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”.