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!

AUGUST MINUTES 2013

Nick Nicoll hosted the August B.A.S.H. meeting at his condominium’s pool on Padre Island. President Adam Klager encouraged everyone to participate in Dixie Cup XXX, sponsored by the Foam Rangers homebrew club in Houston.This year’s event will be held the weekend of October 17 – 19. Treasurer-For-Life Carroll Pate reported an ongoing healthy account balance.

Paul Holder reported that the city of Corpus Christi annual drinking water quality report has been issued and is available online. For those who brew with tap water, be advised that the city uses chloramide as a disinfectant, which cannot be removed by boiling. Camden tablets will remove the chloramide, or use reverse osmosis water and add minerals as required.

Eight styles of beer have been volunteered so far for the club’s booth at next months Classic Brew. Our theme this year is “Let there be light”.

Paul has received the T-shirts, polos and tank tops that he ordered last month. If you put down a deposit on a shirt, see Paul. In other business, Vice President Cory Mathews has volunteered to serve as Competition Director as well.

Speaking of competitions, the August contest was for European amber lagers, BJCP styles 3A and 3B. Mark Quade earned two points by capturing 1st place with his Oktoberfest. Secretary-For-Life Wild Bill Lehfeld earned one point with his “Fifty Shades More” Vienna amber. Wild Bill’s “Fifty Shades of Amber” Vienna and Oktoberfest rounded out the competition.

As we devoured hamburgers and hot dogs, the beer flowed freely. In addition to competition beers, we enjoyed new homebrews by Drew Burkhardt/Cory (pecan porter), Hector Cavazos (hefeweizen/Belgian pale ale), Paul (raspberry Flanders brown/strong Belgian golden), Gary McCoig (transnational pale ale), Claudio Montiel (Belgian dubbel) and Mike Wojdyla (non-alcoholic lemonade). A good variety of commercial beers were also available, including Full Sail Berliner Weiss (Adam), Franziskaner/Wehenstephaner/Erdinger Hefe/Erdinger Dunkel Hefe/Spaten Optimator/Alamo Golden (John Milan, who is still not dead), Blue Moon Belgian White/Agave Nectar/Blackberry Tart/Rounder Belgian Style Pale/Short Straw Farmhouse Red (Lou Needleman) and Chimay white and blue (Carroll).

After refreshments, most of us cooled down in the soothing saltwater pool.

Upcoming B.A.S.H. events:

• 8-Sep-13: B.A.S.H. meeting (Danna Sharpe, demonstration brew)
• 19-Sep-13: KEDT-TV Classic Brew 
• 13-Oct-13: B.A.S.H. meeting (need host, 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) 

Thanks again Nick, keep on brewin’ and we’ll see you next month at Danna’s (as always, with your own glass)!

P.S. – “To bee or not to bee – that is the question”. Member Travis Clapp found the answer to this question on Saturday, and was thus a no-show for Sunday’s meeting. After his disgusting behavior during Mead Day, when he almost committed perverse acts with honey, the bee community was not amused. These clever insects laid an ingenious trap for Mr. Clapp, and he fell for it hook, line and stinger.

First, a nasty swarm infested the home of Travis’ friend Frank the Tank. Frank was thinking of hiring professional exterminators, but Travis volunteered to do the job himself, using a borrowed bee suit. “I’ve killed many a varmint in my day – pregnant doe, you name it”. As Travis suited up and began the job, a solitary infiltrator got under the protective hood and began buzzing menacingly. Our man Travis did not panic, instead taunting the bee with “Is that a stinger on your abdomen, or are you just glad to see me?” When the bee struck, Travis replied “It’s only a flesh wound, I’ve had worse. Your mother was a hornet and your father smelled of elderberries!” At that point, Travis ripped off the hood and exclaimed “Come and get it, you six-legged, yellow-bellied bastards!” And so they did -- the whole demonic host descended on Travis’ face and commenced stinging. As he was dragged to safety, he swore he heard an insectoid rendition of Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries”.

Travis claims he would have made Sunday’s meeting had he suffered only sixty or seventy stings, but one hundred is his limit. Heal up, big guy, we’ll see you next month.