December 2018 HOPS Brew Club Meeting Minutes

December 2018 HOPS Brew Club Meeting Minutes
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December was the Brew Club Cutthroat Christmas Party
Meeting was held at Todd & Susan Snelson's House. Thank You Todd & Susan for hosting.

9 members participated in the Christmas Gift Exchange. Chris Haddock was graciously left the coveted #1 spot after everyone else had drawn their numbers.  Chris walked away with a very nice Duval gift pack, containing beer and glasses. 

15 Members were in attendance.

Discussion topics included:

1. The Winter Carnival beer tasting with the Lions Club of Cooperstown on February 9th.  Because of the late notice, the idea  of serving any remaining cereal beer was put out there, as well as any other beer a brewer might have on hand (homebrew of course). But as of 1/6/2019 we have yet to hear anything further from the Lions Club.
2.  Snommegang is coming up on 3/9/19, and the Extreme Beer Festival in Boston is February 1st-2nd, the sessions are selling out fast if your interested.
3.  Airgas is exchanging 5 lb. Co2 tanks for $12.00 for Brewers. No filling on site, just let them know you are a member of the Hops Brew Club.
4.  We also discussed the upcoming Beer Styles for the months of 2019: 
5. 1. January :  Open
   2. February: Cereal Beer – Needs to have at least 25% of the grains from off the shelf cereals.
   3. March: English Bitter
   4. April:  Open
   5. May:  Pilsner
   6. June:  Cream Ale
   7. July:  Open
   8. August:  3% ABV or as Close to 3% as you can get
   9. September:  Dunkle
   10. October:  Open
   11. November: Brett Beer
   12. December:  Belgian Double
   13. January 2020:  Wheat Wine

1. Decembers Beer Style was Imperial Stout:  
   1. Eric B.  Commercial Beer, Beach Session Ale with Orange by Carton Brewing. 4.0% abv.
   2. Brian G. Elder's Rye with rye malt, spices, and 8 oz. of dried Elderberries in the boil was well received.
   3. Eric  B. Commercial Beer, Row Hard Root Beer, 6.7%, comments: more wintergreen less sweet the other Root Beers.
   4. Todd S. Mead : Dilly Dilly, 8 lbs. Honey, Green Ginger Tea, Allspice, Nutmeg, Cinnamon. Very Good, looking forward to this with a little age.
   5. George M. Chocolate Stout, partial mash Brewers Best Kit, was very nice. 
   6. Eric B. Imperial Russian Chocolate Stout. 8.5%, 40 IBU's with choc. Malt, 120 Crystal, and Coco nibs, got thumbs up.
   7. Alden' B. Imperial Stout, partial mash/extract, went down nice.
   8. Chris H. & Frank W. Adumbral Cold Moon Imperial Stout. 9.4%, 40 IBU's, rice added to cut sweetness, very good.
   9. Matt B. Russian Imperial Stout is aging well, with a noted Stone Fruit flavor present. 
   10. Matt B.  commercial Stout, Narwhal 2018 by Sierra Nevada 10.2 % ABV. 
   11. King of the North, Game of Thrones by Ommegang, 11% ABV Bourbon Barrell aged Imperial Stout. 
   12. Saranac, Basking in Bourbon Barrels 2017, 11.4%, 50 IBU's.
   13. Goose Island, Bourbon County Stout 2018, a growler from Hometown Deli. 
2. Wow, many fine beers this meeting, lets keep up the good brewing.       January's HOPS Brew Club meeting will be on the 18th, starting at 6:30 at the American Legion. The Legion will be making Pizza for sale by the slice. a variety of topping will be available.