Category: Editor’s report and club news

7:30pm Wednesday 7 August at Gorman Arts Centre

Brewers, the days are starting to get longer.  Comp 2 has come and gone. Well done to all those who had a beer in it. I hope you had a good result or at least some good feedback ready to go again for the ACT Comp.

Thanks to all the judges, stewards and other helpers who have volunteered to help out at the Coopers Master of the Brewniverse competition. This will give the clubs reputation a big boast. There is still time to join in if you want to be a part of something special.

The August meeting education session will demonstrate making malt tea. No it is not a hipster drink, it helps predict the colour of you final beer. There will be great raffle prizes including an Inkbird temperature controller from our friends at Beerco. There is still space if you want to join the Six Pack Swap.

Remember to bring some of your home brewed beer to share with all of the brewers at the meeting new and experienced. You can bring bottles, growlers or even a Corny Keg, it is up to you. A good guide is to bring about as much as you want to drink. There is a Nookie ticket for bringing beer. If you don’t know what the Nookie prize is, then come and find out.

Education

Dermott from BeerCo will be showcasing their malts, in particular those from Crisp Malting Group. There will also be a demonstration on brewing a malt tea, which is a useful tool to predict the colour of a finished beer.

As always, the education session commences at 7:30pm in the education room in Gorman Arts Centre, with the monthly club meeting commencing shortly afterward in the main hall. This is a very worthwhile session for any brewer looking to learn more about malt.

Social Scene – For those who can’t get to monthly meetings

The committee have been looking how we can include members who struggle to get to the monthly meetings. We are looking to organise regular ‘come as you are’ park meet-ups on weekends. We will name a time and place, and all member are invited to turn up and catch up with other members. There won’t be any official proceedings, raffles etc. but the club will provide some support and members could run a six-pack swap. We plan to have these meet ups member driven, family friendly and held in different parts of the Canberra district so they can be ‘nearby’ everyone, every now and then. We plan to socialise the idea more in the next few weeks.

Raffle Prizes –– Top prize is an Inkbird Temperature controller

This month we are hot and cold on the top raffle prize. We have an Inkbird temperature controller that can be used to control your fermentation. Controlling fermentation temperature is a fantastic way to improve your beer and this little beauty will get you on your way.

Competitions

Competition 2 was run and there were some smashing beers. Full results are on the forum.

It is time to be brewing for the ACT comp so refine and rebrew your best beers as you can make it through to national via this completion.

Membership benefits

Membership benefits are growing and there will be a few more announcements on the night. Membership cards are available at the meeting. If you can’t get to the meeting, email the committee and we will work out how to get it to you

Library

This month you might be interested in malt. There is ‘Malt: A Practical Guide from Field to Brewhouse (Brewing Elements)’ by John Mallett is available. Order your book online by going to the library page https://canberrabrewers.librarika.com/ and pick it up at the next meeting.

Six Pack Swap

The six pack swap is still open for this month. Just bring at least six beers in 330ml or larger bottles and go home with six beers from other brewers. This way you can take time to enjoy the beers you only get a quick taste of on club night. See the forum to let the others know what you are bringing.

Have a great August and brew like a champion.

7:30pm Wednesday 3 July at Gorman Arts Centre

Brewers, there is plenty happening this month. The July meeting education session is all about dry hopping, great hop raffle prizes including a bunch of hop samples and hop bling. Six pack swap is on again and we are starting to plan October feast and Christmas party.

As always there will be lots of new and experienced brewers swapping beer and stories so bring some of your beer to share.

Education

How many dry hops are optimal? It’s a question to which everyone has an answer, but many answers are different. Our July education session will use a recent study undertaken by a US-based Professor of Fermentation Science, Tom Shellhammer, to explore dry hop dosage rates and also show how “hop creep” can cause your dry hops to trigger a re-fermentation and yield unpredictable results.

As always, the education session commences at 7:30pm in the education room in Gorman Arts Centre, with the monthly club meeting commencing shortly afterward in the main hall. This is a very worthwhile session for any hop-headed brewer to attend.

Raffle Prizes – Staying in the hop theme

This month the raffle will have prizes to make you very ‘hoppy’. First is many varieties of hops plus more hops stuff like a stainless Hop spider, stainless Hop bomb, dry hopping bags and more.

International Home Brew Day

More samples of our International home brew day NEIPA (New England IPA) will be there to try. You could not hop over the hop bill for this beer. There was several hundred grams for a 20l batch.

Competitions

Competition 2 closes soon and you should have your entries about ready to go.  We are calling for judges and stewards for the 28th July so please sign up soon. The comp will cover all shades of lagers as well as bitters, Belgians, wheat and rye beers, and specialities. It is time to plan for the ACT championships on the weekend of the 14th of September. The full list for comp 2 is on the forum page. https://www.canberrabrewers.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=8145&sid=3bc8598000d5705cf565e79c89e295db

Membership dues

Membership fees should be all paid up by now and, if you are paid up, you should have forum access (if not, please email the webmaster). If you want renew or join, please go to the membership page.   Membership cards will be available at the meeting and can be used for special deals from out sponsors such as Mashematics and Page Bottler. As a Member, you also will be able to get forum access, Nookie tickets when you bring beer to meetings or buy raffle tickets.

