February 2018 Minutes

Chris and Elizabeth Ackman hosted the Mardi Gras-themed February B.A.S.H. meeting on Sunday the 11th at their home in frigid Portland. Wild Bill Lehfeld passed out beads to female attendees. Uncharacteristically for such a known pervert, he asked for nothing but homebrew in return. Go figure! El Presidente Mike Wojdyla called the meeting to order and thanked our hosts.  Tom Fruend’s treasurer’s report was superlative.

In new business, VP for Policies Jessica Fearn announced a brewing education schedule: 2/18 Improving Extract Beers (Paul Holder), 3/18 Hops (Tom Freund), 4/18 Lambics (Aggie Bill Hughen), 5/18 Iodine Mash Conversion Test (Wild Bill Lehfeld), 6/18 ?, 7/18 Fermentation (Cory Mathews), 8/18 ?, 9/18 ?, 10/18 Yeast and History of Beer (Mark Quade). Paul gave us four tips to improve extract beers:

1. Use water with no minerals (such as Windmill or Glacier RO machine water) because extract already contains needed minerals.
2. Hops need to be boiled for at least one hour to get the flavor, but extract does not. Only add 1/3 to ½ of extract at the beginning of the boil, with the remainder added during the last ten minutes.
3. Dark, crystal and caramel malts added to extract beers for color and flavor do not need to be mashed because their starch has already been converted to sugar. They just need to be steeped in 100 – 150F water. Other grains (2-row/pilsner/Munich/etc.) must be mashed.
4. Extra light DME contains no crystal malt. Light, amber and dark DME contain increasing amounts of crystal malt.

We feasted on jambalaya and enjoyed new homebrews from host Chris (porter/brown ale), Paul (best bitter) and Mark (weizenbock).  Interesting commercial brews were provided by Aggie Bill (Lindeman’s Faro Lambic), Brad Klager (Dogfish Head Sea Quench Session Sour) and Cory ( Lazy Beach Kombucha/Crawfish Ale).

This month marked our inaugural dual competition format. Beers were collected for Best of Show (open category) and Homebrewer of the Year (European sour ale, BJCP 23A-F). VP for Competitions Daniel Fearn announced that the judging will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, 2/22. Results will be revealed at the March meeting.

Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

25-Feb-18: Club brew event at Lazy Beach, 10 a.m.

11-Mar-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (Brad Klager, “grain tea” brewing demonstration)

8 –Apr-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (Walt Crawford, competition: BOS open/HBOY CA and KY common, BJCP 19B/27B)

5-May-18: Big Brew (B&J’s Pizza on Staples at Timbergate, multiple brewing demonstrations)

20-May-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (John Daniels, NOTE: 3RD SUNDAY)

10-Jun-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, competition: BOS open/HBOY Czech lager, BJCP 3A-D)

8-Jul-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (B&J’s Pizza on Staples at Timbergate, hosted by Paul Holder)

12-Aug-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, competition: BOS open/HBOY >51% extract challenge)

Thanks again Chris and Elizabeth, keep on brewin’ and we’ll see you next month at Brad Klager’s !

January 2018 Minutes

Tom and Rocky Freund hosted the January B.A.S.H. meeting on Sunday the 14th at their home in Flour Bluff, co-hosted by Aggie Bill and Dianna Hughen. El Presidente Mike Wojdyla opened the meeting by thanking our hosts and co-hosts and welcoming new member Ryan Goodhew (USMC) and guest Tatiana (Brian Cook’s friend).  The treasurer’s report was glowing for a change.

In new business, Paul Holder reported that member Sarah Tilton is now the head brewer at Railroad Seafood Station. Psi Brewing is opening at Garrett’s Barbecue on Ayers and Port. A brewery license application has been submitted for South Water Street at the maintenance shop of the old Cadillac dealership.

Vice President for Competitions Daniel Fearn asked for a topic for the February meeting education event. There is an upcoming contest in Houston for BJCP category 11C British strong bitter ale with no entry fee. Cory Mathews proposed a once/year club brew at Lazy Beach. We settled on Sunday 2/25 at 10 a.m. Steve Cook announced the first competition on the Lone Star circuit is the Bluebonnet in Dallas-Fort Worth with 1525 entries. Drop off your beers at Liquid Town on Airline near Toys ‘R ‘Us by 1/27 after paying the entry fee online. The next competition is an AHA event with 12 or 13 sites nationwide. See Steve if you’re interested in entering beers in one of these competitions. Paul gave an education on “puffy” hop bags, which no one has seen until recently. His puffy bag of UK Challenger hop pellets definitely had an off-odor compared to a normal bag of the same hop. The beer made with another puffy bag of Challenger lost much of the off-flavor but Paul advised NOT buying a puffy bag.

