The Brewsletter
March 2010
The Official Newsletter of the Hampton Roads Brewing & Tasting Society (HRB&TS)
President’s Proclamations – Chris “CJ” Jones
Man, where did the month go? Seems like it was yesterday when we were at Max’s on Broadway in Fells Point, sipping a few cool Belgians … OK, a few really good, sometimes very big, Belgian ales. Eric G., Cindy C. and Craig H., John J. along with Diane C. and my bad self had a very full afternoon/evening at Max’s during their “Three Days of Belgium” festival, and we followed that up with one of the best crabcakes I’ve ever eaten at Kooper’s, just around the corner from Max’s. Next year, you need to go with us; jot it down in your DayTimers – spend next year’s Valentine’s Day in Baltimore.
We had another successful judging of braggots a few weeks ago. Alas, I missed the judging, but I heard that the contestants won club bragging rights for their efforts. Yes! See Eric’s story about the mead-meets-ale smackdown somewhere else in this newsletter.
We are working on another road trip, to the Outer Banks Brewing Station in Nag’s Head, NC; more info, hopefully, at the meeting, or shortly thereafter.
Next week, HRBTS returns to the Bier Garden in Portsmouth, so bring an appetite for German and Belgian ales, savor your spoetzle, and hang with your beer-sipping brethren for a few hours. Come on, what’s the wurst that’ll happen?
C.J, President HRB&TS
Meeting Location – Diane Catanzaro
Our March meeting will be at the world famous Bier Garden on High Street in Portsmouth, Virginia. The Osfolk family has been bringing the best beers in the world to Hampton Roads since 1992. We love them. There are things that you can do at the Bier Garden that it is very difficult to do anywhere else. For example, try doing a side-by-side comparison of the Duchesse in the bottle and on tap at some other drinking establishment. If you're not at the Bier Garden this is not gonna happen. Try asking your bartender to recommend a hoppy Belgian. At most places you'll hear about Jean Claude Van Damme's early films. Sidle up to a server anywhere else in our region and saying "bring me a bottle of your finest gueuze!" Odds are they'll start performing the Heimlich maneuver on you. However, all these are par for the course in a typical night at one of the best beer establishments this side of anywhere.
As of Sunday, beers on tap included Aventinus and Aventinus Eisbok, Ayinger Celebrator and Brau Weisse (Germany); Hofstetter Granitbock (Austria, a traditional style where white-hot stones are used to produce some carmelization in the wort); St Bernardus Abt 12, Gulden Drak, Tripel Karmelit, Lindeman's Framboise, Delerium Tremens (Belgium); Sinebrychoff Baltic Porter ( Finland), Bear Republic XP (California), and several more. However, do check out the extensive bottled beer selection. Many Belgian beers are even better in the bottle than they are on tap because they are bottle conditioned with live yeast producing a second fermentation. This adds a complexity and flavors typically absent from the kegged beer.
When you arrive at the Bier Garden try to snag a beer menu. These are valuable. An amble to the bar allows for a quick inspection of the tap choices and a kid-in-candy-store gawk at the bottles in the cooler case behind the bar. When choosing a bottled beer from the menu, have a back-up choice. When you are dealing with small breweries from around the planet, limited supplies, and the quirky three-tier distribution system it is to be expected that some beers on the menu are temporarily out of stock. Choose a backup selection!
The patio dining room is reserved for us, and I told Kevin we'd be arriving as early as 6:45 (although of course many do arrive later). Official meeting start time is 7:30 but who doesn't want to get a head start on a night at the Bier Garden if possible?
Yes, you will find German fare such as bratwurst, knackwurst, weiner schnitzel, leberkaese (German meatloaf), sauerbraten, linsen spatzel, and strammer max. Vegetarian options? I recommend the vegetarian “special spaetzel” which is spaetzel with sautéed mushrooms and onions and melted cheese….very tasty and it’s like $7 or $8. Various sandwiches (reuben, chicken, turkey, veggie burgers, etc.), fried flounder, and a cheese and fruit plate. I personally have really enjoyed the potato soup. It is different than normal potato soup and much better IMHO. They should call it ‘better than potato soup’ but I don’t write the menu. It looks veg-friendly so I won’t mention that there is an oxtail involved in the preparation according to the menu. But you'd never know as it's not floating in there or anything. It's really tasty anyhow.
The Bier Garden requests that you order your beers and food from “your table” so they can keep track of which tab your beer and food goes on. IF you order beer or food while ‘traveling’ the room, be sure to let the server know specifically which table has your tab!!
Yes, we may bring homebrew, and please do! However, of course no commercial beers of any kind can be brought in. In addition to being illegal, it would be nuts. They have the best commercial beers on the planet right here!
The Bier Garden is located at 434 High St. in Olde Town Portsmouth (393-6022), right across from the Commodore Theater. This location is central to all of Hampton Roads and the Peninsula.
