mba January 2007

mba@thebarn.com

22 participants
33 discussions

by Ron Staab

Hi everybody, here is the info on the IBU Open. Anybody willing to judge or steward please email me at ronaldgstaab(a)yahoo.com. Thanks! Ron Staab IBU Open Coordinator Iowa Brewers Union Open Homebrew Competition & Annual Potluck 2007 Judging: Saturday, March 3rd, 2007 Entry deadline: Sunday, February 25th, 2007 $5.00 per entry. Two (2) bottles per entry. Only brown or green unmarked 10-16 oz. bottles accepted. Limit of two (2) entries per BJCP category. Each entry must be uniquely different. Competition Specific Category: IBU Challenge. For you hopheads, the only requirement for this category is the beer entered must have 1 IBU of bitterness per 1 OG. Example: 1.045 OG must contain no less than 45 International Bittering Units. All Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) styles will be accepted including mead and cider. The Director of Judging may combine categories with limited entries if necessary. Style guidelines are available on the Internet at http://www.bjcp.org/style-index.html This is a qualifying event for the Iowa Homebrewer Of The Year Award and for the High Plains Brewer of the Year Award. See http://www.kcbiermeisters.org/NewHighplains.htm Judging will take place Saturday, March 3rd beginning at 10:00 a.m., at the Walker Johnston Shelter House at 9000 Douglas Ave. in Urbandale. Come take a look!!! Entries must score a minimum of 25 points in order to win a category. Bottles will not be returned. Pick up your entry forms at Heartland Homebrew Supply or on-line at www.IowaBrewersUnion.org. (In downloads module in left column of website). Forms may also be faxed or e-mailed to you by e-mailing: ronaldgstaab(a)yahoo.com. Please provide payment and have entry forms attached to bottles with a rubber band. Drop off/shipping sites are on-line at www.IowaBrewersUnion.org. Medals will be awarded to winners of each category, Best of Show and IBU Challenge Champion! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ So you think Oktoberfest was fun Please Join the IBU Club for the annual IBU Open POTLUCK following the competition. Fun and food will begin at 5 p.m. at the Walker Johnston Shelter House at 9000 Douglas Ave. in Urbandale. Please feel free to share a dish or a few beers!! Guaranteed to be a great time --------------------------------- Any questions? Get answers on any topic at Yahoo! Answers. Try it now.