We feasted on tamales, chili blanco and bratwurst which we washed down with some of the Iron Mash beers and new homebrews by Steve (Irish red), Paul (hefe), Aggie Bill (Blackshoe Hefeweizen) and Larry Sommers (Holiday Cheermeister brown barleywine/imperial red IPA). Interesting commercial brews included Brad Klager’s Lagunitas WTF/Real Ale Black Quad/North Coast Old Rasputin and Cory’s Lazy Beach Brunette Dark American Wheat/Feeling Hazy IPA.

Speaking of Iron Mash XIV, the judges awarded Repeat Offenders’ American pale ale an average score of 37. JEB’s English porter scored 33, Tilted Keg’s peanut butter porter scored 32 and Motley Brew’s red IPA scored 27. Winners Mark Woerner, Phil Mooney, Brad and El Presidente donned their bling medals and performed a victory dance.

The following exchange was overheard during the meeting:

Brad – “This one’s only 8.1% ABV”

Wild Bill Lehfeld – “So it’s a session beer, then!”

Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

11-Feb-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (Chris Ackman?, competition: BOS open/HBOY European sour ale, BJCP23A-F)

11-Mar-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (Brad Klager, brewing demonstration)

8 –Apr-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, competition: BOS open/HBOY CA and KY common, BJCP 19B/27B)

5-May-18: Big Brew (multiple brewing demonstrations)

20-May-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (John Daniels, NOTE: 3RD SUNDAY)

10-June-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, competition: BOS open/HBOY Czech lager, BJCP 3A-D)

Thanks again Tom, Rocky, Aggie Bill and Dianna, congratulations Repeat Offenders, keep on brewin’ and we’ll see you next month at the Ackman’s!

December 2017 Minutes

Carroll and Judy Pate hosted the December B.A.S.H. meeting on Sunday the 10th at their home in Calallen. El Presidente Mike Wojdyla opened the meeting by thanking our hosts and welcoming new member Rob Sullivan.  Treasurer Tom Freund confirmed we’re still in good financial shape.

In old business, Paul Holder reported on the competition committee’s recommendation to hold simultaneous Best of Show (any style) and Homebrewer of the Year (specific style) competitions, with rules and scoring systems as explained on the website. Each entry will receive written score sheets from the judges. The person with the most Best of Show points for the year will be commemorated in some way. A motion was approved to adopt the recommendation.

Vice President for Competitions Daniel Fearn presented the proposed Homebrewer of the Year competition schedule for 2018/2019/2020. The August 2018 style will be changed from German wheat beer to open category extract beer. The 2019/2020 schedules also include an extract competition in August. The 3-year schedule was approved, with a suggestion to add a mead competition in 2021.

Steve Cook explained the Lone Star competition circuit. See Steve if you’re interested in entering beers in these regional competitions.

Vice President for Plans and Policies Jessica Fearn presented a brewing education event. Bottles of Lone Star were opened and dry hopped with three pellets each of four different hops (Tettnang, Perle, Cascade and Cluster), then recapped. Members opened and tasted the beers to learn the effect of changing hops independent of other recipe changes.

The November contest was for British brown beers, BJCP 13A-C.Wild Bill Lehfeld submitted the only entries, thus earning one point towards homebrewer of the year. His British brown scored an average of 37.5/50, while his English porter averaged 33.8/50. After all six competitions, Wild Bill totaled 15 points, Jeremy Van Horn 3 points, Greg Sawyer 1 point, Mark Quade 1 point and John Daniels 1 point. Wild Bill is thus homebrewer of the year and retains the B.A.S.H. cup.

The Pates fed us well with brisket and bratwurst which we washed down with the competition beers and new homebrews by Steve (citra session IPA/English bitter), Rob (sour saison/framboise lambic), and Jeremy (British brown). Interesting commercial brews included Jim Hildreth’s Saint Arnold IPA, Dale and Liz Loveland’s Saint Arnold Elissa IPA/Troeg’s Blizzard of Hops IPA, Lou Needleman’s Ballast Point Victory at Sea Vanilla Porter and Mark Quade’s Delirium Noel.

Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

14-Jan-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (Tom Freund, Iron Mash XIV judging)

11-Feb-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, competition: BOS open category/HBOY European sour ale, BJCP23A-F)

11-Mar-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, brewing demonstration)

8 –Apr-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, competition: BOS open category/HBOY CA and KY common, BJCP 19B/27B)

5-May-18: Big Brew (multiple brewing demonstrations)

20-May-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (John Daniels, NOTE: 3RD SUNDAY)

10-June-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, competition: BOS open category/HBOY Czech lager, BJCP 3A-D)

Thanks again Carroll and Judy, keep on brewin’ and we’ll see you next month at the Freund’s!

November 2017 Minutes

Eric Linssen hosted the November B.A.S.H. meeting on Sunday the 12 th , with a big assist from Cathy Carrier’s Mom Phyllis. El Presidente Mike Wojdyla opened the meeting and thanked our veterans. Treasurer Tom Freund reported a decent account balance, after expenses for Iron Mash. In old business, Paul Holder made available leftover grains and adjuncts from Iron Mash. It was announced that founding member Jake Garret passed away in October. Many long-serving members owe much of their brewing acumen to Jake. He was famous for drinking the yeasty residue from everyone’s bottles, stating “It’s high in vitamin B complex”. We had another discussion on the future of club competitions and a motion was approved to have a subcommittee come up with a recommendation to present at the December meeting. Paul will lead the subcommittee, assisted by Daniel Fearn, Tom Freund, Eric and Aggie Bill Hughen. They will meet

Tuesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Lazy Beach Brewing. Speaking of competitions, the October contest was for pale malty European lagers, BJCP 4A-C.

Wild Bill Lehfeld submitted the only entries, thus earning one point towards homebrewer of the year. His Munich helles scored an average of 37.7/50, while his festbier averaged 35.7/50. After five of six competitions, cumulative standings are as follows:

• Wild Bill – 14 points
• Jeremy Van Horn – 3 points
• Greg Sawyer – 1 point
• Mark Quade – 1 point
• John Daniels – 1 point

Entries were collected for the November contest for brown British beers, BJCP 13A-C. After the meeting adjourned, we feasted on red, blanco and vegetarian chili. Besides the competition beers, we enjoyed new homebrews by Tom (German hefeweizen), Paul (Belgian IPA #2), Eric (coconut stout) and Jeremy (American pale ale). Interesting commercial brews included Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout

and Oatsmobile from Jack and Karen Heim, Moonlight Meadery Mango Mead from Dianna Hughen and Tom’s Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. During the height of a torrential downpour, Paul exclaimed “If that isn’t drip irrigation I don’t know what

is!” Carroll Pate mentioned “Very little hunting goes on in my backyard”. To Paul’s inquiry “Hey Wild Bill, are you ready to jump in the pool?”, Wild Bill replied “I’ve done stupider things!” Wild Bill also requested “Hey Paul, can you order me three missionaries?”


Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

• 10-Dec- 17: B.A.S.H. meeting (Carroll “Brisket” Pate, brewing demonstration)
• 14-Jan- 18: B.A.S.H. meeting (Tom Freund, Iron Mash XIV judging)
• 11-Feb- 18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, competition)
• 11-Mar- 18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, brewing demonstration)
• 8 –Apr-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, competition)
• 5-May- 18: Big Brew (multiple brewing demonstrations)
• 20-May- 18: B.A.S.H. meeting (John Daniels, NOTE: 3 RD SUNDAY)

Thanks again Eric and Phyllis, keep on brewin’ and we’ll see you next month at the Pate’s !

Iron Mash XIV Minutes

Iron Mash XIV was held on Saturday, November 4 at B&J’s Pizza on Staples at Timbergate. The weather was cooperative – warm and breezy.

Four teams competed in this years’ event. Team “JEB” was a three-way brew date involving Jeremy Van Horn, Eric Linssen and Aggie Bill Hughen. “Mötley Brüe” consisted of Chris Ackman and Larry Sommers. “Tilted Keg” was a solo effort by Sarah Tilton. The fourth team was an improvised unit. Originally titled “Repeat Offenders”, the 3-man crew suffered some last day attrition. Mark Quade decided to star in a solo remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (Kevin Spacey was unavailable). Walt Crawford was dragged kicking and screaming on a Caribbean cruise by wife Judy. This left Mark Woerner as “The Lone Ranger”, until a few volunteers stepped up to help. Besides Mark Woerner, “Lone Ranger and Friends” included Philip Mooney, El Presidente Mark Wojdyla and Brad Klager.

