HOPS Brewsletter - January 2013

by Jason Cox

HOPS – Homebrewers Of Pagosa Springs

 

Hello HOPS Heads,

Ah yes, I remember way back when, back in the good old days, back when times were innocent. It seems like only a few years ago… wait, I am thinking about only a few years ago. Seven years ago to be exact. That is when Eleanorski and Randini first started brewing our own brewskis. Granted, we have been into craft beer, well, about a third of our lives, but the brewing started around seven years ago. I think back on brewing in those days. Brewing was a different world to me then than it is now (then then? than then? whatever). It was so much fun, and yet quite scary because there were so many unknowns out there. All the ‘oh crap’ moments that take place in the early days are still entertaining to this day, like the time I accidentally dropped a water jug into the wort (yes, the actual jug). Or when we found out that boil overs on your kitchen stove increase clean up times by approximately 3.5 hours. (Out kitchen never really has recovered from that one.) Some accidents turn into experiments and vice versa. That is the fun of brewing, you can be creative and sometimes the ‘unknown’ factor leads you to creating an incredible beer. Other times, not so much. But as you grow and learn, your processes become more efficient and you can spend your time calculating and experimenting with recipes rather than just wondering if your newly brewed concoction will ever resemble beer or not. Here we are about 700 gallons of beer later (GET IN MY BELLY!) and still screwing around with recipes, processes and equipment. The scary factor has gone down, but the excitement factor is still right up there – maybe even more so because it is not as scary. Maybe I’m just happy because I never killed anyone with my beer (that I know of). When the brew bug bites, some people are barely affected while others get infected. I’m infected, and still quite possibly contagious.  It’s not about brewing better beer than any one else, it is more about brewing beer that you love and are excited about. If you enjoy it, chances are others will too. That’s why we are taking our infection and working to share it with others. Sounds like a conspiracy! We have upped the ante many times over the years, whether it is upgrading equipment or branching out to trying that new style you have never brewed before. We are getting ready to take another step – and a big one at that! More details on that below. How about you? Are you ready to shift gears and go to the next level? Let’s make 2013 a great year for beer. Brew on, and boldly brew what you have never brewed before!

 

Cheers, and happy fermenting ~

 

Randini

 

Quote of the Day:  “When I drink beer, I’m better at grammar than you’re.”

 - Some drunk guy

 

 

HOPS Meetings:

 

  • HOPS – New Business:
    • Next Meeting: Tomorrow, January 22nd is the next HOPS meeting, Pagosa Brewing Co at 6:00 PM. The ‘ALL COLORS’ COLOR GROUP is up because we don’t know who will be in what color groups quite yet. So come one, come all, bring a sample of the style of the month – Belgian Beers.
    • Style of the Month: Belgian Beers (not to be confused with funky, infected homebrewed beers)
    • Discussions:
      • Call for officers – we need help and we want yours!
      • Membership Dues – we need money and we want yours!
      • Donated Beer-Gear – We will divvy up the remaining items that were not bid on and also be delivering the goodies that were bid upon. 

 

 

UPCOMING LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS:

 

  • New Brewery Opening In Pagosa – Yours truly paired with Eleanor the wifey-poo along with Jason Cox and his wife Shelly are in the process of starting up a new brewery here in Pagosa! Riff Raff Brewing Co is scheduled to be opening in late May or early June depending on permitting and other processes. Check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/riffraffbrewing?fref=ts for more information.

 

Mark Your Calendars:

 

·         Jan 22nd – HOPS Meeting – Everybody bring some Belgian Beer!

·         Jan 26th – Celtic Homebrew Party in Aztec (see below for details)

·         February 2nd - 15th Annual Domras Cup Mead Competition

·         February 26th – HOPS Meeting – Stout Beers!

·         February 26th - AHA National Homebrew Competition - Registration Opens

·         Mar 8-10th – Durango Celtic Festival (see below for details)

·         May 4th – AHA Big Brew Parts (Group homebrewing event – it’s a party)

 

 

  • Jan 26th - The FCCHBC (Four Corners Celtic Home Bbrew Club in Aztec) will be participating in the SJSFS Robert Burns Night. Join us Saturday January 26th at 6pm for Robert Burns Night at the Four Corners Celtic Homebrew Clubs World Headquarters 121s main, Aztec. Music, dance, bagpipes, homebrew, haggis, poetry, neeps and tattes, haggis, cranachan, singing, steak and stout pie, haggis, and maybe some pasty's or is it pasties? or both? Did I mention Homebrew? On Tap will be: Smoked Porter aged in a Rye Whisky Barrel, 90 Shilling (90/-) barrel aged 8 months, Hard Cider, Apricot Ale, Pinon Porter, Bacon Smoked Porter, Funky Heather Ale, Juniper Spiced Xmas Ale,  English Cask Ale, Gluten Free Ale (yellow snow), Scottish Brown Ale, Smoked Porter. We ask for a $20 donation at the door, which includes supper, this is not a potluck, but if you have a great shortbread recipe please bring a batch to share. This is an RSVP event, please reply to this email with the names of who will be attending and we will confirm your reservation. If you would like to participate musically or read some Burns poetry for this event, please reply to this email. Must be a homebrew club member to partake, you can join or renew at the event.

