December 2004

Editors Note: [Please submit any beer related information or articles to the newsletter editor at m@ttjarvis.com or call me at 342-2203. The ‘deadline’ is the 3^rd Sunday of the month.]

Special Note: Nate Sampson will be taking over as CBS Newsletter editor effective January ’05.

Last Meeting: (by Matt Jarvis)

Friday Happy Hour – Russ has initiated an ongoing Friday Happy Hour, with revolving meeting places each week. Keep an eye on your email towards the end of each week for announcements. Turnouts have been outstanding…

Old Beer Night @ Russ’s – Russ hosted Old Beer Night on Sat the 4th, and many diehards showed up with cobweb and dust covered goodies (and some not so good) vintage beers. Don’t quote me on this but if memory serves, there was a mead that was 18 years old and a few beers pushing the 15 year range. Old Woodie still lives! I thought my 5 year old Imp. Stout would be a contender for oldest beer, but it was short by about 10 years…. This is a great annual tradition for the club, so make it a point to stash a few hearty brews away now and then to bring to this event.

Next Meeting(s):

Saturday, Dec 18^th, 6:30pm. Xmas party at Mark and Lisa’s, 2959 River Road. See Robin’s comments below.

And Now a Word from President Robin Chitwood:

November 29, 2004

Though it’s predicted to be a mild winter, it’s already cool enough to be enjoying those warming winter brews. During the busy holiday season it gets hard to find time to brew. The focus tends to shift to beer appreciation. By now the brewing efforts of the fall have provided a strategic reserve to carry us through the holidays. If your beer fridge is bare or if you want something special, try some of the really outstanding selection of bottled holiday beers you can find around Eugene. Some of my favorites are: Gouden Carolus Noel, Petrus Winter Beer, Scaldis Noel, Corsendonk Christmas Ale and Delerium Tremens Noel. Make your choices soon, though. These tend to disappear from the shelves before Christmas. Also there are good prices on Sierra Nevada Celebration and Hale’s Wee Heavy Winter Ale.

The pictures Lori took at Christine’s Halloween party were absolutely priceless. It was reported that the group was somewhat smaller this time but the merriment was undiminished. News got out quickly about outlandish costumes, one in particular. If you didn’t see it, the pictures are on the CBS website. I’ll decline to describe it here except to say that that basic black was the only tasteful thing about it. Thanks Christine for your generous hospitality.

Because all potential chili judges were disqualified, it was a people’s choice competition this year. And the people chose yours truly this time. The Grand COC trophy will grace my mantelpiece this year. I am honored to be numbered among the club’s great chili cooks. John Wilson, who held the trophy for two years running, took second this time and Russ Kazmierczak took third. Actually though, if an award was given for sheer power and pyrotechnics it would have gone to Nate Sampson. His chili was truly nuclear. Thanks Mark and Rose for hosting the chili cook-off and a personal thanks for letting me wake you up to use your phone when my newly-made key jammed in the ignition switch and the car wouldn’t start.

Mark and Lisa Dillon will host the Christmas party this year on the 18th of December. It will be potluck so bring a dish to share and your best home brew or seasonal beer. There will also be a white elephant gift exchange for those who wish to participate. Mark and Lisa’s house is at 2959 River Road. Festivities begin at 6:30 PM.

As some of you already know, Ron Hulka has taken a brewing job at McMenamin’s in Lincoln City. He says he’ll make it to the Christmas party though and asked that this letter be included in the newsletter:

Dear Friends in the CBS:

It has been with mixed feelings that I have relocated to Lincoln City to become a brewer for McMenamin’s at the Lighthouse in L.C. I am excited at the opportunity to brew here, but saddened by the fact that I will not be able to participate in CBS events as much as I would like. Our club and the friendships which I have found with all of you over the last eight or so years means more to me than I could ever ably describe in mere words. The CBS has taught me so much about the best things in life: beer, food, and truly awesome, inspiring people. Never in my life would I have thought that I would be so lucky as to meet a group of people as diverse, creative, caring, and impassioned as all of you. I only hope that in my new job as a brewer out here on the coast that I can make beer that meets the level of excellence I’ve been fortunate enough to sample through all of your generosity and kindness. But, Lincoln City is only a fairly short trip from Eugene and y’all ain’t seen the last of me yet. Plus, for those of you looking for any excuse to visit this area, now you have another one. I’ll never forget what you all mean to me, and I’ll hope to see you again soon. May we all continue to create and enjoy the best that life has to offer…

Sincerely,

Ron Hulka

My new info:

Ron Hulka

2963 NE E Devil’s Lake Rd

Otis OR 97368

(541) 944-7568

By mid January we should be having our 2005 planning meeting. That is when we elect new officers and set up a tentative calendar for the year’s events. If you are currently an officer in the club and would like to like to rotate out, please try to nominate your replacement. If you would like to hold an office, speak to the current officer about it. We encourage rotation of officers and can always use new leadership talent. The exact date, time and location of the January planning meeting will be announced by e-mail toward the end of December.

Here’s wishing you and your family a joyful holiday season and a happy and prosperous new year. Cheers, RC

News You Can Use Department:

Denny’s Rye IPA goes international! A Danish brewery contacted our own Denny Conn for permission to brew his version of the Rye IPA, which he gave…. (Ed note - I propose a club funded trip to seek out this NW fave brew in all lands, near and far!)

For those of you that speak Danish, here’s a link to the brewery (look for the English flag link):

http://www.olfabrikken.dk

The Great Decoction Experiment - From Denny:

I'm organizing an experiment to attempt to determine the flavor effects of a decoction mash. In short, the experiment involves brewing 2 batches of the same recipe, one decocted and the other infusion mashed. Then doing a blind tasting to compare results. I hope to publish the results in Zymurgy

next year. I've got homebrewers from all over the world enlisted already, but I'd love to have some CBS people involved, too. If anyone here would like to participate, see the webpage at www.hbd.org/cascade/decoction and shoot me an email via the link there.

PLEASE PAY YOUR DUES !!

Haven't paid your dues this year? Please send a check for $20 (individuals) or $25 (families) made out to "Cascade Brewers Society" to Debbie Davis, c/o CBS, 2655 Ridgemont Drive, Eugene, OR 97405. Note that you can subtract $5 if you opt for not receiving a paper copy of the newsletter.

Also, don’t forget that our club website is growing bigger every day! See what Denny has done with www.hbd.org/cascade

Club Information: For over 20 years, Cascade Brewers Society is a sometimes formal, but mostly informal club devoted to the appreciation and art of creating fine alcoholic beverages (you know; beer, mead, cider, and wine). For more information regarding the Cascade Brewers Society, please contact Robin Chitwood at 342-2397.