June,
2005
Mystic Krewe of Brew
June,
2005
Mystic Krewe of Brew
Meeting Minutes
June 16,2005
The May meeting was held at the Columbia Tap Room. President Calvin Moorman called the meeting to order with Vice President Jason Hayes, Treasurer Mike Owings and Secretary Larry Hartzog in attendance.
The president initiated the toast to beer purity. Mike Owings presented the Treasurers’ report and provided it for members to for review. The treasurer reported our current balance as $2,261.16. Income was $64 with expenditures of $250. Larry Hartzog noted minutes had been provided to members through the MKOB announce site. The secretary made a call for questions, additions, corrections or clarifications of the minutes. No comments were received and the membership accepted minutes as presented electronically and Larry provided the hard copy to the president.
Old Business: Plans were finalized for the Pub Crawl that is currently scheduled for Saturday August 13. Plans are to have pick up points in Slidell, Mandeville and Lakeside Shopping Center. Departure time is planned for 10 AM returning around 10 PM. Details of timed pick-ups for each location are still being worked out and participants will be notified by e-mail if logistics are not worked out by the July meeting. At this point we are renting a 15-passenger van and Calvin has agreed to drive if we can’t find a driver. Larry is also still working on the possibility of a small bus. Everyone attending needs to reserve their spot on the bus with a $15 reservation fee by August 1st. This fee is fully refundable if you show up for the trip. There will be further discussions of details at the July meeting.
New business: Crescent City Home brewers will be doing a north shore pub-crawl on Saturday August 20. If interested in joining the pub-crawl contact Ron Laborde. Calvin informed the club that he been contacted by a former home brewer who wanted to donate a large number of racking canes, bottlebrushes and a huge commercial multi-plate beer filter to the club. Calvin asked the club if they were willing to try to find a buyer for the filter since it was much to large for home use and put the proceeds into the club treasury. I believe that all agreed.
Calvin Reported that once again the MKOB were the “darlings” of the WYES Beer Fest with 6 out of the kegs floated and not much left in the others.
Dis and Dat: While Liberty Ale and Flying Dog Ales are now on the north shore there is even better news in Texas. Yes, Texas now has Bridge Port IPA both on tap and in bottles along with some other great beers from the brewers northwest. Also Texas own St. Arnolds has a great little IPA called ST. Elissa. You hop heads will prefer the tap version which I am told seems hoppier than the smoother more balanced bottled version. Mr. Jazz (Mike Gourrier) was kind enough not to forget his thirsty friend in the “BEER DESERT OF LOUISIANA” on last trip to Texas so I have tasted these beers and a few others in his Texas sampler. Mike told his wife he was fleeing Emily but we all know he just wanted to make a beer run.
Jack Schugg reports that Rouge Red is now on tap at the Abita Pub. With George out of town, and Jacks’ workload on the south shore keeping him busy, there may be some left by the July meeting.
Spoke with Heiner Brau and they said that a test batch of beer is ready but are awaiting the state licenses. They have all Federal licenses and distribution in place for some time. It is my opinion that as usual in the “BIG SLEEZY” some politico is awaiting a handout to get the ball rolling. But as stated that’s only one man’s opinion. When I dropped by they had the canning line in place with cans printed and ready to fill. They are hopping any day to get state license.
Farwell to Dan Stein who will be leaving to return to Philadelphia. Dan even you last name illustrates your passion for beer. You will at least be known in the brew club circles as the man that brought more good beer to Louisiana in 2 years than the distributors have in the last 20. You and your passion for quality beer, food and cheeses will be missed. Keep in touch and as the Irish say “ May the wind behind you always be your own”.
Auctions and Raffles: Calvin brought in a load of racking canes and bottle brushes received from an outgoing home brewer. Jim Boucher provided us with a nice bottle of Ouzo. The winner of the Ouzo was Willis Brewer.
Show and Tell: Mike Owings showed us how to make a restriction plate out of the pieces of stainless strapped to your outlet tube leading to your picnic tap. By restricting the flow between the two plates foaming at the tap is greatly reduced or eliminated.
Larry showed us his chicken dome that cooks three beer butt chickens at one time using you favorite beers and a good seasoning. Larry was severely harassed for not providing samples (note: Samples next time for hungry beer drinkers). He noted these chicken domes are now available at reasonable prices from Williams brewing or Sportsman guide. The whole dome can be placed over a propane burner or charcoal grill.
Great beers were enjoyed by all. This month tasting spanded refreshing summer ales, flavored wheat beers, Hefe’s,Bocks, Rice ales, Belgian Saison and the English Fullers 1845 strong ale and what is believed to be a distilled Saki.
Calvin shared a refreshing Hefe with us while Pat Hagerty brewed up a cherry wheat for the summer. Willis Brewer shared his award winning APA along with Jasons’APA and Craigs’ award winning red ale. Jim Cooper provided an amber ale for the tasting that was rich in flavor. Casey Rowe gave us his hopped up version of the Big Easy Brew Off Pale Ale. This was a full-bodied brew with a nice hop aroma. Once again Mike Owings swept the German styles with a tasty Maibock, followed by his own creation of a Dunkel/Bock and Dopple Boch.
Jim Boucher provided another exotic unpronounceable brew from the orient named CHU YYEA CHING CHIEW. After much tasting and discussion we decided this was a distilled saki. These interesting spirits were both potent and lightly sweet but very flavorful. Taste descriptions ranged from strong mead to turpentine. Personally I loved it.
Dan Stein also provided us with an interesting array of commercial brews. These tastings ranged from the malty and hoppy Fullers 1845 strong ale to the Hitchino Red Rice Ale and the wonderful Belgian saison De Pi Paix.
Dues send money to:
2005 Dues ($20.00) are due. If not attending meeting make checks payable to MKOB and send to
Mike Owings
MKOB Treasurer
18 Glen Loop
Covington La. 70435
BEER TRIVIA: In 1965, a Belgian royal decree mandated that lambics must contain a minimum of 35% wheat. It also ordered that labels state the name and location of the brewery.
Fermentably
Yours,
Larry Hartzog
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