July 1998 Volume 21, Issue 7

June Meeting Report

by C. Webster

June's meeting was held, as usual at the Brewmaster Homebrew Supply shop in San Leandro.

The first item on the agenda was the annual Club Picnic, which is traditionally held in July. After looking at the music programs and dates at the Oak Hill Park in Danville (where last year's picnic was held), it was decided that the picnic will be held on July 11th commencing at 11:00AM. The club will provide the meat (smoked brisket by Bob Jones, barbecued salmon by John Pyles) and accessories. Side dishes will be pot-luck with who brings what determined by the last letter of your name. See elsewhere in this issue for the details of what you're supposed to bring. The music program features The Marvelettes with Gladys Horton & Will Porter and the Allstars. The music begins at 5:30PM. Be sure to bring a blanket if you're staying for the music. Last year we had the very choicest of locations, since we had been there since 11:00AM!

The next item of business on the agenda was the schedule of speakers for the rest of the year. It was decided that John Pyles would talk about and demonstrate the sensory evaluation of beer flavors at the September meeting, Bob Jones would talk about and demonstrate his yeast ranching techniques (with an emphasis on growing proper starter volumes) at the October meeting, and Bob would repeat the wildly successful bittering levels demonstration at the November meeting. As an addition to the taste comparisons, the club will select one beer at the October meeting to have analyzed for bitterness at a lab, with the results being part of the demonstration at the November meeting.

The is being held in a park in Napa on October 3rd. Any club member wishing to attend must purchase tickets through the club by the August meeting. There will be no tickets at the door. Tickets are available to club members only!

The last item of discussion was the "brewing tips" booklet. I produced the last edition five or six years ago, and it was very successful. The membership decided to work on a new edition, with the possibility of getting wider distribution than just giving it to new members. Mike Wood and I will coordinate the collection and publication of brewing information. If you have any brewing tips that you wish to share with everyone, now's the time. Contact Mike Wood or Charlie Webster with your tips.

The meeting then proceeded onto the tasting portion of the meeting, and for notes on that, see the Steward's report.