk’s Spring Fever party is at Holiday Trav-L-Park on April 18th.   For more information visit www.norfolksertomaclub.org/spring_fever    Virginia Beer Fest is April 25th and 26th.  For details www.festevents.org/events   Homebrew USA will have a booth at this event.  If enough people from HRB&TS plan to attend, we could see about getting a table for our group.  Email me if you are interested.  Earth Day is April 22nd and National Arbor Day is April 24th.  So…. drink up and enjoy the April Showers.

 

Jonna Walker

 

 

Meeting Location – Diane Catanzaro

 

The April 1st meeting of the HRB&TS will be in the bucolic backyard of Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms, where we will wordsmith his next State of the City speech fueled by Mad Libs and a case of _______ (beverage) …..”Bud Select!”

 

Doesn’t that sound grand? Except for the Bud Select having a significantly lighter flavor profile than some of us are used to.  If only that blank got filled with “Narlywhale”!!!

 

Now THAT would no doubt lead to a memorable speech.  The Mayor would promise at least six craft beers on tap at the Virginia Beach Library. Restaurants would be required to have at least one local craft beer and one Belgian ale on the menu. And the city’s new marketing slogan would be “Virginia Beach is for Lagers…and Ales.” The fountains at Town Center will be filled with chocolate stout. Ummmm…chocolate…..this is so cool…..but wait…quit your dreamin cause its April Fools!!!!

 

Actually, our meeting will be at our hospitable hometown brewery, the St. George Brewing Company in Hampton. The mayor probably won’t be there, but brewer Andy Rathman will be able to show HRB&TS members around the brewery and answer any beery questions you may have. April means springtime and sunshine (let’s hope!), and St George’s beer du saison is the Spring Lager, a crisp Vienna-style lager. Bill Manley, beer reviewer for the Virginian Pilot’s Link (until he got recruited by Sierra Nevada), wrote in his review of the St. George’s Spring Lager…. “This version is probably my favorite example of the style.” Not too ______ (adjective) shabby!

 

Speaking of Virginia Beach (well, we were earlier), did you know that the St. George Brewing Company’s origins harken back to the innovative “brew on premises” B. A. Brewmeister in Virginia Beach in the 1990s, where you could brew your own beer using their well-equipped facility. (I still have the t-shirt!) After several years, the owners decided to open a bona fide brewery, and founded the St. George Brewing Company in Hampton. After a fire damaged that facility, St. George moved to a new location in Hampton near Langley AFB, and built the current modern brewery where they make their fine British style ales and tasty German style lagers. Old Richmond beers are brewed here as well.


Think globally, but drink locally.…every time that you pick up a St. George six-pack or two at your local supermarket or beer store, or order a St. George beer at a local restaurant, you are helping to support our regional craft brewery. When you visit a restaurant, ask if they have any St. George or Old Richmond beers. Even if they say no/who?/duh, you are letting them know there is customer demand for the award-winning beers from our local craft brewery!

 

No need to bring Bud Select but do bring some of your homebrew. The club will provide pizza, and you are welcome to bring munchies or side dishes, as long as we clean up our mess at the end of the meeting. The meeting is at 7:30; feel free to show up any time after 7 pm.

 

 

This meeting is for HRB&TS members (including new members who join at the meeting). If your HRB&TS membership is in good standing (have you paid your dues?) you will be able to slip past the fire-breathing dragon at the door and enjoy the tasty hospitality of our slayin’ local craft brewery!! (http://www.stgeorgebrewingco.com).

 

 

 

 

 

Directions to 204 Challenger Way, Hampton. (Phone 865-BEER)

 

From Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and other points SOUTH of Hampton,VA:

  • Follow Interstate 64 West (through the Hampton Roads Bridge tunnel) to exit 262-B, Magruder Blvd., head east towards NASA/Poquoson.
  • Turn right onto Semple Farm Rd/Commander Sheppard Blvd at the intersection with the McDonalds.
  • Turn left onto Wythe Creek Rd., go approx. 1/4 miles
  • Turn left onto Voyager Drive, the brewery is on your immediate left on the corner of Voyager Drive and Challenger Way.