 

  • March 8-10, 2012: The first annual Durango Celtic Festival: Yay! Presented by Durango Celtic Music & Arts, and sponsored by The Strater Hotel and The Irish Embassy Pub. This weekend Durango event will feature nightly concerts at The Henry Strater Theatre and the Irish Embassy, plus musician's workshops as well as various celtic vendors around town. If you would like to volunteer to help with this event, or would like info about becoming a sponsor, please contact CJ at: patrickcrossing

 

Pagosa Brewing Company:

 

·         Check out the new website at www.pagosabrewing.com! This new interactive website highlights the menus for beer and food, plus it has a lot of fun photos. See if you can find yourself in any of them!

 

·         ~ February ~ Stout & Chops Month: Look for at least 16 different stouts throughout the month! Chops Contest Commemorative Shirts Available Soon - "Get Your Chops On!"

 

 

Riff Raff Brewing Company:

 

·         Construction - We have a building under contract and are supposed to close on it by the end of January. Construction is scheduled to begin directly after closing in early February and continue all the way through May. Currently looking for people holding signs saying “Will work for beer”.

 

·         Our brewing equipment is on order! Riff Raff Brewing Co is going with a 3BBL brewhouse and 7BBL fermenters. This allows us to brew double batches into each fermenter. There is more work initially, but a system like this is much less expensive. Still looking for people holding signs saying “Will work for beer”.

 

 

FRONT RANGE & BEYOND NEWS & EVENTS:

·         Hop Rhyzome Club Discount - Arrowhead Hops is beginning its Hop Rhizome Presale for 2013. All rhizome varieties will be $3.00ea. for club members (reg $3.50).  Rhizomes will be shipped by late March/ Early April depending on weather conditions.  Please visit www.arrowheadhops.com to place your orders.  Under the “Shop for Hops” pulldown you’ll find a Homebrew Clubs page, enter the discount code (clubprice) to access the page to receive your discount.  Shipping will be (1-6) $3, (7-12) $5.50 and 13-up $11.50. If you have any questions please let me know.
Cascade, Centennial, Columbus, Galena, Magnum, Mt. Hood, Northern Brewer, Nugget, Sterling, Willamette
Thanks
Andy
Arrowhead Hops LLC
www.arrowheadhops.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Arrowhead-Hops/199155133452979

·         National Homebrewers Conference - Conference Registration Opens February 5:

 

 

Does the cold winter weather have you dreaming of June? No matter what the local climate brings, you can expect an awesome week of homebrewing fun in Philadelphia, June 27-29 at the National Homebrewers Conference! If you've enjoyed previous editions of the event, you know how much fun is in store, but if you're green, we've got a handy guide for newbies to give you an idea of what to expect. 

One thing is certain: the AHA Conference is increasingly popular and will likely sell out quickly. Registration opens February 5. Don't miss out on the annual gathering of the homebrewing tribe!

 

·         A New Brewery Opens Every Day Of The Year: http://www.brewbound.com/news/2013/gatza-new-breweries-open-at-more-than-one-per-day-pace-in-2012?utm_source=Brewbound&utm_campaign=6ca89fc386-mailchimp&utm_medium=email

 

 

 

FOR SALE / FOR FREE / WANTED:

 

  • Wanted – Chest Freezer to be used for a kegerator
  • Wanted – Glass Carboys

 

Anybody else have anything you want to list? Beer related or not, just lemme know and I will circulate your stuff around the universe. Well, my universe…

 

 

Links:

 

  • Homebrewing News – A website started by our buddy Bill Downs here in the Four Corners area that focuses on product reviews and more: www.homebrewingnews.com

 

  • Beer News Around Durango – For the latest news on the beer scene in Durango, check out http://beerat6512.blogspot.com/. Our neighbors to the West have a great beer town, along with some great writers and this is a fun place to check up on the happninz. Erich Hennig, my brew-brotha-from-anotha-motha just joined the team. Check it out – I think you will enjoy it!

 

 

 

UNSUBSCRIBE – But if you do you may get bit by a worse bug than the brewing bug, like the quilting bug, the dreaded city sewer inspection bug or the rarely seen owl vomit collecting bug <gasp> - seriously, I saw that on Dirty Jobs on Discovery. Yeah, life could suck…