MEL’S MEANDERINGS: THE FINAL FIRKIN
It never ceases to amaze me: What a great group of humans and what a great club that brings such a wonderfully diverse group together in such harmony. The recent 2nd Annual Cajunfest is the perfect example--gluttony and friendship at its finest! Was this a purely sensory experience or what? What did Gorman put in the crayfish boil? Based on comments by non-members, this is going to remain a very sacred annual event for the PBD and events such as this can only help to swell our ranks.
We are truly blessed to have Drew taking over the helm as President. Drew has committed himself to assure that the club has been successful and will continue to be. Just remember that Drew can’t do it alone. He needs the help of every member, so volunteer! Come to the planning meetings and be willing to help. The more that the work and responsibilities are spread around, the more FUN is had by all.
Gorman, our elder statesman and new VP, has likewise committed himself to success for the PBD. One of Gorman’s primary concerns is membership and getting non or infrequent brewers involved in the club. He also will need your help to accomplish his goals for the PBD.
With the exuberance of youth and the wisdom of age, we have a leadership team par extraordinaire.
In leaving "officership" after 3 years as Secretary, VP and President, I must thank all of you who have made this a task of love; love of brewing, love of friends and love of gluttony and excess. And thanks for stepping up when things became very down for me when Jack died.
It will be quite a (welcome) change to be, as Wayne put it, the PBD’s newest "member".
See you at the next planning meeting at Andy’s April 25, the general meeting May 14 at Castaways, and/or the May picnic May 25 at John Prince Park.
Prost, this firkin has floated.
Mel
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
by Jamie Latimer
This issue features the Cajunfest and the changing of the guard so to speak. Everyone in attendance of the Cajunfest seemed to have gotten their share of Good Food and Good Brew. As always the members did well in providing additional dishes to go with the 200 pounds of Crayfish and 60 pounds of Catfish. Thanks again to Gorman and Aline for the use of their house and hospitality.
I would like to thank Mel on behalf of all the Palm Beach Draughtsmen, for a job well done. Not only for this past year’s service, but for the past 3 years as an Executive Board Member and for the help I know you will continue to provide to the PBD new officers and committee heads.
I have included an updated Member Phone List and a list of the New Board Members. Although the articles are limited in this issue, we have a great Photo Page thanks to Betty Turso and Bill Eubanks. I have also included the recipes for the Top 3 Homebrews from the Hurricane Blowoff. The Secrets are out!
As I have said before we can always use articles, jokes, pictures, beer and food recipes for the newsletter. Don’t be afraid to give me too much, I have created a tickler file of jokes and recipes to be added to the newsletter when we really need them.
In closing, Don’t forget about the May Brew-In-The Park May 25. I will see ya’ all there.
Jamie
Editor--------Jamie Latimer
Co-Editor---Patti Latimer
5332 Courtney Circle
Boynton Beach, FL 33437
Reporters---You-Our members
To write articles or send
comments, please forward to the
above address, fax to (561)392-4090
or (preferably) E-mail to
Editor reserves the right to edit
due to space or content.
Deadline is the 23rd of each month.
OFFICERS
President----------------Drew Griffin
Vice President---------Gorman Selph
Secretary----------------George King
Treasurer---------------Andy Rodusky
COMMITTEES
Education----------------Victor Sears
Activities-----------------Betty Turso &
Dan Oliver
Oktoberfest--------------Troy Webster &
Vince Yeck
Hurricane Blow-Off---Mel Thompson &
Tiffany Griffin
Membership-------------Victor Sears
Newsletter----------------Jamie Latimer
PBD Web Page----------Jan Lobota
Membership Information
Applications for membership
are available at Homebrewer’s
Outlet, at 4734 Okeechobee Blvd.,
West Palm Beach.