Social Scene – Octoberfest and Christmas party planning

It is time to think about brewing something German for Octoberfest. There will be a German beer competition as part of the festivities.

This month we will be refining ideas to evolve the Christmas party. Traditionally it has been a family picnic but Andy Cross would like to see if that is still the most appropriate format still. Please either talk to Andy at the meeting or PM him via the forum. All ideas welcome.

Library

This month you might be interested in hops. There is ‘For the love of hops’ by Stan Hieronymus or ‘IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipes and the Evolution of India Pale Ale’ by Mitch Steele available. Order your book online by going to the library page https://canberrabrewers.librarika.com/ and pick it up at the next meeting.

Six Pack Swap

The six pack swap is still open for July. Just bring at least six beers in 330ml or larger bottles and go home with six beers from other brewers. This way you can take time to enjoy the beers you only get a quick taste of on club night. See the forum to let the others know what you are bringing. July and August will have a dark theme so bring you Schwartzbiers, porters, stouts and dark ales are ideal but all beer is welcome.

Have a great July and Brew Strong.

 

 

How many dry hops are optimal? It’s a question to which everyone has an answer.. but many answers are different. Our July education session will use a recent study undertaken by a US-based Professor of Fermentation Science, Tom Shellhammer, to explore dry hop dosage rates and also show how “hop creep” can cause your dry hops to trigger a re-fermentation and yield unpredictable results.

As always, the education session commences at 7:30pm at the Gorman Arts Centre in Civic, with the monthly club meeting commencing shortly afterward. This is a very worthwhile session for any hop-headed brewer to attend, and remember, the first meeting is free for new members so feel free to bring a friend.

CB_Logo_BKBrewers, there is a lot going on again this month. The June meeting is at Gorman Arts Center as normal at 7:30pm Wednesday 5th June. New members are welcome.

The education session is all about yeast, great yeast themed raffle prizes including a *Fermentasaurus* and IHBD first samples are ready. Six pack swap is on again and we are starting to plan the Xmas party and want some ideas.

As always there will be lots of people trying each other’s beer, mead and cider and swapping brewing knowledge and ideas.

Education

The Education Session will focus on yeast, how to harvest it, clean it, store it and get it ready for use. We will also look at the different varieties and how they affect the flavour of your beer, and how to manage both wet and dry commercial supplies.  Yeast is the fundamental ingredient of the fermentation process and can make or break your beer. This session will help you get on top of your game. Be there at 7:30 sharp to catch it.

Raffle Prizes – Staying in the yeast theme

This month the raffle will have some pretty special prizes. First is a Fermentasaurus. This is a top class fermenting vessel and a mile ahead of an old plastic bucket. Next is a Stir Plate, a critical item for upgrading your handling of yeast, new Member Cards are coming soon, flasks for growing starters and yeast packs.

International Home Brew Day

The first samples of our International home brew day NEIPA (New England IPA) will be there to try. If you saw the hop bill, it was as packed as hay cart at harvest, not sure how it all fitted in as there was several hundred grams.

There is also a rumour of some top class apple cider around for a taste.

Competitions

Our first comp of the year was on Sunday the 5th May and at the June meeting results will be

Announced so you can congratulate those who had success in the comp (and maybe try their beer).

The next club comp closes mid-July and soon we will be calling for judges and stewards. If you have never done either, you are welcome to volunteer and come and learn how to do it. Ask someone what it is about. The comp will cover all shades of lagers as well as bitters, Belgians, wheat and rye beers, and specialities so start brewing now if you haven’t already started. The full list is on the forum page. https://www.canberrabrewers.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=8145&sid=3bc8598000d5705cf565e79c89e295db

Membership

Membership fees are now due and can be paid on the forum. Sorry, no cash at the meeting. Membership cards will be available soon for those how have renewed and can be used for special deals from out sponsors such as Mashematics and Page Bottler. As a Member, you also will be able to get Nookie tickets when you bring beer to meetings or buy raffle tickets.

Social Scene – Christmas party planning

This month we will be asking how you want to evolve the Christmas party. Traditionally it has been a family picnic but Andy Cross would like to see if that is still the most appropriate format still. Please either talk to Andy at the meeting or PM him via the forum. All ideas welcome.

Library

This month you might be interested in Belgian beers. There are plenty of book on the way the Belgians brew. Order your book online and pick it up at the next meeting.

Six Pack Swap

The six pack swap is still open for June. Just bring at least six beers in 330ml or larger bottles and go home with six beers from other brewers. This way you can take time to enjoy the beers you only get a quick taste of on club night. See the forum to let the others know what you are bringing. July and August will have a dark theme so bring you Schwartzbiers, porters, stouts and dark ales.

Have a great June and Brew Strong.