A great homebrew club does many things in addition to brewing. These clubs also focus on experimenting, learning, education and volunteer work. Exceptional clubs put in a lot of time and effort to make an impact on their communities.
As most of you know, the National Homebrewers Competition (NHC) was last weekend. Congratulations to Dennis Mitchell on winning a bronze medal for his Dunkles Weissbier! And, I must also recognize the Florida Hogtown Brewers on a well-deserved Radegast win.
While we did not win the Radegast club award, I am very proud of to be a part of ASH as we continue to strive toward greatness by:
Experimenting: Homebrew-inspired Beer Dinner
The first Homebrewer of the Year Beer (HBOY) dinner is next week at The Perch. Seats are still available! First-year events are always risky, and I hope we will have a great turnout.
Over the years, the HBOY prize has varied wildly, and often times not announced until the holiday party when the award was handed out. Clearly, announcing a prize a year in advance will lead to more entries in our free, members-only mini-competitions and also encourage members to experiment and brew new styles.
Kudos to 2015 HBOY winner Mark Peterson! I can’t wait to taste what Chef Tim at The Perch has paired with Mark’s brews. Check out the menu, and good luck to all of you in the remaining competitions. Better start experimenting with coffee beers.
Learning: June General Meeting at Crescent Crown
As homebrewers, we respect our beer. We cellar bottles at proper temperatures, appreciate the hard work that goes into making each pint at the professional- or homebrew-level, and we drink responsibly. Because of this, ASH has developed incredible relationships with our beer distributors in the Valley.
Thanks to Chuck Noll and the World Class/CCD team for hosting ASH next week!
- Next General Meeting: June 21
- Hosted by: Crescent Crown Distributing
- Location: 1640 W Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202
Staff will provide tours of the state-of-the-art distribution facility. ASH will conduct club announcements at 7:30, followed by a brief presentation about the 3-tier distribution system. Homebrew is allowed!
Education: ASH Ask The Cask Manager
Sierra Nevada has been the ASH Cask Program Sponsor for the last two years. Sierra Nevada’s Ben VanderMeer has been a guest speaker at our general meetings, promoted homebrewing locally and helped the club source cask parts for our firkins. As if Ben wasn’t great enough now, Sierra Nevada is sending its Cask Manager Zak Driscoll to speak with ASH and our members.
The Cask Manager Event
- When: July 22 5 p.m.
- Where: OHSO Arcadia
About Zak
“I started at Sierra Nevada 19 years ago this May with bright eyes, and after all these years it’s even better than when I started. I have developed so many relationships in and around this company; it has been an amazing ride thus far. I started on the graveyard sanitation crew and worked my way into the cellar. I have been in the cellar for most of 16 years now. I would say three years ago I started with the cask beers and have a love for these beers. The cellar keeps me free to roam and help where it’s needed and fill beers when they are available.”
Community Impact: UnleASHed Special Event June 18
UnleASHed batch 004 K’mere Boy Kumquat Saison is currently on tap at OHSO. This brew benefits Valley of the Sun Giant Schnauzer Rescue (VSGSR), a recommendation from ASH member Rebecca Allen and UnleASHed batch 001 brewer. It is heartwarming to see these beneficiary support this ASH-OHSO collaboration.
Special Event
- When: June 18
- What: Charity event for VSGSR (aka the Schnauze People)
- Where: OHSO Paradise Valley
Learn more about the ASH-OHSO UnleASHed Series.
Until next year Radegast.
Let us continue to focus on what we do best: Preserve and promote the time-honored tradition of homebrewing, and to recognize it as a true art form through information, education, and dedicated practice.
As always, I love to hear your comments and answer your questions. Contact me at [email protected].
Cheers!
Krystal Bittner