February Meeting Info: 02.11.10 (Maumee Bay Brewing Co.)

[Rob G.]

Thanks everyone for attending the January meeting.  Thanks especially to Fred Bonjur for taking the time out of his busy schedule to spend time talking  about beer styles and how to rate them.  We'll definitely try and have Fred back in the future.   

To mix things up a bit, the next couple of meetings are going to be road trips.  Here's the info on February's meeting: 

Muskrat Mashers - February Meeting
Thursday, February 11th, 6-8PM
@ Maumee Bay Brewing Co.  Toledo, OH
Directions:  http://tiny.cc/GoqYg

Agenda: 
- Announce 2010 board elections
- Future meeting locations
- Beer festivals upcoming - MBG / Toledo
- Main discussion:  Homebrew competitions / Club competitions. 
- March meeting @ Original Gravity in Milan, MI

Please RSVP if you are coming so I can make arrangements for seating.  Leave a comment here, shoot me an email or give me a call.   -Rob

[Brewski]

Rob,
 Count me in! I'll be attending February's meeting.
Bruce

[nateut]

I'm in as well... should probably mention that MBBC will be hosting a release party (Willy's Wheat) that night from 6-10pm. Specials will include $5 pitchers and BOGO wood fired pizzas.

EDIT: And I see there is already another discussion about the release party... my bad.

[kingfisher59]

 Brenda and Randy will be attending.....If anybody wants to car pool from the Monroe area let me know....I can drive or we can take your boat....ether way ....saves gas....734-502-9600...anytime ...preferably not before 10AM....

 Rob Count me in on the hopp's also....

[Kathy A.]

Mike and I plan on being at the Maumee Bay meeting.  Looking forward to it!

[marend]

What about bringing homebrew to the next 2 meetings (MBBC and OG)?  They are both breweries, and they might be comfortable with us bringing our homebrew.  Was it mentioned to them? 

Mike.

[lefercor]

I'll be coming with Nate.

Brad

[Rob G.]

What about bringing homebrew to the next 2 meetings (MBBC and OG)?  They are both breweries, and they might be comfortable with us bringing our homebrew.  Was it mentioned to them? 

Mike.

The law is the law on bringing homebrew to a brewery - No go.  I did not check with Maumee Bay, but did contact Brad @ OG, who confirmed.  Brad did say there's a law in legisltation right now to make this legal, but until then, no go.     

If you are going to make a stop at Titgemeiers though and have a spare bottle of brew, drop one off to Tom for being swell enough to give us the 10% discount.  I'll be there buying grains, yeast and whatever else I can think of for my next batch. 


One of the topics of discussion this meeting will be to discuss finding some locations, even if it is members volunteering their homes - for the sole purpose of homebrew sampling!   

See you all Thursday.

[bigfish713]

Hello
i am looking in going a homebrew club would you mind if i came to you club meeting to see what you guys are all about?  I live in Toledo so you guys are not to far away from me.
Thanks
Rod

[Brewski]

Rod, your welcome to join us and see what were all about. Check out Kevin's invite on the Michgan beer buzz.
http://www.blogsmonroe.com/beer/
Bruce

[Rob G.]

Thanks to everyone that came out last night to the February 2010 meeting.   For those that didn't make it, here's a brief recap of the meeting:

2010 club officers have been appointed to get the ball rolling on better organizing the club.   Rob Gorczyca will serve as the President, Kevin Nash as Vice President and Craig Laginess as Treasurer.   We will slowly begin operating as a formal (yet informal!) homebrewing club.  We hope to include in the near future:  club bylaws, dues, membership cards, club brewing contests, discussions, judging and competitions as well as other fun events based on education of homebrewing.  Keep an eye on the site for more info.   

Future meeting locations:   Posted in the forums is the beginning of  a discussion for future meeting locations.   As much as we all love Harbor Inn & Ale, we do want to utilize our meetings for tasting homebrewed beers.    As mentioned in the meeting - some clubs rotate among club members houses, while others meet in church basements, halls, colleges or a local business that allows them to bring beer.    Either way, we're looking for new places to meet!    Post something to the forum page if you have any ideas or suggestions.    Click here for future meeting thread


State Fair Competition:  As mentioned last month, there has been a committee formed to carry on the Michigan State Fair homebrewing competition.  Rob is serving on the committee in representation of the Muskrat Mashers club.   There has been a thread started on dates and the naming of the contest.  If you have any ideas, or want to see something new with this contest - please post your input!  Click here for State Fair Competition thread

AHA Big Brew Day:   May 1st, 2010.   Should we try and organize one in Monroe?   Might be something we could do in the parking lot of a local restaurant/bar.    Discussion started in the forums.  Click here for the Big Brew Day thread

Club Competitions:   Discussed throughout the night club competitions, and how to do them.   We will begin planning for our first club competition by holding a "mock" competition at some point in the near future.   By "mock" I mean, we'll run through the process yet, no beer will be sent along for a competition - unless of course the timing is right.    It would be good to try it and get us all thinking about and discussing our homebrews.   More to come on this - stay tuned!!

Beer Festivals!   Don't forget, Michigan Brewers Guild will hold their annual Winter Fest February 27th in Grand Rapids, MI.    Also, the Glass City Brew fest is coming Friday March 5th.   A thread has been started.  I will be supplying anyone that goes with flyers or cards to hand out, hang up, stick on cars, etc.  Craft beer events usually mean - homebrewers come out of the woodwork.   What a great time to market our club!    - See Glass City Fest thread here 

Next meeting:   Thursday, March 11th @ Original Gravity in Milan, MI.   See you all there! 

[Rob G.]

Pictures from our brewery tour:

[Fred R]

Thanks for the celeia hops.  Just finished putting a recipe together.  I'm going to make a pils using 100% celeia.  It will be a couple of weeks before I can make it, should be done lagering mid april.  We will have to get together and taste test it.