Tom Freund welcomed the teams and Paul Holder passed out the box of mystery ingredients at high noon. After 30 minutes of brainstorming, arguing and cogitating the teams declared a style and finalized their recipes. Team “JEB” decided to make an English Porter, “Mötley Brüe” settled on a red IPA, “Tilted Keg” chose a peanut butter American porter and “Lone Ranger and Friends” picked an American pale ale.

The teams then ignited their propane burners and commenced brewing. When they finished steeping, boiling and cooling their wort they cleaned up and took the brews home to pitch yeast and begin fermentation. The resulting beers will be judged at the January B.A.S.H. meeting. The winning team will be awarded the Iron Mash trophy for one year and each winning team member will receive an individual chrome plated bling medal. In the end, all attendees will be winners because we get to drink the beers!

Iron Mash XIV was well attended by club members. Several curious bystanders wandered by and were introduced to the hobby of homebrewing. Trash talk was at a minimum this year as were obvious brewing screwups. As usual, Paul made the most perceptive comment – “Mike, you need to take better care of your instrument”.

October 2017 Minutes

Jack and Karen Heim hosted the October B.A.S.H. meeting on Sunday the 8th. El Presidente Mike Wojdyla opened the meeting and welcomed former members from the 1990’s Dale and Liz Loveland, who rejoined the club.  Treasurer Tom Freund reported another healthy account balance.

In old business, VP for Competitions Daniel Fearn reported results from the online survey. Responses totaled 33, of which 50% have entered at least one club competition, most of whom enter 1 or 2 of the 6 annual competitions. Most people entered a competition because they already had a beer in that style or because they liked the style and decided to brew for that competition. At least 80% of those who entered competitions liked receiving feedback on their beers.

Tom gave an update on Novembers Iron Mash team brewing competition. Tom collected team rosters by the end of the meeting.

In new business, Daniel led a long discussion on proposed changes to our in-club competitions, with several members offering their two cents worth. The goal of the changes is to increase participation, give written feedback to all entrants to improve their future beers and give our certified judges opportunities to advance in the BJCP judging hierarchy. If we notify BJCP 30 days in advance and pay a fee, we can hold a sanctioned competition resulting in points for the certified judges. The “best of show” winner would get a mention in Zymurgy magazine. Sanctioned competitions will require at least 12 beers.

One motion was made, seconded and approved to move the judging offsite with beers turned in before or at the nominal competition meeting. Certified judges and other members would score the beers at a later date. Results would be announced (and score sheets provided) at the following meeting. Another motion was approved to allow beer styles not listed in the 2018 competition schedule to be entered in those competitions. All beers would be scored and the “best of show” would be eligible for mention in Zymurgy.

The competition this month was for pale malty European lagers (BJCP 4A-C). Beers were turned in and the results will be announced at the November meeting.

After the meeting adjourned, we filled up on Greek gyros. We enjoyed three of the beers originally brewed for the Classic Brew – Paul Holder’s Belgian IPA, a double IPA by the 4J’s of Mathis and Wild Bill Lehfeld’s white IPA. Other new homebrews were provided by Chris Ackman (brown ale) and the 4J’s (porter). Interesting commercial beers included Brad Klager’s Jester King RU55 Barrel Aged Sour Red and Buffalo Bayou Figaro, Figaro, Fiigaro Quadrupel With Figs, Lou Needleman’s Lazy Magnolia Southern Hospitality IPA, Mark Quade’s Innis & Gunn Hopped Boubon Cask Ale and Karbachtoberfest and Jeremy Van Horn’s Foam Brewers Built To Spill DIPA.

Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

4-Nov-17: Iron Mash XIV (team brewing competition, B&J’s Pizza on Staples at Timbergate)

12-Nov-17: B.A.S.H. meeting (Eric Linssen, brown British beer competition, BJCP 13A-C)

10-Dec-17: B.A.S.H. meeting (Carroll Pate, brewing demonstration)

14-Jan-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (Tom Freund, Iron Mash XIV judging)

11-Feb-18: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, European sour ale competition, BJCP 23A-F)

Thanks again Jack and Karen, keep on brewin’ and we’ll see you next month at Iron Mash and Eric Linssen’s !