From Newport News and other points NORTH of Hampton,VA:

  • Follow Interstate 64 East to exit 256B, Victory Blvd east towards Poquoson.
  • Merge onto Victory Blvd.
  • Turn right onto VA-134S.
  • Turn left onto Semple Farm Rd/Commander Sheppard Blvd. at the intersection with the McDonalds.
  • Turn left onto Wythe Creek Rd., go approx. 1/4 miles
  • Turn left onto Voyager Drive, the brewery is on your immediate left on the corner of Voyager Drive and Challenger Way.

From Chesapeake:

·         Depending on where you live and traffic at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (call 640-0055 for tunnel traffic reports) you may want to take I-64 West, cross the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, exit at Magruder, and follow the directions for VA Beach (above), OR depending on where you live and the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel traffic, you may prefer to take I-664 N to the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel, exit onto I-64 West, then take the Magruder Blvd exit and follow the VA Beach directions.

From Suffolk & such:

·         Take I-664 North toward Hampton/Newport News.

·         Go through Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-tunnel

·         Exit onto I-64 West toward Newport News.

·         From I-64, exit onto Magruder Blvd exit 262-B.

·         Continue following the ‘From VA Beach’ directions from Magruder Blvd.

Competition Corner – Tom Byrnes

Wow the Extract contest was an event to behold, not only did it generate 11 entries in many styles but it also marked the return of CJ to the competition frenzy. Our 5 judges: Tina, Will, Diane, Doug, JP faced this challenge and rose to the occasion. This was a very close contest with points ranging from 19.8 to 35 and some places being decided by ¼ a point.  First place went to Tom with an English Barley wine (35.0), Second went to Jason with another incredible IPA (33.1); Third place was narrowly captured by Tom with a Bourbon Vanilla Porter (32.5). Honorable mention went to our current beer king JP with an American IPA (32.25).   These beers were awesome and you should have a great selection at the next meeting.

 

Brewing points are listed below:

 

2009 HRBTS CUP STANDINGS

Name of Brewer

Points Accumulated

Doug Boyd

8

Tom Byrnes

8

Gus Gustafson

3

Jason Kuller

3

JP Messier

2

This could easily be you….

…if you get brewing!

 

 

In case you haven’t noticed this is a close competition with a tie for first place and only a 6 point difference between the leaders and the pack. It is not too late to get in on the brewing action and all members are encouraged to brew. The next competition will be the Black IPA clone to be held April 23@ 7:30. The location will be determined later.  This competition should feature some hoppy brews. One member relayed that he had tripled his hop bill stating “if they want to taste hops, I’ll show them hops”. I am also excited by the emergence of Black IPA’s from Southern Tier and Stone Breweries. According to Kevin at Grape and Gourmet the Southern Tier should be available by contest time. We may have some problems getting Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale (sounds like they consulted Jason on the name) since they are not shipping it to our part of Virginia but rest assured that Kevin will come through for us. So watch those Grape and Gourmet emails for more details.

 

Below you will find our brewing schedule for 2009. I think you will find something for every type of brewer. New brewers can jump in immediately with the extract competition while beers near the end may require extensive aging.

 

 

 

2009 HRB&TS CUP BREWING SCHEDULE

Month

Style

Category/Sub

AHA Event - Deadline

January

(Dec 17)

 

Oatmeal Stout

 

13C

 

---

February

(Jan 22)

 

Scottish 60, 70, 80

 

9A, B, C

 

---

March

(Feb 19)

 

Belgian Blonde

 

18A

 

---

April

(Mar 19)

 

Extract

 

All

Yes

May 2 2008

May

(Apr 23)

Black

IPA Clone

Loosely based on  14 A, B

 

June

(May 21)

 

Wit Beer

16A

 

July

(June 18)

 

Mead

24, 25, 26 A,C

 

August

(July 23)

 

Fruit Beer

20

 

September

(August 20)

Unique Spice/herb in aroma and flavor

Loosely based on 21 A, B

 

October

(Sept 24)

 

Saison

16C

 

November

(Oct 22)

 

Belgian Strong

18 A-E

 

Nov/Dec 09

December

(Nov 19)

 

Smoked Porter

22B with base style in 12

 