18 years, 10 months

FW: Vine Park January E-Newsletter

by Al Boyce

_____ From: Vine Park Brewing Co [mailto:andy@vinepark.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 4:05 PM To: aboyce(a)mn.rr.com Subject: January E-Newsletter <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=880880&r=880137&t=532283415&l=1&d=87939383&u=htt p%3a%2f%2fwww%2evinepark%2ecom&g=0&f=-1> Visit Vine Park January 2007 E-Newsletter Bavaria - Valentine's Days - Wines - Brew Club <http://library.gotmarketing.com/newsletter/images/themes/xmas/snowflakes_to p_b.gif> As we welcome in 2007, all of us at Vine Park would like to say thank you for a great 2006. Many of you tell us that we have the "best jobs in the world" and if not the best, we sure do enjoy ourselves helping you have fun making your beer & wine. In 2006, we enjoyed our Brews Cruise in August, our 11th Birthday with Oktoberfest, and offered our first Vine Park Beer Trip. Below you will find a link to a whole bunch of photos from that first trip. Over the last year, we did a trial run of Belgian beer recipes, added the Pinot Grigio as a "standard" wine, introduced our Red Claw ESB & Belgian Wit, and tried several other seasonal wines. And we did our first customer survey, which was very helpful and informative. By the way, our winner has not yet called us... Sarah Oebser. One goal of 2006 is now our mission in 2007; getting our Growlers available for sale. We are submitting our last paperwork in the next few weeks and upon City approvals we will do some facility work & brew the beer. And don't worry, you will be the first to know via these emails when we can offer you the beer. <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=880880&r=880137&t=532283415&l=1&d=87939382&u=htt p%3a%2f%2fbeertrips%2ecom%2fgallery%2fCzech%2dRepublic%2d2006&g=0&f=-1> Czech Photo Gallery <http://library.gotmarketing.com/newsletter/images/themes/xmas/snowflakes_bo ttom_b.gif> Bavaria <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=880880&r=880137&t=532283415&l=1&d=87939378&u=htt p%3a%2f%2fwww%2ebeertrips%2ecom%2fvinepark&g=0&f=-1> Image yourself in the picture Vine Park Brewing Company is off on a unique, cultural beer tour in Bavaria and Franconia, Germany! September 27th - October 7, 2007 Join Dan & Deb Justesen and other Vine Park Brewers for a great combination of small, independent Bavarian and Franconian Breweries, history, castles and Bavarian culture. We'll travel by private coach to some of the cool corners of southern Germany including Garmish-Partenkirchen, Rothenburg, and Bamberg, as well as an overnight or 2 in private brewery guesthouses.and did we mention that the famous Oktoberfest coincides with our last weekend together. We could be there for last call. <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=880880&r=880137&t=532283415&l=1&d=87939378&u=htt p%3a%2f%2fwww%2ebeertrips%2ecom%2fvinepark&g=0&f=-1> Trip Details Valentine's Day! <http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-9901986642544_1932_71165512> Well? What have you got planned? Come down and make a wine together or maybe the better route is a Gift Certificate so your valentine can brew their own beer or make their own wine. You can still get a Gift Certificate if you move quickly. They are available on line, over the telephone (651-228-1355), or stop by the brewery. <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=880880&r=880137&t=532283415&l=1&d=87939379&u=htt p%3a%2f%2fwww%2evinepark%2ecom%2fbrewery%2ehtml%23gifts&g=0&f=-1> Click to buy a Gift Certificates Wine <http://www.breezyhills.com/images/wineryimages_hands.gif> Make your own special wine with friends or a special loved one. Maybe a pinot noir for your enjoyment this summer on the patio or a merlot to give as gifts next holiday season, be ready by making Vine Park wines during February thru April. This has become our busiest wine season, so make your reservations early. A cellar full of wine makes for a wonderful summer. <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=880880&r=880137&t=532283415&l=1&d=87939381&u=htt p%3a%2f%2fwww%2evinepark%2ecom%2fwines%2ehtml&g=0&f=-1> Wines at Vine Park Brew Club <http://www.crystalimagesinc.com/glass-%20pub-beer.jpg> The 2007 schedule is now posted! Follow the link below to see when your favorites will be brewed. Or maybe find out when a recipe you want to try is up for brewing. Belgian Night will be our newest addition to our Seasonal Mixes. So in addition to our Spring Mix and Summer Mix, now you can sample our new Belgian recipes. <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=880880&r=880137&t=532283415&l=1&d=87939380&u=htt p%3a%2f%2fwww%2evinepark%2ecom%2fbrewclub%2ehtml&g=0&f=-1> Brew Club Schedule VINE PARK'S GUARANTEE We stand behind our products. If you are not completely satisfied with your beer or wine, for whatever the reason, just return your full opened bottles, and we will issue you a credit towards your next batch. It is that simple. Your beer & wine is, of course, a perishable product and should be consumed within the recommended life span and stored in an appropriate manner. As always, if you don't want these email bulletins, just use the opt out buttons provided or contact us directly. Thanks again for your business. Dan, Andy, Harley, & Katie Vine Park Brewing Co. 1254 West 7th St Saint Paul, MN 55102 You are subscribed as aboyce(a)mn.rr.com. To unsubscribe please click <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=880880&r=880137&t=532283415&l=6&ea=aboyce@mn.rr. com&la=1&o=-37> here. <http://www.campaigner.com/?testdrive_1> <http://cmpgnr.com/app/campaigner/trk/opn.jsp?cid=880880&rid=880137&ctd=5322 83415&lid=87939384&g=0&f=-1>

