March 2002

Next Meeting:

The next meeting will be at Kent and Janie's, 25835 Tanya Lane, Veneta on March 16th at 6 PM.  Kent will assemble a counter flow wort chiller to be raffled off later in the meeting (a $30 plus value).  If you need directions, their phone number is (541) 935-5711.
 

And now a Word from President Robin Chitwood:
Many thanks to Scott and Tina Ellison for hosting the February meeting. The food and beer were excellent.  Chip Hardy gave a masterful talk on the proper way to crush grain.  Various crushing devices were demonstrated.  I even learned some things I didn't know.
Thanks to those who filled out the questionnaire.  We're hoping the info will help us keep things going in a good direction.
The ski weekend is coming up soon.  It's not too late to get reservations in.  The dates are March 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Call Chip and Kristina Hardy at 302-6255 for details.  Don't miss it!
There has been a correction in the dates for the summer barbecue/camp out at Clark Creek Camp ground. It is not in August as originally stated. The dates are July 5th, 6th and 7th.
The next meeting will be at Kent and Janie's, 25835 Tanya Lane, Veneta on March 16th at 6 PM. Kent will assemble a counter flow wort chiller to be raffled off later in the meeting.
If you haven't started your Maibock, now's the time. It takes a couple of month's lagering for this great spring seasonal.
See you at Kent's.
 
 

The Complete Joy of Homebrewing Competitions, or
Why the Hell Did I Put Myself Through This @#%?

By Christopher Studach

It's true.  I'm a glutton for punishment, and I happen to enjoy beating my head against a wall.  Especially, if I don't like the wall very much.  I don't know, maybe I'm not the shiniest penny in the piggybank, but every so often, I open myself up to the most intense, personal, "please sir, may I have another" look in the mirror.  And, that look in the mirror is asking to have your baby, your prized treasure, your homebrew to be critiqued by a randomly selected, potluck beer judge.

I know, I know, you ask, "Chris, are you really that stupid?"  Why in the most desperate of circumstances would you do that?  Well, the answer my friends (and, I believe I've earned the right to call you that) is that you may actually learn  something.

Back in the dark ages of homebrewing, the mid eighties, I began entering homebrew competitions.  Of course, at the time, I had no idea what I was getting into.  My first forays into the sport were actually extremely pleasant.  I joined a crowd of fellow brew enthusiasts in a full day of tasting, swapping recipes, meeting real, honest-to-God brewmeisters, tasting, judging homebrews, tasting; alright, maybe the tasting became full on drinking somewhere during the day.

In any case, I had FUN.  And, miraculously enough, I learned A LOT.  It helped that the very first competition I entered, I walked away with best of show, a sack of prizes, and a whopping good buzz.

Nowadays, there are many, many competitions for homebrewers, and most of them involve sneakily mailing several bottles of your most precious fluids, along with a too much fee halfway across the country for judging.  Which, by the way, I CAN NOT personally advise you to do, 'cause it's

Competition continued:
Illegal to mail alcoholic beverages, duh.  "Why would I do that, Chris?", you may ask.  I'll tell you...

Did I mention I learned A LOT?  The feedback I got from the likes of Fred Eckhardt, John Maier, and, (bow down) Michael Jackson set me on the path to better beer.  And, far from being an ugly look in the mirror, it was a clear, and encouraging look.  I was jazzed about my beer, and how I could improve it.  I read, and re-read the comments from my most esteemed constituents. I tried over, and over to perfect that one recipe, in hopes that it would bring a ribbon someday.

Granted, the world of homebrew competitions is dreadfully flawed (a topic I wouldn't mind taking up in an upcoming publication).  Most of the comments you wonder if the judge was drinking your beer, someone elses, or just had a bong-backwash in the parking lot.  Once in awhile you get a real tool who suggests your baby "tastes like Windex", or misuses the unbelievably trite "would like to drink more of this" comment, inserting "not".

As nasty as those comments are, there are quite a few enlightening observations.  Sometimes an astute judge can actually suggest how to improve the beer.  At the very least, he/she can point out certain problems, and their probable cause.  My first brush with oxidation came in an early contest.  I read the comment, and thought to myself "what the #^%$?"  But, the first thing I did when I got home was to look up "oxidation" in CP's book, and sure enough, that is exactly what that beer tasted like.  I might have gone for a year or two more with that same problem, because at the time, I didn't really taste it, or know enough to taste it.  But once I found out how it was caused, I tracked down my problem on the very next batch, and have rarely had a problem with oxidation since.

I have also had a great many comments that helped me with recipe formulation, and how to dial a beer to a specific style.  At least as many as the complete bonehead comments where it was obvious the judge didn't know his/her Kolsch from a Schwartz.  You really start to realize just how important minute quantities can be to achieve perfect balance in a recipe.

I know I can bore you with lots of other reasons to enter homebrew competitions, but I figure right about now you're starting to drift off, so let me wrap this up with my "ta-da" conclusion.

Homebrewing is about fun, and enjoyment.  Plain and simple.  If competitions can add to your fun, and improve your beer, then what's stopping you?  I recommend attending a local competition; they are way more fun, but even a "mailorder" contest can be worthwhile.  I can honestly say enter competitions for these reasons:

  You want, no crave, feedback on your beer
  You are fearless, and can take criticism, both good and crappy
  You learn lots, and the camaraderie is great
  The chicks are great.  (they drink dark beer!)
Competition continued:
  Did I mention tasting?
Don't enter competitions for these reasons:

  Your ego needs a big stroking  (I said ego)
  You think ribbons are pretty
  Cash prizes
  You think your beer would make God weep with pleasure
  Homebrew kings get all the chicks

So, get out there, you wussies
 

San Francisco Pub Crawl Update:

The dates for the pub crawl have been set and the plan is to leave Eugene on Thursday, April 25 (from 12 - 4PM) and drive to the Bay Area.  Yes, that means we will arrive there late at approximately 12-1 PM.  We will return to Eugene on Sunday, April 28.

