I have created a calendar in Google with MN Home Brewers meetings, contests, and other significant brewing events for 2009 on it. If you have your own Google calendar you can just import it. If not, you can just look at it and see what interests you. It is not comprehensive - more things will be added, and it is subject to change, so come back to it frequently and see what's coming up.
http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=alboyce1%40gmail.com&ctz=America/C…
- Al
News from Flat Earth...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jeff Williamson < brewer(a)flatearthbrewing.com >
Date: Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Subject: Flat Earth January Update
To: Jeff & Cathie Williamson < brewer(a)flatearthbrewing.com >
Greetings Flat Earth Believers,
A quick update of January events, Growlers sales continue every Thursday from 330 – 630 p.m. at the brewery. We have some of the Cygnus series porters remaining from the ones Mike re-created for New Year's eve, plus other things.
Our next brewery tour is Saturday the 17th starting at 4 p.m.
Don't forget to check out the hoppy goodies at The Muddy Pig's Festival of Hops running from the 22 through the 25. We'll have a few special things available just for this event. More about that later this month.
We hope you had a wonderful holiday season filled with friends, family and fine beers.
Jeff & Cathie Williamson
Flat Earth Brewing Company
January 7, 2009
Tasting Report: Sip, Don.t Quaff
Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes 2006 ... ½
Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien, Switzerland 11% alcohol (25.4 oz., $34.95)
Bracing and complex, with bright, refreshing, tart flavors of citrus, spice and sour fruits. (B. United International, Redding, Conn.)
Pennichuck 2008 (33.8 oz., $17.95) ...
Pozharnik Espresso Russian Imperial Stout, Milford, N.H. 10%
Rich, smooth and full bodied, with balanced flavors of bitter chocolate, coffee and toffee.
BEST VALUE
Bavik Petrus Aged Pale (11.2 oz., $3.50) ... Belgium 7.3%
Golden, complex and refreshing with flavors of tart citrus and earth. (Win-It-Too, Santa Barbara, Calif.)
Jolly Pumpkin (25.4 oz., $9.50) ... La Roja Amber Ale, Dexter, Mich. 7.2%
Rich, robust and spicy with full, creamy carbonation and funky, earthy flavors.
Dogfish Head (12 oz., $4.60) ...
Burton Baton Imperial India Pale Ale, Milton, Del. 10%
Brown and cloudy, with well-balanced, lingering flavors of sweet malt and piney hops.
Allagash Odyssey (25 oz., $22.95) .. ½ Portland, Me. 10.3%
Aromas of coffee and smoke, with bright, lingering fruit flavors.
Harviestoun (11.2 oz., $11.95) .. ½ Ola Dubh Special 16 Reserve, Scotland 8%
Stoutlike with aromas of roasted malt, smoke, figs and tobacco. (B. United International)
De Dolle Oerbier (11.2 oz., $12.95) .. ½ Special Reserva 2007, Belgium 13%
Complex and refreshing with aromas of tart citrus and apricots. (B. United International)
Great Divide (22 oz., $12.95) .. ½ Yeti Imperial Stout, Denver 9.5%
Roasted malt aromas, creamy texture with complex flavors of fruit, brandy and licorice.
Captain Lawrence (25 oz., $21.95) .. ½
Smoke From the Oak Bourbon Barrels, Pleasantville, N.Y. 7%
Black with bright, fruity aromas balanced by flavors of roasted malt.
--
------------------------------
* Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu *
* University of Minnesota, mobile : 651/645-0753 *
* Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *
Congratulations to White Winter and Aeppeltreow for winning medals for their ciders in the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry competition! Both of these mead/cider makers' products can be found at the Four Firkins!
Also, congrats to Gary Awdey who won several medals in the amateur division. Gary came to St.Paul (from New York) with his own examples of ciders in tow to give a seminar last April. Gary also gave the same seminar at the AHA National Homebrew Conference in June for those in attendance.
