January 2014 Minutes!

Tom and Rocky Freund hosted the January B.A.S.H. meeting on Sunday the 12th at their home in Flour Bluff. As usual, the first hour or so involved a lot of beer drinking and socializing. Mike “Spudmeister” Wojdyla kept up a steady supply of homemade potato and sweet potato chips. Paul Holder forgot to bring his past Iron Mash bling medals, but “Old Bullfarts” teammate Dr. Mark Quade was all pimped out with his three medals.

Club President Adam Klager eventually called the meeting to order and welcomed new member Phil Sims. Embezzler-in-Chief Carroll Pate was AWOL, so we were spared his droll treasurer’s report. Webmeister Erik Hinz requested a volunteer to babysit our Facebook page. Travis Clapp accepted the responsibility. He was promptly admonished by an anonymous club member (let’s call him “Paul”) to use the page to promote the club, not to pick up chicks. As if!

Next months’ meeting host Alex Hinojosa invited everyone to his Railroad Seafood Station restaurant and brewery. He currently has blonde ale on tap and is awaiting label approval on a chocolate stout and a peach wheat. His restaurant will be closed the day of the meeting, but we can bring in food and homebrew.

After the meeting was adjourned, an elite team of judges (four old guys) retired into Tom’s workshop to evaluate this years’ Iron Mash beers. Three teams showed up at the B&J’s Pizza on Staples the first Saturday in November for the brewing contest. The “Bashturds” consisted of 2013 Homebrewer of the Year Mark Woerner and the ubiquitous Mr. Clapp. Patrick Viles and John “Human Punching Bag” Nicely competed as “Iron Crash”. The “Lazy Beaches”were the third team -- Cory and Jess Mathews, Claudio Montiel and Drew Burkhardt. After a couple of months to ferment and finish the beers, Judgment Day has arrived.

The outcome was never in doubt this year. The “Lazy Beaches” proved that you should never ferment a beer in a refrigerator unless it’s plugged in. Their English ESP (extra strength phenolic) was plagued with a few off-flavors – think rubbing alcohol, paint thinner, fingernail polish remover and model airplane glue. Total score -- 79 points. “Iron Crash” made an oatmeal stout that scored a solid 106 points. It was good, but no match for the winning oatmeal stout of the “Bashturds”, which totaled 132 points. Mark Woerner was low key in accepting his Iron Mash X bling medal. Travis, on the other hand, went hog wild. He posed for victory photos wearing his medal, holding the Iron Mash cup, drinking from the cup and wearing the cup as a hat. In his 20-minute acceptance speech, he thanked his Mom, your Mom, Luke’s Mom, the decrepit judges and all the little people. Said Clapp “OK, I failed in my bid to become the new Pope. But with my victory today in Iron Mash X, I have secured my place amongst the Worlds’ Great Brewers”! An anonymous club member (let’s call him “Paul”) remarked that “Charlie Papazian must be quaking in his boots”!

Co-hosts Aggie Bill and Dianna Hughen provided pulled pork sandwiches. New homebrews were supplied by Drew and Cory (pumpkin ale/witbier), Ruben Cantu (amber ale/pale ale/rauchbier), Chris Edwards (amber ale), Tom/Mike/Aggie Bill (lemon weiss), Paul (dampfbier), Aggie Bill (cranberry lambic), Jason Merry (Belgian petit orange), Claudio (Belgian strong ale), Mark Quade (Belgian dubbel), Kevin Ramler (rye pale ale) and Chris Schofield (strawberry mead). Interesting commercial beers included Jackie Di Fiore’s Stella Artois Cidre, Chris Edwards’ Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye and Chris Schofield’s The Bruery Otiose Sour Brown Ale.

Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

• 9-Feb-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Railroad Seafood Station Brewing, robust porter competition, BJCP 12B) 
• 9-Mar-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, brewing demonstration) 
• 13-Apr-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Mark Woerner, American IPA/Imperial IPA competition, BJCP 14B/14C) 
• 3-May-14: Big Brew (need host, multiple brewing demonstrations) 
• 18-May-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (3rd Sunday, John Daniels) 
• 8-June-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, German wheat/rye beer competition, BJCP 15A-D) 
• 13-July-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Paul Holder, brewing demonstration) 
• 2-Aug-14: Mead Day (need host, multiple brewing demonstrations) 
• 10-Aug-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, Saison competition, BJCP 16C) 
• 14-Sep-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, brewing demonstration) 
• 12-Oct-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Claudio Montiel, bock competition, BJCP 5A-D) 
• 1-Nov-14: Iron Mash XI (B&Js Pizza on Staples at Timbergate, multiple brewing demonstrations) 
• 9-Nov-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Andrew Herzig/Sabrina Krueger, barleywine competition, BJCP 19B/19C) 
• 14-Dec-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Carroll Pate, brewing demonstration) 

Thanks again Tom, Rocky, Aggie Bill and Dianna, keep on brewin’ and we’ll see you next month at Railroad Seafood Station (as always, with your own glass)!

December Minutes!

Carroll and Judy Pate hosted the December B.A.S.H. meeting on Sunday the 8th at their home in Calallen. Neither the clubs’ President nor Vice President was in attendance, so past President Travis Clapp attempted to seize power in a coup. An informed citizenry confronted the villain with torches, pitchforks and mash paddles. After receiving twenty spanks with a mash paddle (and requesting twenty more) Travis gave up his futile quest. Your humble and obedient scribe then called the meeting to order. Host Carroll (wearing his wife’s bright green socks) gave a brief embezzler’s report, which sounded as rosy as all the others.

Mark Woerner was presented with the B.A.S.H. Cup and honored as the 2013 Homebrewer of the Year. There was no competition this month, but Travis and Chris Swanson conducted a demonstration brew. The resulting American barleywine will be named “Pull My Finger”. You’re a class act, Travis! A proposed 2014/2015/2016 competition schedule prepared by Cory Mathews was discussed. It was decided to move the sour ale competition back from 2014 to 2015, and move the bock competition forward from 2015 to 2014.No one wanted to make cider, so we decided to replace it on the 2016 schedule with Irish red ale (BJCP category 9D). Several members volunteered to host meetings in 2014. Paul Holder announced a new product for sale at Liquid Town on Airline near Toys ‘R’ Us that removes gluten from beer.

On the all-important food front, Mike Wojdyla and Flip “Spudboy” Berry started us off with homemade kettle chips. Carroll’s traditional garlic-infused and brown sugar/sauerkraut pork loins served as the main course. We enjoyed new homebrews by Chris Edwards (double IPA), Paul Holder (regular and gluten-free IPAs, spruce Christmas small beer), Claudio Montiel (quadrupel), Mark Quade (sourwood honey mead, braggot) and Chris Swanson (white IPA). Commercial brews included Tom Freund’s Alaskan APA and Amber, Mark Woerner’s South Austin Belgian Golden and Spudboy’s exotic Miller Lite.

Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

• 12-Jan-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Tom Freund, Iron Mash X judging) 
• 9-Feb-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Railroad Seafood Station Brewing, robust porter competition, BJCP 12B) 
• 9-Mar-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, brewing demonstration) 
• 13-Apr-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Mark Woerner, American IPA/Imperial IPA competition, BJCP 14B/14C) 
• 3-May-14: Big Brew (need host, multiple brewing demonstrations) 
• 18-May-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (3rd Sunday, John Daniels) 
• 8-June-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, German wheat beer competition, BJCP 15A-D) 
• 13-July-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Paul Holder, brewing demonstration) 
• 2-Aug-14: Mead Day (need host, multiple brewing demonstrations) 
• 10-Aug-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, Saison competition, BJCP 16C) 
• 14-Sep-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, brewing demonstration) 
• 12-Oct-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Claudio Montiel, bock competition, BJCP 5A-D) 
• 1-Nov-14: Iron Mash XI (B&Js Pizza on Staples at Timbergate, multiple brewing demonstrations) 
• 9-Nov-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Andrew Herzig/Sabrina Krueger, barleywine competition, BJCP 19B/19C) 
• 14-Dec-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Carroll Pate, brewing demonstration) 

Thanks again Carroll, Judy, Mike and Spudboy, keep on brewin’, Happy Holidays and we’ll see you next month at the Freund’s (as always, with your own glass)!

November Minutes!

