March Education: Making Mead

The education next week is the process for making mead. Mark will show off his process, which will lead up to another education topic this summer about tasting these batches.

Brewers of all levels are welcome to come, mead-makers, beer-focused, or any other fermented beverage connoisseur.

Next week: Thu Mar 21, 7-9pm, East Side Neighborhood Services (probably lower level again)

March 2024 Events

March is a busy month for the NBA! Come join us!

  • Kicking off Sour Times competition planning
  • Taproom Takeover social hour at Venn
  • Flanders barrel transfer
  • Barrel committee meeting
  • Monthly meeting with education about making mead

The events keep rolling with grew brews, more barrels, wort rallies, and so much more as the weather gets warmer.

Brewers of all levels are welcome to join any and all events, so check out the calendar and stop by! Reach out if you have any questions. Cheers! 🍻

February Education: Beer, Alcohol, and Health

The education topic this month is the intersection of “Beer, Alcohol, and Health”. Next week we will get together at our normal meeting location, East Side Neighborhood Services (lower level this month!), to talk about recent club events, share some homebrews, and dig into this education topic.

Brewers of all levels are welcome to join. Bring some homebrew (if you have it). Bring some tasting glasses (or we have a couple plastic cups). Bring your beer and brewing topics.

February 2024 Events

This month we have a #taproomtakeover with our friends at HeadFlyer and an education topic about beer, alcohol, and health. Come meet up with the club and see what we have going on! Soon we will have some barrel transfers for lambic and flanders style beers from club barrels, an informal competition for a pro-am with our HeadFlyer friends, and plenty of other shenanigans!

Brewers of all levels are welcome to join any of our events and meetings! Bring some tasting glasses to sample other homebrew — and bring your own if you have it!

Cheers! 🍻

2024 Winter Party Recap

Yesterday was the Winter Party hosted by Perrin! It was great to see old friends, make new friends, and share beers and chilis.

The perennial informal High Gravity beer competition (>8% ABV, brewed in 2023). After a run-off election due to a tie, Jason B won with his Double Decoction, Four-Hour Boil, American Barleywine. All of the entries were great!

For the second time, we included a chili cook-off with the party, which was a great success with seven distinct and amazing entries. After another run-off election to break a three-way tie, Aaron D won with his Classic Chili #1.

The annual officer elections also wrap up during the party. Congratulations to Aaron D on being re-elected to another term as President. Congratulations to Adrian S on being elected to join the Executive Leadership Committee as the new Director of Operations!

Here’s to another great year for the club with big events, brew days, experiments, education topics, and barrel transfers throughout the year. Cheers! 🍻

January Experiment: Specialty Grains in Stout

Next week at the monthly meeting is an experiment comparing different specialty grains in a stout recipe to see how they compare. Bring your tasting glasses and we will learn together what might make a positive improvement on our existing recipe collection.

Brewers of all levels are welcome to join any of the NBA meetings and events! Stop by to learn a little, taste some homebrews, and talk about our favorite fermented hobby. Reach out with any questions, otherwise feel free to just stop by. Cheers!

January 2024 Events

Happy New Year! 🎉

The NBA has big plans for 2024, so we are starting out big with a #TaproomTakeover at Falling Knife on Thu Jan 4 7-9pm, our annual Winter Party hosted by Perrin & Jules on Sat Jan 13 12-4pm, and the monthly meeting with a stout specialty grain experiment on Thu Jan 18 7-9pm at our home base of East Side Neighborhood Services in Northeast Minneapolis.

Did Santa bring you some new brewing equipment? Are you looking to improve your knowledge of beer and brewing? Now is a great time to join the club and chat with brewing-minded folks about this creative craft. Stop by any of the events or reach out to us to check it out. Brewers of all levels are welcome and everyone is encouraged to meet up — although the household membership dues are only $20 per year.

Cheers! 🍻

December Education Topic: Score Sheet Comparison

The monthly education topic next week will be more in the beer judging series, this time breaking into small groups to compare score sheets. Mystery beers will be provided so we can compare our notes and contrast the sensory notes that we pick up.

Come by East Side Neighborhood Services in Northeast Minneapolis on Thursday, December 21 7-9pm to partake! Cheers!

2023 NBA Homebrew Competition Winners

Thanks to all who participated in the Nordeast Brewers Alliance Homebrew Competition.

There were 199 entries judged.

Best of Show Winners  

Best of Show – Beer

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stDan AchesonInspired By New Glarus28C: Wild Specialty BeerUrban Knaves of Grain
 2ndTroy FennerPrincess Jasmine2A: International Pale LagerMotley Brue
 3rdRoy VentulloYour Dad’s Singel (Patersbier)26A: Belgian SingleCRAZE [IA]

Winning Entries  

Table 1: Trappistish (10 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stRoy VentulloYour Dad’s Singel (Patersbier)26A: Belgian SingleCRAZE [IA]
 2ndGerad Miller MHPBiere Me24C: Bière de Garde Dayton Regional Amateur Fermentation Technologists
 3rdSteven PowellIn Peace26D: Belgian Dark Strong AleBig Sioux Brewing Society

Table 2: Strong Belgian (10 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stCheyne Harvey MHPReversion To Mediocrity25B: Saison Arizona Society of Homebrewers
 2ndDan Acheson MHPNew Fangled Saison25B: Saison Urban Knaves of Grain
 3rdTom McGloine MHPUne Grisette De Mineur25B: Saison Saratoga Thoroughbrews

Table 3: European Sour (8 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stTyler ByeSauternes “Lambic”23D: LambicNordeast Brewers Alliance
 2ndTodd CogswellBerliner23A: Berliner WeisseTippecanoe Homebrewers Circle
 3rdDominick DufnerCalvaire23B: Flanders Red AleSTLBrewhogs