- Al
------------------------------
Subject: Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition
From: "Gary Awdey" <gawdey(a)att.net>
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:26:30 -0500
The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association is pleased to announce results of
the 4th Annual Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition (formerly
known as the Great Lakes Old World Syder Competition). The competition
was held at Shmohz Brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on December 7, 2008.
With 54 commercial entries and 83 noncommercial entries this is the largest
Pro-Am fermented cider competition in North America. The competition is
open to nineteen categories of fermented beverages made from apple or pear.
Entries come from a wide geographical area in North America, from California
and Washington to New York and from Quebec to Virginia.
COMMERCIAL DIVISION
Award Company Name Location Product Name
25A Cyser
Bronze White Winter Winery Iron River, WI Cyser
27A Common Cider
Bronze White Winter Winery Iron River, WI White Winter Hard Apple Cider
27E Traditional Perry
Silver AEppelTreow Winery Burlington, WI Orchard Oriole Perry
28C Applewine
Gold AEppelTreow Winery Burlington, WI Autumn Glory 2005
28D Specialty-Other
Silver AEppelTreow Winery Burlington, WI Perry
****************
NONCOMMERCIAL DIVISION
Award Entrant's Name Location Entry Name
27A Common Cider
Silver Gary Awdey Eden, NY Dry Golden Russet with Yarlington Mill
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY Medium Golden Russet
27B English Cider
Silver Gary Awdey Eden, NY Yarlington Mill
27C French Cider
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY French Cider
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY Yarle Reinette
27D Common Perry
Gold Gary Awdey Eden, NY Common Perry
27E Traditional Perry
Silver Gary Awdey Eden, NY Gelbmostler Blend
28B Fruit Cider
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY Cider with Blackcurrant
2006-1 Macro Cider
Gold Gary Awdey Eden, NY Full Juice Cider
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY Speed Bump Apple
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY Speed Bump Pear
*************
------------------------------
Subject: Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition
From: "Gary Awdey" <gawdey(a)att.net>
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:26:30 -0500
The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association is pleased to announce results of
the 4th Annual Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition (formerly
known as the Great Lakes Old World Syder Competition). The competition
was held at Shmohz Brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on December 7, 2008.
With 54 commercial entries and 83 noncommercial entries this is the largest
Pro-Am fermented cider competition in North America. The competition is
open to nineteen categories of fermented beverages made from apple or pear.
Entries come from a wide geographical area in North America, from California
and Washington to New York and from Quebec to Virginia.
COMMERCIAL DIVISION
Award Company Name Location Product Name
25A Cyser
Bronze White Winter Winery Iron River, WI Cyser
27A Common Cider
Bronze White Winter Winery Iron River, WI White Winter Hard Apple Cider
27E Traditional Perry
Silver AEppelTreow Winery Burlington, WI Orchard Oriole Perry
28C Applewine
Gold AEppelTreow Winery Burlington, WI Autumn Glory 2005
28D Specialty-Other
Silver AEppelTreow Winery Burlington, WI Perry
****************
NONCOMMERCIAL DIVISION
Award Entrant's Name Location Entry Name
27A Common Cider
Silver Gary Awdey Eden, NY Dry Golden Russet with Yarlington Mill
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY Medium Golden Russet
27B English Cider
Silver Gary Awdey Eden, NY Yarlington Mill
27C French Cider
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY French Cider
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY Yarle Reinette
27D Common Perry
Gold Gary Awdey Eden, NY Common Perry
27E Traditional Perry
Silver Gary Awdey Eden, NY Gelbmostler Blend
28B Fruit Cider
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY Cider with Blackcurrant
2006-1 Macro Cider
Gold Gary Awdey Eden, NY Full Juice Cider
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY Speed Bump Apple
Bronze Gary Awdey Eden, NY Speed Bump Pear
*************
8th Annual Upper Mississippi Mash-Out
There is less than a week until registration closes for the 2009 Upper Mississippi Mash-out. Registration will close and entries need to be received by Saturday January 10th. Here a preliminary schedule of events and a few of the rule changes this year.