Claudio and Jennifer Montiel hosted the November B.A.S.H. meeting on Sunday the 10th at their home in Corpus Christi. President Adam Klager called the meeting to order and welcomed guests Roberto Vela, Chris Edwards and Sonny (Claudio’s neighbor). Treasurer-Of-The-Nanosecond Carroll Pate reported another healthy checking account balance. Paul Holder shared judges comments on the two beers he entered in last month’s Dixie Cup regional brewing competition. His Belgian strong golden ale was deemed “lacking in fruitiness” (not that there’s anything wrong with that). His Kölsch was “too dark” and “had no pils flavor”.

Speaking of competitions, we decided on robust porter for February’s club competition. Vice President and competition director Cory Mathews solicited suggestions for the remainder of the schedule. The gist of the comments was to mix ales and lagers, mix American and European styles and save high alcohol brews for the end of the year. In other new business, Travis Clapp, Chris Swanson and Bob Davis volunteered to conduct the demonstration brew at the December meeting.

The final club competition of 2013 was for American brown ale, BJCP category 10C. Paul Holder scored three points for 1st place, Wild Bill Lehfeld earned two for 2nd place and Mark Woerner got a solitary point for 3rd.

As John Milan showered us with Italian tuna mousse, escargot and jumbo-shrimps-on-fire, we dug into Claudio’s brisket and all the side dishes. Besides competition beers, we enjoyed Robin Baker/Christyn Overstake’s “Red Nose” rye, Drew Burkhardt/Cory’s witbier, Ruben Cantu’s porter and rauchbier, Paul’s Belgian strong golden and Cubano, Jason Merry’s American hefeweizen, host Claudio’s “gluten-free experiment with honey”, Carroll’s American IPA, Chris Swanson’s nut brown and amber ales and guest Roberto’s two IPAs, ESB and “mistakes”. Interesting commercial beers included Andrew Herzig/Sabrina Krueger’s Saint Arnold Icon Biere de Saison, Karbach Weekend Warrior Pale Ale and No Label Black Wit-o, Adam’s Laughing Dog Sneaky Pete’s Imperial IPA and Lou Needleman’s Sierra Nevada Tumbler.

Randomly overheard quotes:

• Travis – “I’m going to pay my dues, Carroll!” Paul – “For which year?”
• Claudio – “I lost something in my pants!”
• Travis – “Wayne, did you get your passport? We’re going to deport you!”

Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

• 8-Dec-13: B.A.S.H. meeting (Carroll Pate, brewing demonstration)
• 12-January-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Tom Freund, Iron Mash X judging)
• 9-February-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, robust porter competition, BJCP 12B)
• 9-March-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, brewing demonstration)

Thanks again Claudio, Jennifer and John, keep on brewin’ and we’ll see you next month at the Pate’s (as always, with your own glass)!

Brewer Of The Year!

Mark Woerner has earned the honor as B.A.S.H. Homebrewer of the Year for 2013, amassing 8 1/2 points in club competitions. Paul Holder totaled 6 points, Wild Bill Lehfeld earned 4 1/2, Drew Burkhardt/Cory Mathews scored 4 and Mark Quade tallied two. Said Mark W “Just schedule barleywines and Scotch ales every competition and I’ll win it every year!” Yeah, with the same old recycled brews!

The fiend Woerner earned a 3-point 1st place finish and a 1 ½ point 2nd place tie in April’s extract competition and a 2-point 2nd place finish in October’s American pale ale contest. Rounding out his scoring were a 1-point 2nd place finish in February’s barleywine competition and a 1-point 3rd place in November’s American brown ale contest.

Runner-up Paul collected a 3-point 1st place in November, a 2-point 1st place in February and a 1-point 3rd place in October.

Two time defending champion Wild Bill collected a 2-point 2nd place in November, a 1 ½ point 2nd place tie in April and a 1-point 2nd place finish in August’s European amber lager contest.

The dynamic duo of Drew/Cory collected 3 points for 1st place in October and 1-point as the only entrants in June’s English dark mild competition.

The good Mark earned his 2 points for a 1st place finish in August.

The 2014 competitions are expected to be wide open slugfests, with young punks giving the old fartknockers a run for their money! Stay tuned for the competition schedule. Congratulations, Mark, and thanks to Competition Directors Kyle Hotz and Cory, their ever-shifting horde of judges and to all who entered beers in the contests.