We have two options for transportation.  The first is to rent vans and the second is to rent a bus (Chris found a bus source at not a bad price and yes, we can party on the trip down).  The van (based on 13 people in a 15 passenger van) will be about $55 per person and the bus would be about $100 per person based on 15 people (this is a former Green Tortoise bus, which means over 15 people the price goes down).  The driver has indicated that this includes parking and transfer to pubs and people can sleep on the bus for no additional cost (bus has couches and benches, not the standard seats).  The driver said we could even put kegs of beer in cargo hold and we can drill holes in the floor for our beer lines.  And we thought the Amtrak trip was fun.  Forgot to mention that if someone "spews" on the bus the price goes up (lose the cleaning deposit).  The bus owner would be happy to show the bus at a meeting or at an arranged time.

The pub crawl club itinerary will come at a later date and most likely be a mix of breweries and multi-tap pubs  As far as beer goes, this trip will dwarf Seattle in beer selection.  Hotel information will also come at a later date depending on group consensus of the area we want to stay in (if you want an inexpensive hotel, the bus would be a great option).
 

On Tap Around Town:

By Russ Kaz^*$#@zak

One of the newest multi-tap additions around town is the Game Day sports bar, located at 1170 Highway 99N (W 6th Avenue) in the former Gilbert Shopping Center, adjacent to Putter's Indoor Miniature Golf .  The pub has 6 micro beer taps (they have other unmentionable tap handles, but of course they don't count) and the price is $2.50 per pint (remember the days(very early 90s) when that was the standard price) and if they happen to be trying to move one of the beers the price can go down to $1.50 per pint.  Two recent notable mentions on their beer line up were Jubile and Winter Fish.
On Tap continued:
Another, "Not so New", but recently rediscovered since the smoking ban went into effect is the Wetlands Pub, located at 922 Garfield.  They have around 50 taps (probably less when you count those other handles) and the only place that I have found that has Unibroue Maudite on tap and my current favorite hoppy beer, Full Sail Wreck the Halls, plus many more (oh!, forgot to mention Celebrator Dopplebock).

If a person is looking for a little bit more than beer, such as food to soak up that alcohol, then if you have not already been there then I would suggest Cornucopia Bottle Market, located at 295 W 17th  (I think the Monroe location now has beer on tap).  Six great taps (featuring former CBS member Charlie Hawk Brewing, as the brew for their house beer Frogs Wort, a nice moderate hoppy pale), good food and if that is not enough they even have wine (for bedwetters!).
 

Who, What, When, Where, Current, Not-active Club Members:

The following is a list of club members ( see title above) that make you realize that we are not just a bunch of hack home brewers.

Professional Series
Charlie Hawks  Co-founder (former CBS President) of Umpqua Brewing Company and founder of Hawks Brewing Company, Oregon
Glen Falconer  Former Steelhead, and Rogue Brewing Co. Brewer and Current Head Brewer of the Wild Duck, Oregon.
Mark Worona Head Brewer of Stouts Brewing Company, Pennsylvania
Doug Fuchs Former Brewer at the Wild Duck, Oregon
Tyler Lindquist Brewer at Alaskan Brewing Company
Chip Hardy Brewer at Steelhead Brewing Company, Oregon
Tom Johnson Brewer at Roseburg McMenimins, Oregon

Next months issue will feature the Quasi Professional//Hobbiest Series
 

Treasury Information:

Janie say's we have $745 in our club account (Wow!, lets party!) and about $161 in outstanding dues.  Currently, we have $250 earmarked for the Clark Creek Campground Campout (Annual BBQ) in July (start brewing now).

The following is a list of members who have not paid dues for the years indicated and if you wish to remain a member and receive a hardcopy of the news letter please bring your dues to one of the next two meetings or mail them to Robin, Kent or Janie (see Club Information section for phone numbers).
 
 
 

Treasury continued:
Name     Year
Steve Cossette    2002
Lupe Gardner    2002
Bruce &Jannette Dahne   2002
Stephen Mathys    2002
Harvey Rogers    2002
Molly Widmer    2002
Rob and Michelle Rubottom  2002
Scott Miksch     2002
Scott Weech.    2002

Please pay,  we don't want to lose you as a member.
 

Please Welcome Our Newest Member(s):

Kevin and Kathey Dennis
522 Tanglewood Street,
Sutherlin,  OR 97479
541 459 6329
kdennis@internetcds.com
 

Shirts for Sale:

If you are interested in a club T-shirt, please contact Steve McCornack at 689-1181.
 

Upcoming Club Meetings:

April 8, 2002 Amber, Brett, and Russell's House:  Russ & Denny Education Night (topic(s) to be announced).
May 4, 2002  Denny's House:  Big Brew Day
June 8, 2002  Eugene Pub Crawl
July 5, 6,  & 7, 2002  Clark Creek Campout and Annual Club BBQ
July 20, 2001  Robin & Karen's House:  Kolsch Club Brew Tasting Night (remember Chris's article, see above, on how tasting becomes full on drinking).

Club Information:

Cascade Brewers Society is a sometimes formal, but mostly informal club devoted to the appreciation and art of creating 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.

Electronic copies of the newsletter can be obtained from Russell Kazmierczak at russkaz@eudoramail.com or (541) 461-1548.