February 2017 HOPS Brew Club Meeting Notes

HOPS Club Meeting Notes                                                                    February 17, 2017
Meeting held at the Vet’s Club in Oneonta with (15) HOPS Members in attendance.
Many orders of business were discussed including: 

• The next HOPS fundraiser will be on May 6 for the Sixth Ward Athletic Club for the sponsorship of the various Oneonta children’s sports leagues.  The beer styles are American Ales or American lagers.  Brewers are needed, so please consider signing up for this event and a signup sheet will be posted on the website.
• A name for the event, usually HOPS for something or something for HOPS, is needed as this event has not been named yet.  Please post any suggestions as we need to come up with a good name by the next meeting.
• There were three entries in the cereal beer competition including:
  • K Pops Lager by Matt – This brew included 12 ounces of Kellogg’s Corn Pops and it was a very clear beer with a slightly sweet taste from the corn pops.  A good beer on its own.
  • Muddy Water by Brian – This entry was made with 16 ounces of Kellogg’s Vanilla Almond Special K for an interesting combination of tastes in a beer
  • Frankenberry Sour German Wheat by Chris and Frank – This was made with four (yes 4!) boxes of Frankenberry along with additional raspberries and strawberries to make the very pink and quite sour beverage.
  • The winners of the popular vote were both the K Pops Lager and the Frankenberry Sour.  Both will be getting cereal box trophies with their names adhered them at a presentation during the next HOPS meeting.
• There were many, many  interesting beers sampled at this meeting including:
  • Pilsner by Chris C. – This beer was lagered at 50F and tastes good and has a chill haze present.  Chill haze will be a topic of discussion at the next meeting.
  • Orange Shandy by Jim – Nice orange malt beverage
  • Chris and Frank’s Wild Hop Ale – This beer was made from hops that were gifted to them without specifications, which made a hoppy beer with a raisin taste to it.
  • Dunkel by Alden was dark and malty
  •  Todd shared a commercial IPA called Quackalope hand imported from Barley Mow Brewing Company in Largo FL.
  • Dale made a Cranberry Braggot – Complex taste though young and it should age well.
  • Jesse brought his Better Than Guinness stout – He cold steeped some of the grains at a low temperature for a longer time period.
  • Peach Mead by Chris C. – This was from 2015 and alcohol forward with the aroma of grapes.  Though to be great for starting your car.
  • Matt’s cider was still clear.
  • Plumtastic by Jim – A really nice sour plum flavor as it was made with 5 pounds of plums for a 5 gallon batch
  • Mike’s Hot Ginger Soda – made with 1 tablespoon hot pepper flakes and real ginger root for a spiced up end to the evening
• The March meeting would usually be on March 17, but do to this being St. Patrick’s Day, it will be moved to the following Friday, March 24 at 6:30 at a to be determined location.