The Brewsletter
December 2009
The Official Newsletter of the Hampton Roads Brewing & Tasting Society (HRB&TS)
President’s Podium – Jonna Walker
Well, my year as President of HRB&TS is just about over. I enjoyed it very much, but now it's time for a different leader. Someone whose enthusiasm can lead us, entertain us and inspire more brewing from everyone. We will be having our last meeting for 2009 on this Wednesday, December 2nd. I will be looking for everyone in the club to attend this "Holiday Party Meeting" as a start to your Holiday festivities. We will also be having elections for most of the positions. Some people have already stepped up and volunteered to take a position, but they all ask if someone will assist them. No one can make it to every meeting and every judging (where we have an officer's meeting). If you want to just help once in a while, please volunteer to work with one of the officers and fill in when they have to be out of town or just can't make it to a meeting. We also need more ideas for fun brew-related things to do together. If more people attended the judging/meetings, then more ideas would get voiced. Come on Brewers! Let's Go!
I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving last Thursday. I am still recovering, from all the food, drink, football and relatives myself.
Jonna-Dawn Walker
President HRB&TS
Meeting Location – Diane Catanzaro
The December 2nd meeting and ‘Holiday Gathering’ of the HRB&TS will be at H2O Beach Bar and Grill on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach. They are celebrating Virginia’s new smoke-free restaurant policy by offering to “host your holiday gathering” with a spread of free appetizer and entrée items to sample!!!! And happy hour beverage prices till 9 pm!!!!. Needless to say, I signed the HRB&TS up right away!
Several members, including Rob and Jodi Sisson, have suggested we meet at H2O as they carry drafts from a number of excellent craft breweries (currently this includes Ommegang, Starr Hill, Left Hand, and Williamsburg Brewing). If you have not had Williamsburg’s Pumpkin Ale, it is gangsta and there one of the last kegs anywhere is at H2O (unless I drain it before you get there….)
The meeting/holiday gathering officially starts at 7:30, however early bird specialists can flock in by 7 pm to get started on dinner and a brew. The prices are budget-friendly, with appetizers like buffalo wings, fried shrimp, nachos, chili, steak bites, and she-crab soup. Burgers, fish tacos, chicken tortellini, tuna steak with Mediterranean toppings, fried chicken, and crabcakes are other offerings. I’d put this several notches above typical bar food…. the crabcakes are advertised as lump crabmeat, the burgers are Angus and Kobe beef, and steak toppings include burgundy demi-glaze and shitake cream sauces.
The appetizer spread will appear between 7 and 7:30, so try not to be too late if you’d like to partake. Also, please do bring your homebrew!! No commercial beers can be brought in, but your homebrew will be just dandy!
H2O is at 3152 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, 757-496-2528. (Same location as the former “Beach Grill”…right near the OLD location of Homebrew USA when Rich owned it!).
Directions from (almost) everywhere:
-Get thee to I-64, take the exit for Northampton Blvd. Continue on Northampton Blvd to almost the end, then take the Shore Drive (Rt 60) exit. (This is last exit before the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel toll).
-Stay on Shore Drive (Rt 60) a few miles, and H2O will be on the left just after you cross the Lesner Bridge.
-If you live in Ocean View, near Chic’s Beach, near Great Neck Road, or at the Oceanfront you can just take Shore Drive….of course, you probably already know the way!
Competition Corner – Tom Byrnes
We had three very nice smoked porters this month. We want to thank Matt Murphy and family for hosting this competition. Our 4 judges: Matt, Eric, Will, and Diane, eagerly accepted the challenge of evaluating our entries. The scores ranged from 28.75 to 34.75. JP once again dominated this competition by taking first place (34.75) and third with a bourbon version (28.75) Eric Gold in his first and hopefully not last competition took second place (29).
Here is the final points tally for the 2008-09 competition.
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2009 HRBTS CUP STANDINGS |
|
|
Name of Brewer |
Points Accumulated |
|
JP Messier |
32 |
|
Tom Byrnes |
19 |
|
Chris Jones |
11 |
|
Doug Boyd |
8 |
|
Jason Kuller |
5 |
|
Gus Gustafson |
4 |
|
Eric Gold |
2 |
|
You could be here …. |
?? |
JP Wins Again
Only two members have won the HRBTS CUP three times, JP now joins CJ with this honor. It should be noted that no member has ever won 4 times, so stay tuned to see if either beer king chooses to accept this challenge for the next brewing cycle.
The first contest of the New Year will be held on December 17 @7:30. The style will be English Brown Ale. Rob Camlin has generously agreed to host this event. Please watch your emails for further details.
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2009 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 |
|
The rest of the brewing schedule will be determined by the new officers. As I move on to other offices, it has been a pleasure to serve as the Competition Coordinator. My hope is that more member/brewers will choose to take advantage to these contests during the coming year.
While not directly connected to beer or brewing, we wanted to congratulate Patti Messier for passing the National Teacher Certification Exam joining an elite group of teachers across America. For those not familiar with this certification it involves passing an exam, creating a portfolio, classroom observations interviews and years of preparation. Patti has been an active HRBTS member for many years and we congratulate her on receiving this honor. Hopefully JP will not spend your entire raise on sushi and brewing equipment. Great Job Patti.
December Winners:
1st Place – HRBTS Cup December 2009, Brewer: JP Messier
2nd Place – HRBTS Cup December 2009, Brewer: Eric Gold
3rd Place – HRBTS Cup December 2009, Brewer: JP Messier
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.