May 2017 HOPS Brew Club Meeting Notes

HOPS Brew Club Meeting Minutes – May 2017
Meeting was held at My Father’s Place restaurant on May 19, 2017 at 6:30pm with 17 members in attendance.
Topics of discussion included:

1. Reviewed the results of the Sixth Ward Athletic Club fundraiser and, though a positive cash donation was made to the 6th Ward, the Brew Club was hoping for a better turnout. Matt Brown won both the Brewer’s and the public’s vote with his fine American Lager.
2. Note that the July meeting will be on a Saturday afternoon, July 22 at Jim and Teresa’s house with a potluck and club supplied grilled burgers, etc. More details and a signup list will be sent out, but make sure to save the date.
3. There were many interesting beers sampled at this meeting, including this month’s beer style of the month, Kolsch:
   1. Commercial example: Reissdorf Kolsch from Germany – Fine lawn mower beer
   2. Commercial example: Goodwater Brewery Stange – Different taste that the German version
   3. Chris and Frank’s Kolsch – Interesting taste with the newer style Jester and Huell Melon hops
   4. Chris C.’s October Pilsner - When last sampled it had a “chill haze” that has since naturally dissipated. As anticipated, the taste of the beer remained that same with or without the chill haze.
   5. Brian brought some commercially made Good Natured Blonde ale which would go well with popcorn.
   6. Todd’ NY Maple Imperial Pilsner from the 6th Ward fundraiser had traditional Tettnang and Saaz hops with some maple sugar candy added for slight sweetness and higher ABV at 6.8%.
   7. Chris C.’s Honey Brown from the 6th Ward event made with Magnum, Centennial, and Citra hops and 1 lb. of honey, though the yeast converted most all the honey.
   8. Frank and Chris’ Hazy Daze of Summer from the 6th Ward event was higher in alcohol than originally expected so added 6ml of hazelnut extract to compliment the alcohol taste
   9. Matt’s Saison – This complicated Saison was made with hibiscus, orange peel, and lactic acid
   10. Jesse shared a bottle of Kennebunkport Porter from Trader Joe’s
   11. Jim’s Coke Bottle Glasses Porter was more drinkable than the Kennebunkport porter
   12. Alden’s Anchor Steam Porter clone – It was suggested that ¼ teaspoon of baking soda added to this 5 gallon batch would reduce the acidity and give the beer more body
   13. Wes’ Smoked Porter from a kit was quite good for the 2nd beer he has ever made.
   14. Chris C. also had his Hoppy IPA that was hopped at four different times with Centennial and Citra hops
   15. Pete brought in some Big Ditch IPA from a brewery in Buffalo

For those looking to brew the beer style of the month for future meetings, here is the list for the rest of the year:

• June – IPA – 21A
• July – Weissbier – 10A
• August – British Brown – 13B
• September – Belgian Blonde - 25A
• October – Oktoberfest/Marzen – 6A
• November – Doppelbock – 9A
• December – Christmas/Special Winter – 30C
• January – American Barley Wine – 22C

The June HOPS meeting will be held on Friday, June 16, at 6:30 at the American Legion on Chestnut Street in Oneonta.We will be using the back deck if the weather is nice.It is also Steak night at the Legion, so if you would like to purchase the steak dinner that evening please let Chris or Todd know by Monday 6/12 so that we can give the Legion a head count.