July HOPS Meeting Review and Upcoming Beer Events

Hiya HOPS Heads,

We had a great meeting this week at the Coyote Moon in Pagosa Springs and had the opportunity to taste some mighty fine American Pale Ales (APAs). Many of you know this style via the definitive beer in the subcategory, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. This iconic beer highlights the Cascade hop and helped vault the American craft beer movement into prominence in the early 1980's.

We sampled a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale among a few others at our meeting Tuesday, July 22. Beers in the APA style, BJCP category 10A, tend to be well balanced hoppy beers with good supporting malt. To learn more about the APA style, check out http://bjcp.org/2008styles/style10.php#1a, and check out the list below of the beers we sampled.

  • Sierra Nevada Pale Ale: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA
  • Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale: Telluride Brewing Company, Telluride, CO
  • Sweetgrass APA: Grand Teton Brewing Company, Victor, ID
  • St. Lupulin Extra Pale Ale: Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins, CO

Coming up at the August meeting on August 25, we'll step it up a notch on the hops and dive into India Pale Ales, BJCP category 14 (http://bjcp.org/2008styles/style14.php). Prepare to bring an interesting array of English, American and Imperial IPAs if your color group is responsible for beer in August.

You might have an interest in a few upcoming beer events, including a homebrew competition and some fun festivals. Check out the list of a few events below for more information and keep hopping along!

  • Archuleta County Fair Homebrew Competition: Pagosa Springs, CO, Thursday, July 31; turn in entries Wednesday, July 31, between 1 and 8 pm at the Archuleta County CSU Extension Building at the Fairgrounds off Highway 84 and Mill Creek Road; no fee to enter and you'll have your homebrew judged by certified judges...more info at http://archuletacountyfair.com/exhibitor-rules-and-regulations/
  • San Juan Brewfest: Durango, CO, Saturday, Aug. 23...more info at http://sanjuanbrewfest.com/
  • Ska Anniversary Party: Durango, CO, Saturday, Sept. 6...more info at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/720721
  • Bands, Brews, Etc.: Pagosa Springs, CO, Saturday, Sept. 20...more info at http://pagosasprings.whattodo.info/Pagosa-Springs-Co/Events/Pagosa-Springs-Community-Events/Bands-Brews-Etc---2014-ColorFest/59932/ 

HOPS Survey about Hops!

I received an email from Amber Beye, a local Four Corners resident writing a grant to perform a hop variety trial with Fort Lewis College. Amber is interested in the varieties that home brewers are most willing to use or would like to try and has created a survey (in Microsoft Word
2010 document format) to gauge Four Corners homebrewers' preferences for hops.

All participants are welcome and you just need to fill out the attached document and send it directly to Amber at amber@sccorps.org by March 28, 2012. You can also contact Amber with any questions you have about the survey.

In the end, we might end up with a local hop farm serving Four Corners homebrewers. At the least, though, you can help Amber write a grant that will help further hop farming in our region.

 

Cheers!

Jason

 

Help support United Way of Archuleta County by brewing beer. Yeah!

I'm including a message from local homebrewer Bill Trimarco below. Bill is involved with the local United Way chapter based in Pagosa Springs and I chatted with him recently about their upcoming annual appreciation celebration in April. We'd like to get HOPS club members together to brew some beers that we can donate to the event and use to help support United Way.

We will send out more details soon and we should brew by early March to give the brews sufficient time to be ready by the event in early April. Post any suggestions or thoughts you have about this on this thread and we'll take everything into consideration. What better way to support charity than to make homebrew!

Cheers,

Jason

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Sometime in early April (the date is yet to be determined), United Way of Archuleta County is holding an appreciation celebration to thank all who have so generously contributed to their funded programs. Since United Way uses most of the donations to fund beneficial community organizations, they are looking for ways to hold this party without spending donated money. I was planning on giving them a couple of cases of homebrew. How about a HOPS brew day with the results being given to United Way for their get together? This would also get us invited to the party to help drink our products. Let me know if anyone is interested. If you need more info, contact Lisa Jensen, our local United Way coordinator at 731-0484 or lisaj@unitedway-swco.org.

Bill Trimarco

Dredhop Homebrew Competition: Boulder, CO, February 25, 2012

Greetings HOPSians,

If you're interested in entering one of the largest and most prestigious homebrew competitions in the state, consider the Dredhop Homebrew Competition hosted by Hop Barley and the Alers out of Boulder, CO. Competition judging occurs in Boulder on February 25, 2012, and entries can be sent directly to competition organizers if you're interested. Entries will be accepted from Feb. 1 to Feb. 12. The Alers also need judges and stewards so feel free to register if you'd like to help or need some BJCP points.

Get full information on the competition at http://hopbarley.org/content/dredhop. You can also email me if you'd like more information about the Dredhop.

Cheers!

Jason