2010 HRB&TS CUP BREWING SCHEDULE

Month

Style

Category/Sub

AHA Event - Deadline

January 2010

(December 17)

 

English Brown Ale

11 A,B,C

 

February 16,  2010

February 2010

(Jan 21)

 

American Ales

10 A,B

 

March/April 2010

March 2010

(Feb 18)

 

Braggot

26B

 

 

 

We are also looking for members who would be willing to host a judging at their home. Judging will be held on Thursday’s two weeks before each HRBTS regular meeting.  The dates will be: April 23 May 21 June 18 July 23 Aug 20 Sept 24 Oct 22 Nov 19 and Dec 17 (3 weeks prior due to Christmas). If you are willing to host please email me at tombyrnes@verizon.net to reserve your month.

 

 

 

 

 

Beer Recipes

1st  Place –– English Barley Wine - HRBTS Cup March 2009, Brewer: Tom Byrnes

Recipe Specifics

 

Batch Size (Gal):

5.00

Wort Size (Gal):

5.00

Total Extract (Lbs):

18.31

  

  

Anticipated OG:

1.131

Plato:

30.4

Anticipated SRM:

16.2

    

  

Anticipated IBU:

95.1

  

  

Wort Boil Time:

60

 Minutes

  

 

Pre-Boil Amounts

 

Evaporation Rate:

15.00

 Percent Per Hour

  

Pre-Boil Wort Size:

5.88

 Gal

  

Pre-Boil Gravity:

1.112

 SG

26.3 Plato

 

Grain/Extract/Sugar

 

%

Amount

Name

Origin

Potential

SRM

1.7

0.31 lbs. 

Lyles Golden Syrup

English Sugar

1.030

0

5.5

1.00 lbs. 

Crystal 60L

America

1.034

60

5.5

1.00 lbs. 

Wheat Malt

America

1.038

2

71.0

13.00 lbs. 

Generic LME - Light

Generic

1.035

7

16.4

3.00 lbs. 

Muntons DME - Light

England

1.046

5


Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.

 

Hops

 

Amount

Name

Form

Alpha

IBU

Boil Time

5.00 oz. 

Goldings - E.K.

Pellet

5.00

87.5

60 min

1.00 oz. 

Goldings - E.K.

Pellet

5.00

4.7

15 min

1.00 oz. 

Goldings - E.K.

Pellet

5.00

2.9

3 min

1.00 oz. 

Goldings - E.K.

Pellet

5.00

0.0

Dry Hop

 

Yeast

White Labs WLP007 Dry English ale Yeast

2nd  Place – American IPA – HRBTS Cup March 2009, Brewer: Jason Kuller

*** Not Available***

3rd  Place – Bourbon Vanilla Porter - HRBTS Cup March 2009, Brewer: Tom Byrnes

Recipe Specifics

 

Batch Size (Gal):

5.00

Wort Size (Gal):

5.00

Total Extract (Lbs):

11.00

  

  

Anticipated OG:

1.075

Plato:

18.1

Anticipated SRM:

37.9

    

  

Anticipated IBU:

29.8

  

  

Wort Boil Time:

60

 Minutes

  

 

Grain/Extract/Sugar

 

%

Amount

Name

Origin

Potential

SRM

54.5

6.00 lbs. 

Generic LME - Light

Generic

1.035

7

18.2

2.00 lbs. 

Muntons DME - Light

England

1.046

5

18.2

2.00 lbs. 

Crystal 80L

  

1.033

80

9.1

1.00 lbs. 

Chocolate Malt

America

1.029

350


Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.

Hops

 

Amount

Name

Form

Alpha

IBU

Boil Time

1.25 oz. 

Fuggle

Pellet

4.75

26.0

60 min

0.50 oz. 

Hallertauer

Pellet

4.00

2.3

15 min

0.50 oz. 

Hallertauer

Pellet

4.00

1.5

5 min

 

Extras

 

Amount

Name

Type

Time

2.00 Tbsp 

molasses

Other

10 Min.(boil)

1.00 Tsp 

Irish Moss

Fining

15 Min.(boil)

1.00 Unit(s) 

Servomyces

Fining

15 Min.(boil)

 

Yeast

White Labs WLP001 California Ale Yeast

 

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