MEAD DAY THANK YOU! I have been tardy in extending my thank-you's for all of the people who helped put together a fabulous Mead-Day (Mead WEEK!) Extravaganza earlier this month! The details of all of these events will be published soon, in the Boiler and other places, but for now, let it suffice to say that it took a LOT of people to pull this off - and without them all it would not have been possible! If I've missed someone, I'm sincerely sorry. Help support those who gave for this event! * Go Eat and Drink at the Happy Gnome! * Go buy some White Winter meads! * May as well buy it at the Four Firkins! * Buy a Land of Amber Waters book * Buy a Mead Day T-Shirt THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE! - Al TUESDAY, JULY 29 - MHBA Club-Only Champion Selection ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Erik and Alyssa Biermann - Hosts Jonathan Crist - Judge Paul Dienhart - Judge Gera Exire LaTour - Judge Mike Moranz - Judge Steve Piatz - Judge Joel Stitzel - Judge Al Boyce - Judge All 16 club members who entered mead! WINNER: Rick Oftel's Pepper/Cardamom Mead THURSDAY, JULY 31 - White Winter Six Course Mead Pairing Dinner at the Happy Gnome ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- Nick Miller - Owner of The Happy Gnome - http://thehappygnome.com 651-287-2018 Matthew Hinman - Chef at the Happy Gnome Jon Hamilton - meadmaker at White Winter, Speaker - http://www.whitewinter.com (available at Four Firkins) Ken Schramm - author of "The Compleat Meadmaker", Speaker http://shop.beertown.org/brewers/product.asp?s_id=0 <http://shop.beertown.org/brewers/product.asp?s_id=0&sku=3100_487> &sku=3100_487 Jesse Stremcha - organizer All of the diners who came to savor this fabulous meal! FRIDAY AUGUST 1 - AHA COC Mead Judging at CSPS Hall ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- Jonathan Crist - Competition Organizer Diane Crist - DB Queen Eric Biermann - Cellarmaster Janis Gross - AHA COC Coordinator http://www.beertown.org/events/meadday/ Kathleen Crook - Potter (creator of Mead Mazer awards) 612-729-1660 Chris Smith and Kris England - meadmakers for commemorative meads Gera Exire LaTour - label designer for commemorative mead All of the judges, stewards and volunteers! All of the 53 clubs nationally who participated! SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 - Commercial Mead Tasting at the Four Firkins ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- Jason Alvey - proprietor, The Four Firkins - http://www.thefourfirkins.com, 952-938-2847 Steve Fletty - Commercial Calibration judge Steve Piatz - Commercial Calibration judge Ken Schramm - Commercial Calibration Judge Curt Stock - Commercial Calibration judge Everyone who came and bought stuff from Alvey! SUPPORT THE FIRKINS! SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 - Mead Day ----------------------------------------------------- Paul and Betsy Dienhart - hosts Ken Schramm - Speaker Rick Oftel - BBQ Chef Gera Exire LaTour and Joel Stitzel - designers of Mead Day T-shirt http://www.cafepress.com/mead Members who brought MEAD and food to share! SUNDAY, AUGUST 3 - BJCP Certified Mead Judge Exam at CSPS Hall ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- Steve Piatz - Co-Exam Administrator (Written portion) Susan Ruud - Co-Exam Administrator (Tasting portion) Jonathan Crist - Supplies Steve Fletty - Proctor Kris England - Proctor Steve Piatz - Proctor The six examinees - the FIRST people in the nation to take the test! SUNDAY AUGUST 3 - Mead Class at CSPS Hall ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Gordon Strong - BJCP President, Instructor http://www.bjcp.org Kris England - BJCP Continuing Education Director, Asst. Instructor Jonathan Crist - Supplies Doug Hoverson - author of "Land of Amber Waters", class secretary http://www.landofamberwaters.com/ Al Boyce - Mead Procurer (28 commercial varieties) All the students who took the class!