The Brewsletter

November 2010

 

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

www.hrbts.org

 

 

Presidential Musings – C. J., aka. Chris Jones

 

Well, Happy November, pretty much.  Hopefully your October was as beer-rific as mine was. Anytime you see your main squeeze on a magazine cover, that’s a good month.

 

We had an Executive Board meeting at Tortilla West in the West Ghent section of Norfolk last Wednesday; apparently some of you didn’t hear about it because we are having problems with our distro list again; something that we are working to fix even as we speak. Entries for our Tupper’s Hop Pocket Ale clone contest were gathered up for delivery to St. George Brewing so that head brewer Andy Rathman can sip ‘em and sort ‘em.  It isn’t every day that you can get a commercial brewer to taste your efforts, so that’s pretty cool.  More info on this, perhaps, elsewhere.

 

Elections are in December; here’s the list of nominations for our elected positions to date:

President – me;

Vice President – nobody yet;

Treasurer/Secretary – Tom Byrnes;

Newsletter Editor – Terri Connell; and

Competition Coordinator – J.P. Messier;

 

And for our two appointed positions:

Meeting Coordinator – Diane Catanzaro; and

Webmaster – Victor Perotti.

 

Additional nominations can be emailed to me, or drop a name on me during our meeting next week. 

 

The HRBTS Cup Contest could be a little different in 2011; we’ve had conversations about changing that contest from monthly to bimonthly, rethinking how we decide what to put on the brewing schedule, etc., in an effort to encourage a greater rate of participation among Club members. Something different needs to be done based on our only having around half a dozen entries in our Tupper’s clone contest, a number that was surprisingly small given how many of us profess to love pale ales and IPAs. Our newly elected officers can sort it all out in December, but if you’d like to provide some input, provide away.

 

Future Road Trips – a visit to O’Connor Brewing once they get their tasting room in working order; a trip to Williamsburg Brewing once we get our mess right; a road trip to Dogfish Head on Saturday, 15 January 2011; and a road trip to Max’s on Broadway in Baltimore for their annual Belgian Beer Festival, Saturday and Sunday, 19-20 February 2011.

 

Your next beer could be your last beer, so make sure it’s a good one.  See you next week.

 

 

Meeting Location     Diane Catanzaro

 

In November a beer drinker’s fancy turns towards autumnal aspirations. The trees are sporting russet, red and orange, cider and squash beckon from the farmer's market, and the Harpoon Winter Warmer takes its rightful place in the beer pantry. And just as surely a sign of autumn is the HRB&TS meetings move indoors, to warm, cozy restaurants where we can sip homebrew and craft beer and enjoy a civilized meal or nosh.

 

On November 3 the HRB&TS will return to the German Pantry in Norfolk. Our meeting there last January was quite a hit and everyone had a great time. This year when I asked several folks on the executive committee where they wanted to meet this year, the German Pantry was a top choice. The German Pantry has expanded their draft list to 14 beers, including Legend Chocolate Porter, Tripel Karmelit, Aventinus, and Bluegrass Bourbon Barrel Stout, and two beers from Norfolk's O'Conner Brewing. About 85 bottled beers are also available, and it's an impressive list! In addition to an impressive array of German beers from Schneider, Paulaner, Weihenstephaner, Ayinger, and others, I see a rauchbier, a Grut (herbal beer, no hops, way medieval, totally un-reinheitsgebot but in a good way), DFH Saison du Buff, Ommegang Three Philosophers, all the Chimays, several Stones, Heavy Seas Great Pumpkin and their imperial Oktoberfest, four fruit beers from Lindeman's, and Well's banana bread beer! And all their beers are available to go. We definitely need to encourage the new owners by patronizing the German Pantry and telling our friends!

 

Basically they will close the joint for us for our Wednesday night meeting, beginning at 7 pm! So the HRB&TS has our own private kitchen and beer keller for a night! I'm imagining this is what it's like to be German royalty.....be sure to come hungry! Whether your tastes run toward the classic reuben or the schnitzel reuben, the vegetarian kaesespatzetle noodles or the homemade leberkaese meatloaf, the goulash or the roast pork loin in beer sauce, there is something you'll enjoy on the menu. The popular schnitzel cordon bleu has been promoted from special to regular menu item according to Chef Andy. So please “lassen Sie nicht Ihren Fleisch faulenzen” (don’t let your meat loaf!) and join the HRB&TS at 7 pm for our first restaurant meeting since last spring. Bring some homebrew to wash it all down and share with your fellow HRB&TS-ers. But, no commercial beers please. These folks have plenty to choose from. See you then!

 

The location is only a couple of minutes off I-64 and I-264, very close to Military Circle Mall and JANAF, so it is a convenient drive from anywhere in Hampton Roads or the Peninsula.

 

Address: 5329 Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, 461-5100. They have a bright yellow sign on the left end of a very small strip shopping center.  http://www.thegermanpantry.com/

 

Directions:

 

From the Peninsula: Take I-64 East to Military Highway South exit.  Follow Military Highway about a mile or two.  Turn right onto Route 58/VA Beach Blvd. Once on the Blvd, stay in the left-hand lane. When you see The German Pantry on the left in just a minute or two, there is a left turn cut-across that comes up quickly.  When you take your left, you’ll need to cross all the way over to the ‘feeder road’ rather than doing a typical u-turn.

 

 

From Norfolk, VA Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake - Take I-264 toward Military Highway. (If you are heading westbound you have to be on the right side of the highway in way in advance to be able to take the Military Hwy exit). Take the exit for Military Highway North.  About a mile down the road is the big intersection with Route 58/VA Beach Blvd.  Take VA Beach Blvd westbound, toward Norfolk.  The German Pantry is on the left in about a minute. When you see The German Pantry on the left, there is a left turn cut-across that comes up quickly.  When you take your left, you’ll need to cross all the way over to the ‘feeder road’ rather than doing a typical u-turn.

 

 

Competition Corner – Eric Gold

 

I am really excited to report that two of our HRBT&S members Ben Bublick and Malia Paasch are opening The Birch in West Ghent next month.  This place is going to be a craft beer Mecca right here in Norfolk. In addition to having the best taps around, they are also going to serve some pretty amazing food!!  They will also fill growlers and allow off premise beer sales so you can continue enjoying great beer at home or grab some extra to take along with for dinner parties. Their website is thebirchbar.com, where you can also sign up for their mailing list or keep up with their progress toward opening using Twitter and Facebook.  Be sure to stop by once they are open to support our fellow friends!! 

 

November Competition Update

The November competition beers (Tupper’s Hop Pocket Ale Clone) were collected last week and taken to St. George Brewery for judging.  I’ll be sending out a special report once I can check with Andy and get the results!

 

2010 HRBTS CUP STANDINGS

Name of Brewer

Points Accumulated

Chris Jones & Diane Catanzaro

22

JP Messier

20

Eric Gold

16

Tom Byrnes

 9

Chip Reich

 3

Jason Kuller

 3

JL Lyons

 3

Mark Johnson

 3

Ron & Jeannine Jones

 1

This could be  YOU…..

 

 

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 2010/2011.

 

 

2010 HRB&TS CUP BREWING SCHEDULE

Month

Style

Category/Sub

AHA Event - Deadline

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

 

November Winners  Tupper’s Hop Pocket Ale Clone:

1st Place –       HRBTS November 2010,   Brewer:

 

2nd Place -      HRBTS November 2010,   Brewer:

3rd Place –      HRBTS November 2010,   Brewer:

 

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.