June 2015 Meeting Notes

HOPS Club Meeting Notes                                             June 19, 2015

Meeting held at Frank’s house in West Oneonta

(16) HOPS Members in attendance with about ten beverages sampled

Many orders of business were discussed including:

• The HOPS for Hounds charity fund raiser was a success with Chris and Frank’s winning beer to be on tap in the near future at Council Rock Brewery.  The event also increased the HOPS coffers up to $950 for future educational and charitable events.
• It was suggested that a gavel be purchased for use by the club President to restore order in a more timely fashion when needed.  Todd will look into ordering a gavel online.
• It was also suggested that an educational club trip may be to go to Binghamton Brew Works and other close by venues for a later summer/early fall adventure.
• A possible next charity event, HOPS for Harmony benefitting the Catskill Choral Society, will be discussed further at the next meeting.  We need to make sure it is not too soon to have a second event this calendar year and that there will be enough interest and volunteer brewers.
• Will start looking into scheduling another BBD (Big Brew Day) in the fall.  Could do at Council Rock, but could also do it more grass roots style and have lots of people bring their equipment to someone’s house and make the same wort, but with different yeasts.
• The new Royal Meadery is opening on June 20 in Cobleskill.
• Steven from Sweet Meadows Garden Center is going to open a home brew supply store. Suggestions were made for items he should carry.

There were many interesting beers samples this meeting including highlighted beers such as:

• Council Rock’s Copper Moose Pale Ale that was quite good. Also sampled Council Rock’s excellent Cripple Creek Triple with blood orange peel and El Dorado hops.
• Tasted a Russian imperial stout made with American hops and Belgian yeast.
• Frank’s extra special Maple Bacon porter made with boiled bacon (as “if you get fat, you get no head”) plus not just wood chips soaked in Knob’s Creek whiskey, but a good amount of Knob’s Creek whiskey itself.  This gave it more of a barley wine feel and increased the ABV from 11% to 13%.
• As a surprise offering, a bottle of original Ommegang 18 year old Aphrodite brought the funk.

The food at this meeting was up with the best as it included chicken cooked slowly in a charcoal smoker with the following delicious variations (thanks to Chris and Frank):

• Buffalo chicken
• Chicken stuffed and cooked with sauerkraut and kielbasa
• Chicken stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese and apricots
• Chicken stuffed and wrapped in bacon

The July meeting is scheduled for the fourth Saturday, on July 25, at Wes Nick’s house at 13 Maiden Lane, Cherry Valley.  This will include a pot luck meal and feel free to bring along tents so as to be able to enjoy the night without having to drive home.