Category: Editor’s report and club news

The first Canberra Brewers meeting of 2014 was held on Thursday February 6 with many new members signing up on the night joining one of Australia’s biggest and more successful brewing clubs.

The committee quickly got business over with (well, as quick as they can with Club President Mark “Billy” Bilbrough at the helm) and launched straight into the all-important briefs for the upcoming Multicultural Festival.

With the briefs over and everyone knowing exactly what to expect on the clubs biggest weekend of the year, Stephen “Lawfo” Lawford took the chance to get up and talk about his English Mild providing a keg for sampling and lots of tips for brewers wanting to make one themselves.

In a scene reminiscent of Thor and his hammer, a few brewers were seen proudly brandishing their brand new shiny stainless steel mash paddles in the air – ok, perhaps it was only me…

With most of the formalities over for the night, club members took the chance to catch up with mates and talk about their holiday brewing adventures while also getting to know the new members for the night.

A great start to the year with some great prizes going to committee members and a few other members of the club.

Until next month!

More photos can be viewed on Flickr.

By The Committee

The final Canberra Brewers meeting for 2013 was also the AGM and saw a relatively small contingent of members come together to have their say in the future of the club and the 2014 committee.

Well fed (thanks to Tom Dixon’s delicious salami from the Wig and Pen Brew Day) and well lubricated (thanks to three different kegs of Barely Barley and Joel Baines’ tasty Hefeweizen) we quickly got to work with the all-important end of year formalities:

• Tom ‘Dicko’ Dixon took out the Craig Robinson Trophy for Clubman of the Year. Whether making sausages, making beer, or making money, Dicko’s efforts on behalf of the club, both in the president’s chair and since, made him an excellent candidate. Well done Dicko!

  Honourable mentions went to Rohan Lilley and Kevin Hingston for their above and beyond efforts over the past two years.

• The Wig and Pen trophy was selected from the #1 entries in the ACTABC, with Steve Hogarth’s Framboise taking out pole position. Expect to see Steve’s beer on tap at the wig soon.
• The 2014 committee remains mostly unchanged with Mark ‘Billy’ Bilbrough staying on as president, Kevin Hingston remaining on as social secretary, Chris ‘Duffy’ Duffbowl reprising his education officer role, Pete Daffern sticking around as webmaster and Nick Wiseman taking on editor responsibilities for another year.

  We welcome Joel ‘Bainesy’ Baines as treasurer, Steve ‘Lawfo’ Lawford as Competition Secretary, and Jeremy Michael into the new role of Assistant Social Secretary. Thanks for to Adam Langan and Malcolm Scholes for their efforts in 2013.

A final word from the incoming committee:

So as we wrap up 2013, 2014 is already shaping up to be a massive year.

Along with ANHC Four, we have the multicultural festival early in the new year (so please continue to frequent the forums for when we put the call out to volunteers). A refresh of competitions, education, social events, and venue are all front of mind for the committee.

So have a safe and happy Christmas break, brew strong and see you in the new year.

Cheers,
2014 Committee

By Nick Wiseman, Editor

Attention members of the Canberra Brewers.

Duffbowl is about to undertake Movember as part of the Team Canberra Brewers (http://au.movember.com/team/1059261)

“Hang on, he’s already facially hirsute”, I hear you say! Well, this is a bit of a difference. Duffbowl will be shaving off his whiskers to start Movember, then growing back the upper lip only.

To help raise more funds, Duffbowl has agreed to allow the greatest donor the honour of ridding him of his facial hair.

By Nick Wiseman, Editor.

Once again Canberra Brewers celebrated Oktoberfest in style with a huge range of food and beer locking it in as one of the biggest nights on the club calendar.

More than 90 members and guests crowded into Knuckles restaurant at Canberra’s Harmonie Club with an additional number turning up after the meal to take part in the festivities.

Food for the night consisted of traditional German sausages, sauerkraut, pork, goulash and more with even some green healthy looking vegetable matter that somehow made it onto some plates.

Few dressed up for the occasion with most deciding to just come along and enjoy the festivities.

The clubs annual “Best of Fest”, a small competition held on the night, was run once again with members bringing in their best German beers to be judged.

Shout out goes to Ross Mitchell placing first and second with his Kolsch and Grätzer respectively. This was followed closely with Joel Baines taking third with his traditional German wheat.

Raffles on the night had lucky brewers heading home with grain packs, beers and a nine litre keg with club member Fiona Judge taking on Chris De La Rue as the most generous in regards to purchasing club tickets on the night – it also saw her take out two of the mentioned prizes.

A great night to be remembered by all and a big thanks goes out to all those who organised the night.