* There is no limit on the number of meads you can enter in the individual categories as long as they are different.
* There is no limit on the number of ciders you can enter in the individual categories as long as they are different
* There is no limit on the number of Eis Anything you can enter in the individual categories as long as they are different. We are not requiring a pre-eised bottle as the website indicated earlier.
For more information visit http://www.mashout.org/
Key Dates
Dec 29 2008 – registration for all entries, volunteer sign-up and banquet ticket begin
Dec 29 2008 - Jan. 10 2009, entries accepted
Schedule of events
Friday January 23
8:00-9:30 am - Setup and Registration
9:30-noon - Judging Session 1
noon-1:30 pm - Lunch for Volunteers - Kirby Nelson of Capital Brewery talk
1:30-4:00 pm - Judging Session 2
4:00-6:00 pm - Judging Session 3
6:00-7:00 pm - Dinner for Volunteers
7:00-9:00 pm - Judging Session 4
9:00-midnight - Indoor Pub Crawl; Kirby Nelson will introduce some beers he brought pre-crawl
Saturday January 24
8:00-9:00 AM – Breakfast for Volunteers
9:00-11:30am - Judging Session 5
11:30 AM-12:30 pm - Lunch for Volunteers - Seminar - TBD
12:30-3:00 pm - Judging Session 6
4:00-6:00 pm - Specialized Mead training
(4:00-5:00 pm - Best of Show Judging (Closed to Public))
6:00-7:30 pm – German Theme Beer Banquet
7:30-9:00 pm - Awards Presentation
Additional judging sessions may be added on Thursday January 22nd as needed.
Volunteer sign-up is first come first serve, so if you plan on helping out sign-up early to reserve you spot to judge or steward.
We will also be organizing a “beds for judges” program again this year. If you need somewhere to say send and email to info(a)mashout.org and we will work on finding you a place to stay.
Anyone for a Rogue tasting?
- Al
---------- Forwarded message ----------
On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 3:11 PM, The Four Firkins <alvey(a)thefourfirkins.com>
wrote:
The Four Firkins
Rogue Tasting Night
Monday the 5th - 6:00pm
01/02/2009
Rogue Tasting Night!
Monday Jan 5th at 6:00pm
Didn't drink enough beer over the past couple of weeks? I thought not, so I
organized another sampling event for you.
Come on down to the Firkins this Monday at 6:00pm and try some of Rogue's
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001w9R8clUCAMz0AGnfHee1qFh3Kbtdbiy8-IH35jMuqSH_rNrD
V1FQsm-l7O52VY9irg5KEDVDtEsLQjS6RNh3FZDE9SMIh3WJEcp7LABSKIs=> beers. We'll
have Tom here from Tri-County Beverage & Supply here to talk about the beer
with us. This event is OPEN HOUSE which means there is NO SIGN UP, You can
just come whenever you like after 6:00pm. This is a free event.
We will be sampling: Dry hopped red ale, Smoke, Juniper, Dead Guy, Santa's
private reserve, Hazelnut, Imperial IPA and the Chipotle ale. There should
be something in that line up for everyone...
Hope to see you there!
Alvey. Rogue
Twitter?
You bet.
I think this is one of the only businesses I know of that sends out a weekly
email blast like this, and I never have anyone tell me it's too often! In
fact, I have people ask me to send them even more frequently. Well, as much
as I'd like to I'm not going to do that but for those beer geeks amongst you
who just have to know the very second something rare comes in twitter is the
answer.
We now have a twitter account, you can go to http://twitter.com/fourfirkins
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001w9R8clUCAMxcFoc6-SW_748pa0EAq2zgZ1MLbuUq7M6mdv0W
xI659dk1GvbBsHB2tu9tNSHKob4FOAvqM3lKYXpKiJPd8y9NVS6HkjooxJ-WqZjO_-Enfw==>
and sign up to "follow" The Four Firkins. Then literally as new and obscure
beers arrive you will receive a text message on your phone or an email in
your inbox and know about it instantly.
Enjoy!
Alvey.
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