September 2017

This month's minutes were taken by Jessica Fearn, who is neither as observant nor as clever as Wild Bill.  What follows is her best attempt at approximating the exuberance the jet-setter has for meeting minutes.

Mark Woerner hosted the B.A.S.H. meeting on September 10th.  President Mike Wojdyla called the meeting to order, and treasurer Tom reported that all the money is still in the bank.

In old business, Paul Holder reminded members that Embroid Me owns our logo and will embroid it on a shirt you bring in or overpay them to sell you.  VP for Competitions Daniel Fearn announced the changes to upcoming club competitions that will move us toward the future vision for club contests set forth at the competitions meeting on September 7.  

Judging will no longer take place during the stomach-growling hour before meetings.  Instead, judging will happen offsite and provide actual specific written feedback to all brewers who enter.  The new group of BJCP ranked judges will take the lead on judging, using written BJCP scoresheets to provide the best possible notes for contest entries.  Anyone interested in judging is welcome to participate, and the ranked judges are are ready to provide guidance about judging procedures to anyone willing to judge.  

The October contest will still be Pale Malty Ales, BJCP styles 4A-C, and bottles for the contest can be dropped off at Liquid Town on Airline between October 2nd and October 7th, or they can be dropped off at the October meeting.  The judging date is TBD, but winners will be announced at the November meeting.

The November contest styles have been opened up to include British Beers in BJCP categories 11A-C,13A-C,16A-D, and 17A-D.  For more contest information, check out the competition section of the website.  

Since there will be a large time gap left where everyone would normally sit around wondering what is taking them so long to judge, there will now be brewing education talks for each of the meetings with contests.  In October, Paul Holder will teach us everything we need to know about extract brewing.

In new business, Tom and Paul informed us that ancient scrolls have predicted that Iron Mash XIV is coming up in November.  Tom is taking team submissions starting now, and all teams have to be in by next month so the diabolical duo can begin assembling the most treacherous, most fearsome, most 2017est ingredients the teams have ever faced.  Paul reminded us that per the club's vote last year, we will alternate between announced styles and total mystery boxes and that this was a mystery year.

In his role as local homebrew supply baron, Paul announced a sale on yeast at Liquid Town on Airline.  During the power outages caused by Hurricane Harvey, the supply of yeast came to cool room temperature, so he has slashed prices and suggested making starters.

As an update to last month, the club will no longer be serving at the B.A.S.H. bar during Classic Brew due to some TABC requirements that were announced by the event hosts after last month's meeting.  Club members wishing to be tappers can still take the TABC Server course online and volunteer at the event for free admission.

The charming and beautiful (and definitely not shrill and yelling, no matter what you heard) VP for Plans and Programs Jessica Fearn announced the new B.A.S.H. text message reminder system.  For meeting updates, text "@BASHCC" to 81010.  For competitions updates, both B.A.S.H. and in the wider world, text "@BASHCOMP" to 81010.  For beer judging updates, text "@BASHJUDGE" to 81010.

We are also conducting our first annual online member survey.  Click here to tell us what we're getting right, what we're getting wrong, and how we can improve.  We will begin announcing the results of the survey at the October meeting.

Cory Mathews suggested that we start a new annual tradition of brewing a B.A.S.H. beer at Lazy Beach to be served in their tap room.

After the meeting adjourned, we feasted on a menagerie of animals killed by Mark Woerner.  We also enjoyed homebrews from Paul Holder (Cubano, just to thumb his nose at Hurricane Irma), Aggie Bill (Porter), Philip Mooney (Weird Hoppy Bock Thing) and Rusty Keyes (Daughter's Wedding Saison). Interesting commercial beers....were probably there too, but I forgot to take note of any of them.  This is why we pay WIld Bill the big bucks.

Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

28-Sep- 17: KEDT-TV Classic Brew

2-Oct-17 to 7-Oct-17: October contest drop-off at Liquid Town on Airline

8-Oct-17: B.A.S.H. meeting (Jack Heim, pale malty European lager competition, BJCP 4A-C)

4-Nov-17: Iron Mash XIV (team brewing competition)

6-Nov-17 to 11-Nov-17: November contest drop-off at Liquid Town on Airline

12-Nov-17: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, British beer competition, BJCP 11A-C, 13A-C, 16A-D, 17A-D)

10-Dec-17: B.A.S.H. meeting (Carroll Pate, brewing demonstration)

Thanks again Mark, keep on brewin’ and we’ll see you next month at Jack Heim’s !