February 2019 HOPS Brew Club Meeting Minutes

19 members were in attendance. Held at the American Legion.


Discussion topics included:

1.  Member Dues are due for those who haven't paid yet. They were kept at $5.00 per member.
   
2. Doc's Homebrew Supplies is offering a 10% discount to Brew Club Members, just mention that you are a Hops Brew Club member when checking out. If you haven't been there before, he carries a fairly good inventory on hand, both beer and wine, ingredients and equipment. If you are looking for something particular give a call, if he doesn't have it he may be able get it. Doc's Homebrew Supplies, 451 Court Street, Binghamton, NY (607)722-2476, M-F 10:am-6:00pm, Sat:10am-4pm, www.docsbrew.com just another alternative to the local or online sources you currently use.
   
3. Reminder that some of the 2019 beer styles take a long time to condition/develop specifically November: Brett Beer, December: Belgian Dubbel, and January 2020: Wheat Wine. Its not to early to get them going.
   
4. Some upcoming events include:                                                                                                                                                          a. 3/9 Snommegang (Oneonta), and the NY Craft Brewers Festival at the Desmond Hotel in Albany.                          b. 4/27-28 Tap NY at Hunter Mountain.
5. February was the annual Cereal beer challenge, we had 9 brewers enter a beer this year, that may be a record !
   Congratulations to Wes A., He won the challenge and has the 2019 Cereal Beer bragging rights. Way to go Wes !! The order they are listed is based on the tasting order, not a ranking. Its Just coincidence that Wes was first tasted and he ended up winning.
   
   a: Wes A. : "Golden Grahams Lager". 2#'s Golden Grahams Cereal Chinook hops, Saflager S23 yeast but                        fermented at ale temps. Very Good, the honey really came through.
   
   b: Matt D. : Trix Cream Ale, 3#'s if Trix Cereal 4.3% abv, Very Sweet and Fruity, Grape was prominent, comments        were I like it, and good.
   c: Todd S.: "Luigi's Dolce Grano", 1.5#s Super Mario Cereal, Maris Otter, Belgian wheat yeast, was fruity with spicy      notes attributed to the yeast, not bad
   d: Brian G. : "Super Mario Rye Beer", using Super Mario Cereal, Rye malt, 4#'s sugar, US Goldings hops. Finished       Fruity, not bad.
   e: Chris H. & Frank W. : "Double Dry Hopped Dippin Dots BananaSplits Milkshake IPA", 54 oz of Dippin Dots               BananaSplits cereal, 1# lactose, only 7 IBU's, Ariana & Mosaic Hops. as the name suggest this was dry hopped        twice. 6.6% , Definite fruitiness, and Banana forward. Delicious.
   
   f: Pete A. : Chocolate Cheerios Porter, 3.5 #'s Choc. Cheerios, black malt, choc. malt, fuggles hops and Safale S 05     yeast. Finishes dry, but not bad.
   g: George M.: "StoutChocula" Chocolate Milkstout, CocoPuffs & Count Chocula Cereal, Choc. malt, carafa, Coco         Nibs soaked in Vodka, 1# lactose, S04 yeast. very good, some mineral/irony note, slightly bitter on the                     backend.
   h: Eric B.: "Chocalification" 5#'s & 4 different Cereals, Coco Crunchies, Coco Crisp, Choc. Chex's, Choc. Cheerios,         9#'s 2 row, Cascade hops, S05 yeast. Chocolate/sweet, very good.
   I: Matt B.: "Puff Gose the Dragon" 2#'s Puff Wheat Cereal, Wheat malt, Dragon Fruit, smoked poblano peppers,        Hibiscus , Gochujang. Smokey, not getting Coriander, heat on the backend. not bad.
   J: Eric B. : this was Eric's last year cereal beer entry: Raisin Bran Wheat beer, 4.8 abv, aged well, still tasty.
   
   k: Brian G.: Elders Rye, a rye beer with elderberries. nice, spicy, elderberry notes.
   l: Topher : Belgian Drk. Strong Ale: 8.4%, Belgian Candi Sugar, Falconer's Flight hops. Well Balanced, very good,        will age well.
   m: Jim G.: Blackberry Plum Wine, mild, very good
   n: Alden B.: Mead, 13#'s honey, 1 yr. old, honey notes, a little hot.
   o: Alden B.: Mead, Same base mead with added Cherry Extract to mellow the heat. Very Cherry forward, nice.
   
   
   Well Done everyone.. nice to see us reaching out and trying new ideas... 
   
   
   
   6.There was a mention of Green Apple flavors at some point. Club President Chris H. noted that incomplete fermentation can cause a green apple flavor.
   
   
   7.Next months style is English Bitter.
   
   
   8.The March Meeting is confirmed for March 15th, at the American Legion. No special dinner scheduled as of yet.
   
   
   9.Reminder of the beer styles for the remaining months of 2019:
   March: English Bitter
   April: open
   May: Pilsner
   June: Cream Ale
   July: open
   August: 3% ABV or as close to 3% as you can get.
   September: Dunkel
   October: open
   November: Brett Beer
   December Belgian Dubbel
   January 2020: Wheat Wine