18 years, 10 months

Trib article on beer

by Noah Warman

Is it me, or is each and every beer named in the article a fairly pale, fizzy pilsner-style lager? ... - Noah Imported beers take the top shelf Surge of specialty brews cater to changing palate of beer drinkers looking for something different from mainstays Miller and Bud By Mary Ellen Podmolik Special to the Tribune January 30, 2007 A shelf tag hanging in front of a bottle speaks of the "complex, rich bouquet," while another mentions the "notes of bread, toasted grains and mildly sweet herbs." This isn't the fine-wine aisle of Binny's Beverage Depot. It's the section of the store devoted to imported and craft beers, and the references are to different formulations of hops and barley. Michael Binstein, owner of the 18-location, upscale liquor-store chain, has seen a dramatic change in beer-buying habits. Among the 30 top-selling beers at Binny's, imports outsell domestics 58 percent to 42 percent. To accommodate changing customer palates, Binstein hangs beer reviews from shelves and has hired specialty-beer experts to scope out the best products. "The battle is over, and imports have won," Binstein said. "Ten years ago, Miller and Bud had a chokehold on the whole category. [Today,] the customer is looking for what's new, interesting and different and is more willing to experiment. [Miller and Budweiser] are battling a common foe, the rising surge of imports and specialty beers." Customers at specialty shops such as Binny's aren't exactly mainstream grab-a-six-pack-at-the-convenience-store consumers. But beer-drinker habits have changed enough that the two domestic brewing heavyweights want in on the imported suds action. And their moves will mean more unfamiliar names on the shelves of local liquor stores. The strategy is simple: If you can't beat them, join them. Beginning in February, Anheuser-Busch Cos. will become the exclusive U.S. importer for the red-hot Stella Artois brand, as well as Beck's, Bass Pale Ale, Hoegaarden and Leffe. It already has distribution alliances with Grolsch, Tiger and Kirin. Until two weeks ago, Anheuser-Busch planned to break new ground by airing a commercial for an import, Grolsch, during the Super Bowl. It changed its mind, however, and ran the spots during NFL playoffs broadcasts. And, in another indication of how critical the import segment has become, the St. Louis-based brewer this month signed a deal to handle Czechvar Premium Czech Lager, which is already sold in 30 states through other companies. The pact was arranged despite a century of litigation between Anheuser-Busch and Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar over who has rights to the "Bud" name. Budvar has been sold for five years in the United States under the Czechvar label. Tapping into resource Meanwhile, Miller is tapping further into the 150-brand portfolio of parent company SABMiller. It is expanding distribution of Polish beer Tyskie beyond Chicago and New York. It also will begin importing Aguila, the top Colombian brew, and two from Peru, Cristal and Cusquena. Miller also imports Peroni and Pilsner Urquell. "We haven't even come close to tapping into the global brand portfolio of our company," said Miller spokesman Peter Marino. Demand for imports is coming from consumers, who crave more robust-tasting beers, and from beer wholesalers, who see sales of domestic beers continuing to slip. For the first 11 months of 2006, domestic beer sales fell 0.5 percent, while total imports grew 12.8 percent, according to The Beer Institute, an industry trade group. In grocery stores alone, sales of import beers rose 6.3 percent last year, compared with a 1.4 percent drop in overall beer sales, according to data from ACNielsen. Part of the increase can be attributed to a broader range of product offerings; supermarkets carried almost 10 percent more imported beers last year than they did in 2005. "This is a real consumer shift," said Nick Lake, beer analyst at ACNielsen. "It's not going to be a flash in the pan. Consumers are upscaling across all categories. Look at coffee, ice cream, chocolate. Look at retailing. Target is doing well. Wal-Mart is struggling." The big domestic beers have a huge head start, of course. While the growth is on the specialty side, domestics still outsell the competition by a huge margin. Domestic beer sales were an estimated $71.7 billion in 2006, compared with imported beer sales of $18.6 billion, according to Mintel International research. The leading domestic brewers--Miller, Anheuser-Busch and Molson Coors--sell 88.5 percent of all beer. Beer retailers and distributors crave imports because they, along with the light beer segment, are the only segments that are growing. Additionally, premium products carry higher prices and greater profit margins. Miller, in fact, calls its imported brands part of the "worth more" category. Bigger not always better But businesses that long ago linked themselves to imported ales, lagers, ports and stouts warn that bigger does not always mean better. For 15 years, import and craft beers have been the draw at Hopleaf Bar on Chicago's North Side. Owner Michael Roeper attributes half of the bar's 56 percent sales increase last year to beer sales. Yet, Roeper, who has 44 varieties on tap, worries that Miller and Anheuser-Busch may homogenize the industry. "I think the big market distributors don't know what to do with these beers," he said. "My fear is when they pick up the distribution rights to a brewery that has nine different beers, and, of those nine, there are four that are specialized and never really generate any numbers, those are beers that aren't interesting [enough] for them to carry." Similarly, local distributors who long have been linked to imports, but who are not affiliated with Miller or Anheuser-Busch, could find their fortunes altered just as the import category is taking off. Under Illinois law, a brewer can end its agreement with a wholesaler, and pay it a fair fee, if the brewer's products represents 20 percent or less of a wholesaler's volume. Louis Glunz Beers Inc. of Lincolnwood started distributing Beck's in the mid-1970s. Today, Beck's and Stella Artois account for 40 percent of its volume. Because of its sales volume, it would not be forced to sell its distribution territory to a local Anheuser-Busch distributor, and it has no intention of doing so willingly. "It's my business, and we built it from scratch," said Jerry Glunz, general manager of the fourth-generation, family-owned business. "We built those brands for our future. I believe we should benefit from our sweat equity. "This isn't a fad like ice beers or lemon beers. Once you try a better beer, it's like taking the kid off the farm. You're never going to appreciate [the old] beers the same way." Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune

