FW: Big Lake Brewfest This Saturday

A GREAT newsletter from the NOrthern Ale Stars in Duluth.... - Al Original Message: ----------------- From: Northern Ale Stars northernalestars(a)hotmail.com Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 11:52:45 -0500 Subject: Big Lake Brewfest This Saturday The remaining haze from the NAS Oktoberfest has lifted and there is another local beer event on the horizon . Yes, this Saturday is the much anticipated Big Lake Brew Fest. 35 brewers will be represented along with the Northern Ale Start who will have 8 different styles of homebrew to serve. The event runs from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the University of Wisconsin Superior’s Wessman Arena. Laurie Daiken and Walt Pittack made the rounds this morning to local radio stations B105, Kool 101.7 and MIX108. They held on air beer tasting with the DJ’s, promoting the fest and the club. A hearty handshake goes to Laurie and Walt for getting up so early to drink beer in public. Everybody SALSA! If you’d like to get your taste buds flaming and in need of a cold beer on Saturday, there will be a salsa tasting at Dave Swenson’s home (264 Loren Rd, Duluth 218-525-3723) this Friday evening beginning at 5:00 PM. This will be a gathering of the local salsa club and all they ask is that you bring a home made salsa to share (although beer would be a good idea also). Oktoberfest My Favorite Holiday! Lake Superior Brewing Company is hosting an Oktoberfest to celebrate the release of their first-ever Oktoberfest beer. This is, of course, an all-malt beer brewed in accordance with the German Reinheitsgebot or "purity law". In fact, Head Brewer Dale Kleinschmidt points out that everything in the beer except for the water is German - he used 100% German malt, hops and yeast. The event will take place at the brewery: Saturday, September 30, 2006 4:00 - 10:00 pm 2711 W. 1st Street (behind the Subway) “How can they do this?” you ask. Lake Superior Brewing has arranged for a special event liquor license that will allow them to set up a bar for the day and sell pints. There will be food available, seating in the brewery, and (weather permitting) an outdoor drinking area with campfire. They will also conduct tours for those interested, and will have growlers of beer & root beer, and other merchandise available. Brew – Not Move: Just a reminder, the 2nd annual Brew – Not Move will be held Saturday, Oktober 7th at the fully moved into home of John Judd and Karen Olesen (1924 Jefferson St. Duluth). We will be brewing classic Belgian style beers and anyone who would like to brew with us is more than welcome (just send an e-mail to northernalestars(a)hotmail.com so we know you are coming). Or you can just come on over, drink beer and watch us brew. Starting time… ..morning-ish. Report From the Gunflint: As most of you know a fire raged out of control just south of the Gunflint Lake area last week and had the audacity to threatened the shrine we all know as Hestons. But fear not, all is well and all are safe. For we learn now the fire stopped in it’s tracks when it caught a glimpse of Fireman Greg standing atop his newly built fire truck, waving his fire hose and yelling “You Shall Not Pass!” (that would take the fire out of me) And so, in celebration of this triumph over evil, we will all be gathering at Hestons Fire Hall and Base Camp the weekend of Oktober 19th – 22nd. All available volunteers are requested to contact the dispatcher (Firewoman Barb 218-388-2243 ) to reserve a bunk. In Memoriam: Finally, as the Big Lake Brewfest and the celebration of the diversity of beer styles we enjoy today commences, I’d like to take a moment to mention a sad event which took place in the world of beer this week. As I mentioned in the recently, Young’s Brewing, a classic and large real ale brewery, has made the decision to sell it’s centuries old brewery in Wandsworth, South West London (SW18), and have their beers brewed hence forth by Wells Brewing, another classic and large real ale brewery in England. For those not familiar with the term, real ale is a natural product brewed using traditional ingredients and left to mature in the cask (container) from which it is served in the pub through a process called secondary fermentation. It is this process which makes real ale unique amongst beers and develops the wonderful tastes and aromas which processed beers can never provide. It is THE beer to drink in England and has led to many other styles including IPA, and American Pale Ale. Now, the decision of Young’s to close their brewery comes as a bitter sweet event because the brewery dates back to the rule of Queen Elizabeth I and Young’s has been brewing classic British real ale since that time. During the latter part of the 20th century, many breweries around the world gravitated toward light drinking lagers and abandoned the classic styles which made them famous, including many real ale breweries. However, John Young, the matriarch and head of Young’s Brewery steadfastly held his ground and refused to follow the trend towards lagers. This was a major decision because in England, Young’s is the equivalent in size (not in quality) to Budweiser or Miller in the US. Young’s also owns numerous pubs which have been preserved as classic British pubs serving classic British real ale. Young’s gamble paid off and helped spur the current popularity and revival of classic beer styles, especially real ale. Young’s has been credited with helping save the real ale style, being one of the only large breweries willing to continue to brew it, with John Young leading the way. Sadly, we learned the news that John Young passed away Sunday evening. The official news of his passing was announced Monday morning, just moments before the final mash and brew were to commence at the old Wandsworth brewing site. The man and his brewery are gone. I like to think John was standing there stirring the last mash with the brewers and adding hops to the boil. Thankfully, the style he defended is more popular than ever and will be for a long time. And so, as you are enjoying the numerous beer styles at the Big Lake Brewfest this Saturday, including a classic British real ale served by hand pump at the Northern Ale Stars booth, take a moment to raise your glass to John Young and offer him a hearty “Well Done You!” It’s people like John that preserved the great beer we still enjoy today. Cheers, and I’ll see you at the fest. If you would like to read a short biography of John Young, please click the link below: http://www.beerwriters.co.uk/news.php -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ .