FYI
-----Original Message-----
From: Northern Ale Stars [mailto:northernalestars@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 12:35 PM
Subject: January e-Newsletter
Well, the verdict is in, and here is the new board of directors of the
Northern Ale Stars:
President - Greg Gecas. This is Greg's second stint as President and he has
a number of great ideas to lead the club.
Vice President - Walt Pittack - This is Walt's first office since he
mistakenly wandered into the club, but he is charged up to revive the Pub
Crawl tradition.
Treasurer - Don Hoag - Long time former club Secretary has returned to bring
free spending back to the club.
Brewmaster - John Judd - Why hasn't anyone thought of this before? Excellent
choice.
Secretary - Steve Daiken - Yes, yours truly returns as the only re-elect to
keep the rest of this motley crew in line.
Club Social Director - Gus - This is a new position created especially for
Gus, who is quickly climbing his way up the club political ladder. Gus won
on a platform of 24/7 darts games at the Spring and Fall Hestons beer
weekends.
Well, there you have it, a few legacies and a few new bloods, should prove
to be an interesting two years.
DUES:
Dues are now due for everyone. Please send a check for $20 (which will cover
you for the next two years) made out to the Northern Ale Stars to Don Hoag,
5426 Beartrap Rd, Saginaw, MN 55779.
FEBRUARY MEETING:
The February NAS meeting will be Saturday, February 11 starting at the usual
2:00 PM ish time at the home of Mike Ganser and Julie Hillman. Their address
is 4120 Schultz Road. Phone number 721-3814. Directions - go to the Sunset
Bar on Highway 4, Rice Lake Road, go approx. 5 miles north and take a right
on Schultz. Any questions?
This will be a theme meeting..Bread and Beer. Bring bread that goes with
your beer and be prepared to explain why they go together (in case we don't
agree). Also, the highlight of the meeting (as far as I'm concerned) will be
the beer Mike made with hops from my hop plants, harvested at the (now
annual) Hop Harvest meeting. Be sure to bring some home brew, good
commercial beer, or beverage of your choice as well as a snack to share with
the group (your bread doesn't count as your snack).
MARCH BEER WEEKEND & MEETING
March 23rd to the 26th is the planned gala bash otherwise known as
HESTONS!!!! If you haven't called and reserved your space yet, give Greg and
Barb a call at 218-388-2243. I haven't heard of what the beer and whiskey
tasting theme will be, but the Saturday group meal theme is ...Italian!
However, there's a caviet. Greg said he does not want to see 40 pots of
Spaghetti, so unless you have some insanely awesome spaghetti recipe, bring
something else or face the wrath of the President.
AROUND THE NORTHLAND:
This weekend is the 2nd annual "Trust in the
Land: An Evening of Local Fine Food & Drink" sponsored by Northern Waters
Smokehaus and Whole Foods Coop. This food and beverage tasting event will
take place on Saturday, January 28, 2006 from 6-9pm in the Great Hall of The
Depot. Tickets cost $30 in advance , $35 at the door, $20 for students/low
income folks & $10 for Land Trust homeowners. All proceeds will benefit the
affordable housing work of Northern Communities Land Trust.
The event will feature drinks, appetizers, entree's and desserts from some
of the area's finest locally owned businesses including:
Alekaf Coffee, Alotti Biscotti, Amazing Grace, The Boathouse, Chester Creek
Cafe, Fitger's Brewhouse, India Palace, Lake Avenue Cafe, Lake Superior
Brewing, New Scenic Cafe, Nokomis Restaurant & Bar, Northern Waters
Smokehaus, Positively 3rd Street Bakery, Taj India, Twin Gables Cafe, Twin
Ports Brewery, White Winter Winery, & Whole Foods Coop.
Free childcare by Little Treasures (limited to 30) will be available at The
Depot by reservation only - please call the Land Trust at 727-5372 to
reserve a space.
To purchase tickets in advance call (727-5372), email
(heather(a)landtrustduluth.org) or stop by the Land Trust office (Room
112 in the Damiano Center). You can also buy tickets at Northern Waters
Smokehaus in the Dewitt-Seitz Building, Whole Foods Coop front desk at 610
East 4th Street or The Green Mercantile at 206 East Superior Street.
SHOW THEM THE DOOR....
Greg and Marcia (Hophead, Hopheadda) are actually retiring from their day
jobs (over 70 combined years of working in the human services/mental health
field). They're holding a retirement party to celebrate this event with
friends and family. The Ale Stars, considered to be both family and friends,
are invited to join them at the Northeastern Saloon and Grille in Cloquet on
Friday, February 10 around 4:30 pm. Hors d'doevers are provided and there's
probably going to be some kind of beer available on tap. The Northeastern is
located on the island (kind of under the HYW 33 bridge over the river) and
you get there by circling around by the old movie theater and straight onto
the island from there. Good parking, good friends, what can go wrong? Pass
the word along and we hope to see everyone!
OTHER BUSINESS COVERED AT THE BUSINESS MEETING:
- Dues has been lowered to $10 per year per family, but will be
collected at
the simi-annual business meeting (or the year of a business meeting) for
that year and the following year. That means you will owe $20 every other
year.
- The club will look into the purchase of a used bourbon barrel to use
for
group brews.
- The club will look into purchasing a large mash vessel and possible
a boil
kettle, possibly used dairy equipment.
- The idea of the club purchasing large quantities of brewing
ingredients
and making them available to members was vetoed.
HOMEBREW COMPETITIONS:
The Upper Mississippi Mash Out was held in St. Paul January 19 - 21. Results
can be viewed at:
http://www.mnbrewers.com/events/mashout/2006mashout.htm
The next homebrew competition in the Midwest Home Brewer of the Year
competition is the Babble Brew Off. Information can be obtained at:
http://babblehomebrewers.com/brewoff/
Midwest Home Brewer of the Year web site:
http://sphbc.truthbrew.com/mwhboy/
Cheers!