18 years, 10 months

Mash Out results and photos

by Paul_Dienhart＠cargill.com

Results, recipes and photos from the Upper Mississippi Mash Out are posted at www.mnbrewers.com/mashout/ <http://www.mnbrewers.com/mashout/> Photos can be found at the bottom of the recipes, and more will be going up today. This year, more than 120 volunteers from eight states and Canada answered the call to help run what has become the third largest beer competition in the country. Not bad for a six-year-old contest. To all those volunteers, a huge THANK YOU! It was a great collaboration between the St. Paul Homebrewers and the Minnesota Home Brewers Association. Held last Friday and Saturday in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Mash Out experienced a 68 percent increase in entries over 2006. The 266 brewers who entered the contest submitted 918 entries. They represented 66 homebrew clubs and came from 33 states. Clearly, the rest of the nation has discovered the Mash Out - 525 entries were from outside Minnesota. There were gold medal winners from both coasts, and Bob Boufford has the distinction of traveling the farthest: 1,303 miles from Edmonton, Alberta. We also had the honor of having Gordon Strong, Grandmaster III judge and BJCP director, contribute to Best of Show judging as well being head judge of numerous flights. The Mash Out awarded 105 medals, including Best of Show carved wooden chalices for beer, mead and cider. Every winner received a prize. Score sheets were in the mail within three days. A special acknowledgement to organizer Al Boyce. Numerous people stopped by the office to say it was the smoothest, best-run contest they had ever attended. A lot of dedicated volunteers were behind that, but it started with Al. Be sure to be part of it next January! Paul Dienhart Mash Out Publicity Chair