From VA Beach: Take 264 W to the Downtown Tunnel. Stay in tunnel right lane and take first exit, at Effingham St. Stay on Effingham several blocks, then turn right on High St. The Bier Garden is at the corner of High and Dinwiddle. To park, turn right off High St. at end of block, onto Court St. Take the 2nd right onto County St. See free parking lot on your right. There is also on-street parking for the lucky.
From the Peninsula: Take the Monitor-Merrimac toward Portsmouth. Take exit 9 onto Rt 164 toward Portsmouth. From 164, follow signs to downtown Portsmouth. Turn left onto High St, and it is a few miles up on the left in the 400 block. Parking tips are above.
From Norfolk: Take the Downtown Tunnel to Portsmouth and exit onto Effingham Street right after the tunnel. Follow directions above under ‘Va Beach.’ OR instead take the Midtown Tunnel, once through the tunnel keep straight/left toward Rt 58, once you hit High Street turn left and it is a couple of miles up High Street. See parking tips under ‘VA Beach.’ Or, hop on the ferry at Waterside and get off at High Street, and it’s a short walk to the Bier Garden.
From Chesapeake: Pretend you are going to take the Downtown Tunnel to Norfolk, but exit before the tunnel, onto Effingham Street. Take Effingham toward Old Town Portsmouth, turn right on High Street and look for the 400 block. See parking tips under ‘VA Beach.’
March Road Trip - Outer Banks Brewing Station
Our trip this month takes us down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to check out the OBX Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills. If you've never been there, the brewery building is modeled after a lifesaving station and the bar takes the form of a lifesaving boat. Hopefully nobody will end up going swimming in the ocean, but come down to the Outer Banks March 20th and join us for a great time at the beach. Two hotels recommended by the Brewing Station are The Colony IV (http://colonyivbythesea.com/ weekends are $59 per night.) and the Days Inn oceanfront (http://www.daysinnoceanfrontobx.com). Being off-season still, the rates for either are extremely reasonable. I have a tour lined up, and the Brewing Station also has live music every weekend. Come down for the day with us, or stay the night, it's bound to be a good time!
Competition Corner – Eric Gold
“The only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey….. and the only reason for making honey is so I can eat it.”
Winnie the Pooh
Braggot, that sweet delicious blend of malt and honey. Tom Byrnes hosted the March competition where we sampled a few Braggots. Doug Boyd, Tom Byrnes, Diane C., and Mike & Terri Connell judged a sample of three beers and their scores ranged from 24.2 to 26.2. Tom took first place with his version scoring 26.2, while JP came in second with an awfully close score of 26 (dry, sparkling melomel). CJ and Diane placed third with their braggot and a score of 24.2. Congrats Tom, can't wait to see how this one tastes at the next meeting!!
Updated Brewing points are listed below:
|
2010 HRBTS CUP STANDINGS |
|
|
Name of Brewer |
Points Accumulated |
|
Eric Gold |
4 |
|
JP Messier |
4 |
|
Chris Jones/ Diane Cantanzaro |
4 |
|
Tom Byrnes |
3 |
|
Mark Johnson |
3 |
|
This could easily be you …… |
If you get brewing ……. |
Next up, the April competition covers all styles made with Malt Extract and we look forward to having a lot of entries. The competition will be held on March 24th@ 7:30. Remember to print the competition label from the website, and provide 1 22oz bottle, or 2 12oz bottles for the competition.
IT'S STILL NOT TOO LATE to reserve the month matching one of your favorite styles! If you are willing to host a monthly judging competition, please email me at egold@vt.edu to reserve your month. We bring beer to your house :)
Below you will find our brewing schedule for 2010.
|
2010 HRB&TS CUP BREWING SCHEDULE |
|||
|
Month |
Style |
Category/Sub |
AHA Event - Deadline |
|
April 2010 (March 24) |
Extract |
ANY |
May 2010 |
|
May 2010 (April 21) |
Gluten free Beer |
ANY base style OR 23 |
|
|
June 2010 (May 19) |
Wheat |
15A/B/16A |
|
|
July 2010 (June 23) |
Mead |
24,25,26 |
August 2010 |
|
August 2010 (July 21) |
Sour |
17 |
Sept/Oct 2010 |
|
September 2010 (Aug 18) |
Fruit |
20 |
|
|
October 2010 (Sept. 22) |
Strong Ale |
19 |
Nov/Dec 2010 |
|
November 2010 (Oct. 20) |
Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale Clone |
10 A |
|
|
December 2010 (Nov 17 ) |
Christmas Winter Spiced Beer |
21B |
|
|
January 2011 (Dec 22) |
Imperial Stout |
13F |
|
|
February 2011 (Jan 19) |
Belgian and French Ale |
16 A-D |
|
|
March 2011 (Feb 16) |
Bock |
5 |
March/April 2011 |
February Winners:
1st Place – HRBTS Cup March 2010, Braggot, Brewer: Tom Byrnes
2nd Place – HRBTS Cup March 2010, Sparkling Melomel, Brewer: JP Messiser
3rd Place – HRBTS Cup March 2010, Braggot, Brewer: Chris & Diane
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.