Table 4: Pale Malty Lager (12 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stTroy FennerPrincess Jasmine2A: International Pale Lager Motley Brue
 2ndTyler MillerShout-Out To New Hope2B: International Amber LagerArizona Society of Homebrewers
 3rdMatthew White MHPSomeone Knows2A: International Pale LagerSeven City Brewers

Table 5: Amber Malty European Lager (10 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stDavid ScheilOld Surveyor’s Marzen6A: MärzenCRAZE
 2ndDave MatsonWhere’s My Goat?6C: Dunkels BockMinnesota Home Brewers Association
 3rdChad Medford MHPOnly You Can Prevent Forest Fires6B: RauchbierRed Earth Brewers

Table 6: International Bitter (15 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stTimothy Wicklund MHPTime To Dort It Up5C: German Helles ExportbierKeepers of Craft
 2ndMichael Mann
Co-Brewer: Larry And Susan Kearney
Der Hund Kai5D: German PilsPlainfield Ale and Lager Enthusiasts (PALE)
 3rdBrandon EdwardsCzech’d Out3B: Czech Premium Pale LagerKeepers of Craft
 HMDan Acheson MHPKiwi Juice ’23LSX5: New Zealand PilsnerUrban Knaves of Grain

Table 7: International Dark Lager (15 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stMichael MannMayhem9A: Doppelbock Plainfield Ale and Lager Enthusiasts (PALE)
 2ndTyler MillerAZ Dark Skies2C: International Dark LagerArizona Society of Homebrewers
 3rdKevin Olson MHPTemny3D: Czech Dark LagerZZHops Homebrewing Club

Table 8: Pale British (10 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stDirk Montgomery MHPAngry Wet Hen11C: Strong BitterRed Earth Brewers
 2ndDominick DufnerYou Bitter? Yup, Bit Him Too.11A: Ordinary BitterSTLBrewhogs
 3rdNick StevensButcher’s Hook11B: Best Bitter

Table 9: UK Ale (18 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stDirk Montgomery MHPOld Walking Stick15C: Irish Extra StoutRed Earth Brewers
 2ndLawrence BoltonDark Mild13A: Dark MildBoneyard Union of Zymurgical Zealots (BUZZ)
 3rdDirk Montgomery MHPJeff’s Not Heavy17C: Wee HeavyRed Earth Brewers

Table 10: Wheat (10 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stRoss StuartDunkelweiss10B: Dunkels WeissbierArizona Society of Homebrewers
 2ndCaleb LeeBachelor Party1D: American Wheat BeerRed Earth Brewers
 3rdJoseph Belevender MHPBeer24A: WitbierPontiac Brewing Tribe

Table 11: American Ale (10 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stRoss StuartElla Blonde18A: Blonde AleArizona Society of Homebrewers
 2ndNicholas BenoitCali Common19B: California Common
 3rdMatt HunsworthRed Wolf Astronaut19A: American Amber AleBrewers Anonymous

Table 12: American Light (8 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stMatthew White MHPNite Lite1A: American Light LagerSeven City Brewers
 2ndWayne DoucetteLynn’s Lager1B: American LagerRiver City Brewers [MN]
 3rdAlex Williams
Co-Brewer: Patrick Williams
Play The Hits1C: Cream AleBig Easy Homebrewers
 HMJoseph Belevender MHPLager1A: American Light LagerPontiac Brewing Tribe

Table 13: Fruit ‘n’ Sour (12 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stDan Acheson MHPInspired By New Glarus28C: Wild Specialty Beer Urban Knaves of Grain
 2ndDave MatsonCeiling Art28C: Wild Specialty Beer Minnesota Home Brewers Association
 3rdAdrian SwansonBlackcurrant Blend28C: Wild Specialty Beer Nordeast Brewers Alliance

Table 14: Spice, Herb, and Vegetable (11 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stWilly MileyMadmartigan30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer Motley Brue – Twin Cities Home Brew Club
 2ndMichael Beck MHPCassius’s Deception30A: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer Illiana Beer Rackers Union (IBRU)
 3rdJeremy GlowickiSleepy Hollow30B: Autumn Seasonal Beer Jordan Homebrewers

Table 15: American Porter and Stout (11 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stJeremy BeerImperial Stout20C: Imperial StoutRum River Wort Hogs
 2ndZach AuxierImperial Stout20C: Imperial StoutNordeast Brewers Alliance
 3rdMichael Rensing MHPVinz Clortho20A: American PorterCider, Homebrew, And Mead Production Specialists (CHAMPS)

Table 16: Smoke ‘n’ Wood (9 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stCheyne Harvey MHPSilenus, Meet Ogun33B: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer Arizona Society of Homebrewers
 2ndSteven PowellSmoked Helles32A: Classic Style Smoked Beer Big Sioux Brewing Society
 3rdSteven Powell
Co-Brewer: Matt Meyers Marty Lund
BA Stout 202233A: Wood-Aged Beer Big Sioux Brewing Society

Table 17: IPA (9 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stAdrian SwansonIdaho Sabro21C: Hazy IPANordeast Brewers Alliance
 2ndGerad Miller MHPHazy Haze21C: Hazy IPADayton Regional Amateur Fermentation Technologists
 3rdPatrick MooreCitizens Untied IPA21A: American IPA

Table 18: Specialty IPA (11 entries)

PlaceBrewerEntry NameStyleClub
 1stAbel PinaNuclear Fallout22A: Double IPASouthern Nevada Ale Fermenters Union (SNAFU)
 2ndZach AuxierBlack IPA21B2: Black IPA Nordeast Brewers Alliance
 3rdCaleb LeeNightgaze21B2: Black IPA Red Earth Brewers