May was another fantastic month of events for the Nordeast Brewers Alliance. There were a number of important things that we participated in.

Friends of the Mississippi

President De Boer went to the Friends of the Mississippi to not only represent the NBA but also to bring back some information to share with the club on how we can be more friendly to the ol’ Miss.

Koval Barrel Empty, fill, and the lack of… 

In the middle of May the empty and fill of the Koval Barrel (Barrel Project 3.0) was slated and prepared for. What we were not prepared for was the extreme pediococcus infection that was in the Imperial Red ale. It seems that some members’ previous barley wine that was in the Koval barrel was also seemed to be infected. So, it was not emptied and filled with delicious double IPA. It now will get emptied and filled with an acid wash. Once the acid wash has some time to soak in the barrel, the barrel will be filled with a brett & lacto sour beer.

Community Hops 

PAD-B (President Aaron De Boer) and Tim Stuemke and fellow NBA member and Community Hops President ,  Bryce Larson represented the NBA at the Community Hops Member and Fund Drive. NBA beer was poured and very well received.

Farmers Market

For the opening of the Nordeast Farmers market on May 30th, we had our first representation coordinated by Matt Price. A great time was had and we picked up a few new members to boot!

Meeting recap

Our May meeting at Eastside Neighborhood Services was planned to have Rahr Malting do the education topic, but unfortunately there was a snafu and we had to change up. Fortunately it gave us the time to sample a number of members beers and give some very constructive feedback. As well we got to taste Richard Brower’s Northern Brown ale aged on Blackswan Barrel Alternative Cherry Wood.

As well we discussed past and upcoming events, including our upcoming June meeting which will be our 2015 Single Hop Experiment. First, and very important, dry hop your one ounce of hops 7 days before packaging. The first of possibly two tastings will be at Northgate Brewing Company on June 16th, 6:30PM, 783 Harding St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413.

Aaron De Boer posed the idea of purchasing a CO2 racking cane for transferring the beer out of our barrels. The purchase of $270 was brought to a vote and was vote to purchase. The idea is to provide a cleaner, oxygen reduced transfer process. As well, we are hoping that it reduces the possibility of  contamination between the barrels.