18 years, 10 months

bIG bREW 007 - May 5, 2007

by Rick Oftel

Boys and Girls, Guys and Gals, Do you know what time it is? Is your refrigerator running? Rick here with the first in a series of public service announcements for the Minnesota Homebrewers Association regarding bIG bREW 007. The big brew event is again being held in our new back yard. Why is the back yard new? It's new because it's bigger - just to accommodate the crowd. What's the theme? Bigger is better. Last year, we had many brewing stations at various locations in the back yard and one large brew kettle towards the hill. This year we will have two large kettles and matching mash tuns capable of producing 80 gallons of bitter wort in one or two shots! Why is this important to me? Nobody has the ability to ferment 80 gallons at one time but many of you have happy yeast looking for a second or third batch to ferment. We will provide the wort free of charge as long as it goes to a good home. What else is new? The focus this year is on techniques and education. We welcome you to bring and use any equipment you have but thought it might be more valuable to focus more on all grain training and techniques and a little less on multiple locations. What else? You remember the good weather chant. Start now to ensure good weather on May 5th. The BBQ is always available. The national toast occurs at 11:00. Rumor has it that hot wings arrive around noon and the two ring circus (aka two brewers who care) fire up their boilers around 9:00. Mark your calendar and bring your wife. Drain your fermenters and donate your yeast. Bring your beer and spread some cheer. Wisconsin folks, please bring cheese. So there you have the first episode of bIG bREW 007. Stay tuned and send in your ideas. Sincerely, Rick Oftel MHBA member since 1968 (and one heck of a good liar) P.S. Did I mention there will be some beer? This electronic message including any attachments ("Message") may contain information that is privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under trade secret and other applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, notify the sender immediately, permanently delete all copies of this Message, and be aware that examination, use, dissemination, duplication or disclosure of this Message is strictly prohibited.

18 years, 10 months

Winterfest 2007 Photos

by Ryan Sinn

The "official" Winterfest 2007 photos are online! Pass the address around to whomever... http://www.ryansinnphotography.com/ If anybody has their own photos up somewhere -- send me a link and I'll be happy to post it... I must have gone through 3 or 4 dozen cards on Friday night. Cheers! Ryan -- ---------------------------------------- Ryan Sinn Photography Spring Lake Park, MN ---------------------------------------- 1.763.783.5721 service(a)ryansinnphotography.com http://ryansinnphotography.com/ ---------------------------------------- Weddings, Portraits, Events, Anything! ----------------------------------------

18 years, 10 months

Doggie Beer

by Mike Behrendt

This was just on the Today show A new reason for dog owners to become homebrewers? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16752671/ Doggie beer? Pet shop owner sees a niche Dutch brew is nonalcoholic and made with beef extract and malt IMAGE: DOG DRINKIN NONALCOHOLIC BEER Benito, a 5-year-old Chihuahua, drinks non-alcoholic beer made of beef extract and malt. -- //Mike Behrendt Mike.Behrendt(a)comcast.net Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others. Groucho Marx

18 years, 10 months

BA Style Guidelines

by Mike Behrendt

Just noticed that the Brewers Association has published a set of Beer Style Guidelines: http://www.beertown.org/education/styles.html -- //Mike Behrendt Mike.Behrendt(a)comcast.net Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others. Groucho Marx

18 years, 10 months

Great Northern Brew-Ha-Ha Entry Deadline Nears

by Northern Ale Stars

Less than a week remains until the entry deadline for the Great Northern Brew-Ha-Ha, the return of homebrew competition to Northern Minnesota. The deadline for acceptance of entries is Monday, January 29, 2007. You can enter online at http://www.northernalestars.org/greatnorthernbrewhaha.html . FREE SHIPPING FROM THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI MASH-OUT THIS WEEKEND! Bring your entries to the Upper Mississippi Mash-Out this weekend and they will be safely transported to Duluth for FREE! Just seek out any member of the Northern Ale Stars Homebrewers Guild in attendance this weekend. Judges and Stewards are needed. Register to judge or steward online at http://www.northernalestars.org/greatnorthernbrewhaha.html . If you have any questions please e-mail them to northernalestars(a)hotmail.com . Cheers! _________________________________________________________________ Fixing up the home? Live Search can help. http://imagine-windowslive.com/search/kits/default.aspx?kit=improve&locale=…

18 years, 10 months

roggenbier for BJCP class - anyone have one?

by Crist, Jonathan

We are having trouble finding roggenbier (15d) for the BJCP class this week. The typical stores (Blue Max, Cellars, etc) all say they haven't seen any. Does anyone have a home brewed example or a commercial example? Jonathan

18 years, 10 months

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mba January 2007