January 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.]

Last Meeting:

[See Robin’s comments below]

Next Meeting:

Monday, Feb 16^th, 6:30pm at Robin & Karen’s, 2656 Potter, Eugene. Gadget night and thermometer calibration.

And Now a Word from President Robin Chitwood:

1/28/04

On the thirteenth of this month we had about the biggest turnout I’ve ever seen for a January planning meeting. Thanks to Sam Bonds for giving us the space and free munchies. Thanks also to all those who volunteered to host events at their homes this year. We’ve got a pretty full calendar already. Check the club website for this year’s schedule of events.

New officers elected are: Mark Smith, Vice President; Debbie Davis, Treasurer; Karen French, Recording Secretary; Denny Conn, Tech Tsar. Continuing officers are President Robin Chitwood and News Editor Matt Jarvis.

The new office of “Tech Tsar” was the brainchild of Denny Conn. His plan is to create a forum where new brewers and experienced geeks can get together and discuss brewing techniques. He also plans to establish a curriculum for educating new brewers and create a list of brewers “on call” to answer brewing questions from new brewers.

The dues are due. Last January we said we would up the dues by five bucks but we never did it. This year the dues are up to $25 for families and $20 for individuals. However, if you opt to view the newsletter on the CBS website, the fee will be reduced by five bucks. Those who want a hard copy of the newsletter in the mail each month will pay the full dues. Five dollars is about what it costs to send the newsletter to one person for twelve months.

The February meeting will be a technical one at Robin and Karen’s, 2656 Potter on the 16^th at 6:30 pm. Bring your favorite brewing gadget or invention to demonstrate. Denny will talk about thermometer calibration. Bring beer also. Food will be provided.

This information was just released on the BBC news: Bavarian entrepreneur Helmut Fricher presented his new anti-ageing beer at the German Agricultural Fair last week.

Helmut says it will “bring body and soul into harmony”. Unfortunately his new beer, which contains spirulina algae, has run afoul of the Reinheitsgebot, Germany’s Beer Purity Law dating from 1516. The law says beer can contain only hops, barley, yeast and water. Oh well, too late for me anyway. Cheers, RC.

News You Can Use Department:

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 Kent Macdonald at 935-5711 or Robin Chitwood at 342-2397.