January 21, 2012 meeting notes

meeting recaps

Here’s what went down on 1/21:

  • Pre meeting: 
    • tasting of Nick P’s Brett Saison (10 mo old)
  • Introductions/misc. (5 min.)
    • Still no gavel!
    • Attendance: Andrew N, Matt P, Justin G, Steve A, Eric C, Tim S, Rick & Dave T, Andrew W, Adam S, Steve M, Brendan K, Grant W, Tyler B, Nick P, Kevin S
  • Announcements/upcoming events/new business (15 min.)
    • Collect 2012 membership dues from those yet to join, $20.00
    • Hand out membership cards to those who have paid dues
      • Membership card entitles you to 10% off purchases at Northern Brewer and Midwest Supplies.  If you find out any other companies offer us a discount, be sure to share that information with the group.
    • By-laws update [ExComm]
    • Upcoming competitions
    • St. Paul Beer Dabbler on 1/28 [Tyler]
    • Upper Mississippi Mashout on 1/28 [Grant]
      • Deadline has passed, but a renowned IPA home brewer will be there, as well as master cicerone.
      • Gordon Strong will be there.
    • March meeting is on St. Patrick’s Day [Grant]
      • Keep the date or move it to 3/10 or 3/24?
      • Moving to 3/10- Majority vote passed
  • Group experiments update (5 min.)
    • Barrel-aging project update [Andrew N. and Nick]
      • Bring $25 if you want in. You’ll also be asked to contribute 5 gallons of wort at a later date.
      • Nick P has barrel from Town Hall’s “Eye of the Storm” in the back of his Jeep. http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/town-hall-eye-of-the-storm/79695/
      • Barrel needs to be tested to see if it holds water, as well as sanitized.
      • Burning a sulfur stick will sanitize, kill any lingering bugs.
      • Once the viability of the vessel is established, everyone who is participating will need to brew their contribution and allow for primary fermentation as per usual.
    • Repeated: if you have a project idea, you are spearheading the project.
    • Pending: Andrew trying to get us a brew day at the Fulton brewery.
      • Once date is set up, have a best of show in our club to decide what recipe to brew at Fulton. Best of show TBD from internal club competition.
  • Internal brew club competition ideas
  • Financial Report (5 min.)
    • Banking situation update [Matt]
    • Still collecting dues, founding member dues need to be paid by end of January.
    • What we will be doing with the funds is yet TBD.  Ex) trips, tours, summer bar-b-q.
  • Education session (20 min.)
  • General Q&A (10 min.)
    • Rousing not-so-active yeast:
      • Temperature, agitation are the best ways to “re-activate”
      • 1.020 curse – Unable to ferment below 1.020 when using extracts (LME/DME)
      • You can attempt adding the extract late in the boil.  However, sometimes things just don’t ferment all the way down.
      • Don’t focus on the numbers, as long as it tastes finished.
    • Hops
      • To grow: plant multiple rhizomes to increase odds/yield in first year
      • Dig shallow, bury just two to four inches below the surface
      • Plant them so they’ll get southern exposure, the most sun possible
      • Grow along a fence if possible.  Get some poultry mesh – to keep away pests, pets… and… poultry.
  • Break (5 min.)
  • Tasting/group critique (20 min.)
    • Tyler – pale ale
    • Andrew N. – doppelbock
    • Matt – ’09 russian imperial stout
  • What’s on tap? (5 min.) Suggest items of discussion for next month.
    • Members-only event ideas? Already made some headway on that earlier in the meeting
    • Upcoming education topics decided:
      • Feb – “Building a Dual Stage Temperature Controller (for your Fermentation Chamber)” [Andrew W.]
      • March – stir plates construction and starters [Dave T.]
      • April – Mash tun designs and techniques (Fly and batch) [Adam S. and Andrew N.]
      • May – Session beers [Matt P.]
    • Next meetings:
      • Feb 18th
      • March 10th
  • Social hour/open discussion