Iron Mash X

Iron Mash X was held on Saturday, November 2 at B&Js Pizza on Staples at Timbergate, under sunny, windy and gang-infested conditions. After fists flew, knives flashed, the police were called and the intruders fled, we got down to business.

Three teams competed in this years’ outdoor brewing demonstration. The “Bashturds” consisted of the unflappable Mark Woerner and the impetuous Travis Clapp. Team “Iron Crash” was made up of the irrepressible Patrick Viles and nefarious John Nicely. The indefatigable Cory and Jess Mathews, theunfermentable Drew Burkhardt and the always-industrious Claudio Montielcompeted as “Lazy Beaches”.

Each team received a box of ingredients and were given 30 minutes to concoct a recipe and declare a beer style. Grains included unmalted wheat, flaked maize, oatmeal, roasted barley, crystal malt and carafa. Light dried malt extract (DME) rounded out the sugar sources. Four types of hop pellets were included. Possible flavoring adjuncts included lemongrass, coriander and chipotle peppers. The teams supplied their own yeast.

One team chose to make an oatmeal stout, one selected chipotle oatmeal stout and the third opted for chipotle English pale ale. The propane burners were then fired up and the brewing commenced. Which team made which beer? Which beer will win the coveted Iron Mash Cup and secure bling medals for the winning team members? You’ll have to attend the January B.A.S.H. meeting to find out (and to drink the beers). See you then!

P.S. – Two weeks after pumpkins were smashed outside B&Js in celebration of Oktoberfest, a volunteer pumpkin patch has sprouted. The questions remains, whofertilized the seeds, Travis?

OCTOBER MINUTES

“Those subs are everywhere! I dropped a coupla lines of sonobuoys and I’m on station flying a figure eight pattern. Aggie Bill’s surface squadron is on the way loaded to the gills with depth charges. Jason and Nick are bringin’ half the Coast Guard as backup. Dammit! I bet that sumbitch Travis is down there right now laughin’ at me through his periscope!” Calm down, Paul, the Russkies are still in Murmansk. The only submersibles were host Lou Needleman’s meatball subs at the October B.A.S.H. meeting held on Sunday the 13th.

President Adam Klager called the meeting to order and welcomed guest Rene, a friend of Claudio Montiel. Treasurer-Of-The-Nanosecond Carroll Pate continued his unbroken streak of rosy reports. Tom Freund previewed next months’ Iron Mash X. Participating teams need to provide Tom with their roster by the end of this week. Adam reminded everyone that the Dixie Cup regional beer competition is next weekend in Houston. If interested, info is available on the Foam Rangers’ web site. Also next weekend, member Kevin Ramler is holding a ceramic art exhibition at Weil Art Gallery, TAMUCC Center for the Arts on Saturday night the 19th at 6:00 p.m.

The competition this month was for American pale ale, BJCP category 10A. Four commercial beers were thrown in to confuse the judges. The professional efforts topped the homebrews, with Oskar Blue’s Dale’s Pale Ale finishing first, followed by Stone Pale Ale, Southern Star Pale Ale and Real Ale Rio Blanco Pale Ale. Of course, we didn’t award any points to these ringers. Capturing 1st among the homebrews was Cory Mathews and Drew Burkhardt (3 points). Mark Woerner finished 2nd (2 points) and Paul Holder earned one point for 3rd place. Heading into next months’ final club competition Mark Woerner holds a commanding lead with 8 points, followed by Cory/Drew with 4, Paul with 3 and Mark Quade and Wild Bill Lehfeld with 2 points each.

Lou, assisted by Melissa and Mike Wojdyla provided three varieties of meatball subs, two types of grilled sausages and pizza casserole. John Milan (who is STILL not dead) kept us hoppin’ with several types of gourmet appetizers, from ahi tuna to oyster shooters. Besides competition beers, we enjoyed Drew and Cory’s prickly pear blonde ale (last moths’ demonstration brew) and witbier, John Daniels’ Oktoberfest, Claudio’s Rye kvass (light Russian ale), Mark Quade’s Oktoberfest and Kevin’s Cold Front Kölsch. Interesting commercial beers included John Cicala’s Dundee’s Honey Brown, Andrew Herzig/Sabrina Krueger’s Weihenstephaner Korbinian Doppelbock and John Milan’s Paulaner Hefeweizen and Samuel Smith’s Organic Pale Ale and Raspberry Ale.

Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

• 2-Nov-13: Iron Mash X (B&J’s Pizza on Staples at Timbergate) 
• 10-Nov-13: B.A.S.H. meeting (Claudio Montiel, American brown ale competition, BJCP 10C) 
• 8-Dec-13: B.A.S.H. meeting (Carroll Pate, brewing demonstration) 
• 12-January-14: B.A.S.H. meeting (Tom Freund, Iron Mash X judging) 

Thanks again Lou, Melissa, Mike and John, keep on brewin’ and we’ll see you next month at Claudio’s (as always, with your own glass)!

SEPTEMBER MINUTES

The September B.A.S.H. meeting was hosted by Danna Sharpe at her home in Port Aransas on Sunday the 8th. President Adam Klager called the meeting to order and welcomed guest Phil Sims, a friend of Danna and Mark Woerner. Temporary, acting, transitional, ephemeral, ad hoc Treasurer-Of-The-Moment Carroll Pate reported another healthy club balance. 

Paul Holder and Kyle Hotz gave an update on the Classic Brew. The event venue (Museum of Science and History) is now managed by a private corporation with their own liquor license. Corporate policy is that all persons serving alcohol shall complete the TABC servers’ course. The downside to TABC servers’ certification is that the server is personally liable for serving minors or intoxicated people. B.A.S.H. members who had been planning to serve homebrew at the clubs’ portable bar decided not to accept this liability, thus B.A.S.H. will not participate as an organization. Individuals may still volunteer as tappers if they complete the TABC course no later than Thursday, September 12th. The course may be taken online, or at the KEDT-TV offices on Tuesday 9/10 or Thursday, 9/12 from 6:00 – 8:15 p.m. You must pay $15 to complete the course, but will receive free admission, t-shirt and glass. Certification is good for two years. Non-tapper volunteers are also welcome.

In other old business, Paul still has a couple of B.A.S.H. shirts remaining. If you ordered a shirt and plunked down a $5 deposit, you have until the October meeting to pick up your shirt and pay the balance due. If not, you forfeit the deposit and the shirts will be for sale first come, first served.

There was no competition this month, but Drew Burkhardt and Vice President Cory Mathews conducted a demonstration brew of prickly pear blonde ale.

As we enjoyed Danna’s seafood lasagna, we tasted new homebrews by Josh Anderson (Russian imperial stout/Pliny the Elder clone/blackberry mead), Drew and Cory (Belgian ale), Andrew Herzig and Sabrina Krueger (Jester King Farmhouse Black Metal Imperial Stout clone), Paul (kolsch) and Mike Wojdyla (key lime weiss). A nice array of commercial beers were also consumed, including 11-year-old J.W. Lee’s Barleywine (Josh), Estrella/Delirium Nocturnum/Liefman’s Cuvee/Young’s Double Chocolate Stout (Dave Hall), Saint Arnold Icon Biere De Saison (Paul), Pacifico (Kyle), Smuggler’s Brewpub Debauchery Belgian Tripel/porter/Ouray brown ale (Rick Kelley), Franziskaner Dunkel/Spaten Optimator/Paulaner Hefeweizen/Weihenstephaner Kristall Weiss (John “Still Not Dead” Milan) and Humboldt Hemp Ale (Chris Swanson).

Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

• 13-Oct-13: B.A.S.H. meeting (Lou Needleman?, American pale ale competition, BJCP 10A) 
• 2-Nov-13: Iron Mash X (B&J’s Pizza on Staples at Timbergate) 
• 10-Nov-13: B.A.S.H. meeting (Claudio Montiel, American brown ale competition, BJCP 10C) 
• 8-Dec-13: B.A.S.H. meeting (Carroll Pate, brewing demonstration) 
• Thanks again Danna, keep on brewin’ and we’ll see you next month at ? (as always, with your own glass)! 

P.S. – Yes, Jess Mathews, you made it into the minutes!