The Brewsletter

January 2011

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

www.hrbts.org

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

Well, welcome to 2011, a promising Year for Beer for Club members.  We have initiated some changes (change is good) for the new brew season.

First, we’ve nixed the HRBTS Cup.  Recall if you will, the original intent of the Cup was to encourage brewing by our membership.  Based on the minimal numbers of participants in 2010, that effort has run its course.  What we aim to do in 2011 is to encourage brewing by promoting a joint HRBTS/BARF homebrewing smackdown – four contests, one per quarter, of easy to make, popular styles of homebrew.  The overall winner for 2011 will have her/his/their name(s) added to a trophy/plaque, and can possess said trophy/plaque for one year, at which time it’ll be passed to the next winner, sort of like the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup.  Details remain to be worked out, but should be finalized soon.

What else will we do?  Encourage efforts to get more BJCP judges in our club by promoting educational efforts and by calibrating our palates.  The education sessions will be held to review and discuss BJCP exam areas, such as brewing history, classic beer styles, specific beer categories, etc.  At these sessions we will periodically judge commercial beers as if they were homebrews, using the BJCP score sheets and style guidelines.  Again, more details to follow.

And we’ll encourage road trips.  Dogfish Head in January, Max’s on Broadway in Baltimore in February, Williamsburg Brewing in March, and more to come.

All in all, a big year for homebrewers; see you on Wednesday. 

Birch Bar Opens – “C.J.” Jones

After a long wait, the Birch Bar (www.thebirchbar.com) has opened in Norfolk’s West Ghent neighborhood.  Located at 1231 W. Olney road, Norfolk, VA 23507 (at the intersection of W. Olney Rd. and Orapax Ave, telephone 757-962-5400), the Birch Bar is a small room (49 indoor seats, more outside when the weather cooperates) with a big beer selection.  Yesterday (1/1/2011), proprietors Malia Paasch and Ben Bublick were serving 21 ambitious drafts and 81 different bottled beers for your tasting pleasure.  With growlers available to go, you can walk home with a big ol’ jug of your favorite draft in hand.  Closed on Sundays, the Birch Bar is just what the doctor ordered for those of us suffering from beer fever.  Drop in!

Meeting Location     Diane Catanzaro

Happy Brew Year! On January 5, our first meeting of the New Year will be held at LUBO Wine Bar and Café on Pleasure House Road in Virginia Beach.  While the name says “wine” the beer list of 40 includes Terrapin IPA, Blue Point Winter Ale, Duval, Brooklyn Lager, a couple of Flying Dogs, Young's Double Chocolate Stout, and more.

The HRB&TS  will have our own space on Lubo's second floor. Please order something to eat; there are many creative and tasty menu items and great prices. Check out my 'cut and paste' sampling of menu items and see if your mouth doesn't water......in addition to these there is a pasta, seafood, and steak daily specials, broiled crabcakes, antipasto, artisanal cheese plates, other creative burgers and pizzas, and much more.

Black & Blue Nachos - Winner of Best Nachos in Hampton Roads!
White & blue corn tortilla chips topped with grilled eggplant, zucchini, fresh tomato, shallots, cilantro and blackened steak topped and baked with Mountain Gorgonzola cheese then we add a drizzle of balsamic reduction and sour cream. $14.95 (Add a side of cheese sauce for 2.95)

Bucheron Goat Burger - topped with Bucheron Goat Cheese from Poitou, fresh basil, roasted red peppers and balsamic reduction $10.95

Mushroom & Porter Burger--topped with Cahill Irish Porter cheese & fresh sautéed mushrooms $10.95

Grilled Chicken Satay - fresh grilled skewers of breast of chicken with tasty Thai Peanut Sauce $8.95

Margarita Pizza- Homemade Tuscan flatbread crust with marinara, fresh grated artisan aged asiago & mozzarella topped with fresh basil and fresh tomato $12.99

 Gorgi &Pear-Homemade Tuscan flatbread crust topped with fresh crumbles gorgonzola cheese, thinly sliced pear, caramelized onion & balsamic reduction. $13.99

The LUBO Big Salad with Grilled Chicken, fresh baby spinach and romaine, grilled chicken, carrots, marinated mushrooms, roasted red peppers, tomato, artichoke and olives, topped with hunks of creamy Goat Cheese or Gorgonzola and Zesty Balsamic Dressing; Substitute Crab cake or grilled shrimp for an additional 3.99 $13.95

Meeting time is technically 7:30 pm, but early birds can arrive any time after 6:45 to get a head start on what promises to be a very tasty evening. Hope to see you all there! Don’t forget to bring homebrew (if you have some), but no commercial beers are permitted.

Address: 1658 Pleasure House Road, Virginia Beach. Near the intersection of Northampton Blvd (Rt 13) and Independence Blvd. 757.216-2900, www.lubowines.com

Directions:

From most of Norfolk, Suffolk, Currituck, Hampton, and Virginia Beach:

Take I-64 to the Northampton Blvd exit.

Just after the intersection with Independence Blvd, turn right on Pleasure House Road, LUBO is at #1658 Pleasure House Road, down a little bit and on the left.

Competition Corner – JP Messier

Below you will find our brewing schedule for  2011.

2010 HRB&TS CUP BREWING SCHEDULE
Month	Style	Category/Sub	AHA Event - Deadline
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

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.