Or write to Palm Beach Draughtsmen,
Inc. at PO BOX 210174, Royal Palm
Beach, FL 33421-1074
Visit our Web Site at:
http://www.maco.net/hombrew/PBD/
For club information contact:
dALE Howell 790-1856
WHAT'S BREWING? by Drew Griffin
Welcome to the year of the....... naw that's too corny. Let's just say WELCOME! I'm not going to go into all the great stuff we can do this year because you know what we are capable of when YOU get involved. So with that said, I am looking for EVERYONE'S help this year in continuing to improve YOUR CLUB. Let’s have a fun and SAFE year.The "Cajun Fest" was the best yet! There was 200 lbs. of live Crayfish, 30 lbs. of catfish, 15 gal. of the Original Pils, 15 gal. of cask conditioned porter, 10 gal. of Wheat, 5 gal. of Kolsh, 5 gal. of Oatmeal Stout, and more sides than even the biggest eater could sample. We finished all of it too! Our hosts, Gorman & Aline, were most accommodating. Please remember to thank them for all their hard work. I can't wait 'till next year’s event.Next item of importance is the Sunshine Challenge, May 15-17. This year’s guest speaker and judge is Michael Jackson. Some club members will be going up for the festivities. The entry deadline was May 1, so hopefully you got your entries off in time.Later in May, Monday the 25th, is the "Brew-in-the-Park/May Picnic". This year’s event will be held in John Prince Park at the Osbourne Pavilion. Activities will include but not be limited to, an all grain brewing class, food, beer, games, and music. More details will be available at the May meeting.It's time to start getting ready for the Oktoberfest, so we will need ideas and volunteers. You know, do we want to have a peoples choice homebrew award? How about more games? What about music? What about glasses? All of this needs to be determined ASAP.That's all the events for now, so I'd like to take this time to send a Big "THANK YOU" to Mel. He did a wonderful job as president. Provided a lot of his time and effort despite personal hardships. The club owes him a lot.Well you have reached the end of my first column, hopefully it wasn't too painful, and lets hope I get better at this!
See Ya ...............drewbrew
BREW-IN-THE-PARK
On Monday May 25th (Memorial Day), the Palm Beach Draughtsmen are holding a Brew-In-The-Park at John Prince Park, the Osbourne Pavilion. This is an Educational Picnic, where you will have the opportunity to watch two expert brewers, Dan Oliver and Victor Sears, brew an All-Grain and an Extract batch of brew. As most of you know an All-Grain brew takes a while to make. So you will have to get there early, 7:00 AM, to see how to make the All-Grain batch from start to finish. You will be able to watch, ask questions and help as they brew. We will discuss the picnic further at the general meeting May 14th at Castaways
The Baker says, "I'm the staff of life, and you're
a silly elf." The Brewer replied, with artful pride,
"Why this is life itself!"
-Anonymous, 13th century
It is gratifying in these days of hop and malt
substitutes and other abominations, to know that
the princes of the trade still adhere to genuine
malt and hops.... For those who sell adulterated
beer...no punishment can be too great.
-W.T. Marchant, 1888
Give me a woman who truly loves beer and I will
conquer the world. -Kaiser Wilhelm
If you want to take beer for the picnic or the
motor trip, resort to the old method of wrapping
cold beer just out of the ice box in wet newspapers.
It will stay cold for two hours.
-Virginia Elliott,
1933
Of beer, an enthusiast said that it could never be bad, but
that some brands might be better than others.
-A.A. Milne
Two Men From Scotland
<For the Collier Clan>
A man stumbles up to the only other patron in a bar and asks if he could buy him a drink.
"Why of course", comes the reply.
The first man then asks: "Where are you from?"
"I'm from Scotland", replies the second man.
The first man responds: "You don't say, I'm from Scotland too!
Let's have another round to Scotland."
"Of Course", replies the second man.
Curious, the first man then asks: "Where in Scotland are you from?"
"Aberdeen", comes the reply.
"I can't believe it", says the first man. "I'm from Aberdeen too!
Let's have another drink to Aberdeen."
"Of course", replies the second man.
Curiosity again strikes and the first man asks: "What school did You go to?"
"Saint Andrews", replies the second man. "I graduated in '62."
"This is unbelievable!" the first man says. "I went to Saint Andrews and graduated in '62, too!"
About that time in comes one of the regulars and sits down at the bar.
"What's been going on?" he asks the bartender.
"Nothing much," replies the bartender.
"The MacGregor twins are Drunk again."
TWO GUYS IN A BOAT
2
Two guys of limited intelligence were on a ship that sank in the middle of the ocean. They managed to inflate a rubber life raft
and grab a box of provisions before their ship slipped below the surface. After floating under blazing heat for 6 days they ran
out of food and water.
On the 10th day, bleary eyed and half dead from heat, thirst and starvation, they spotted a small object floating toward them in the water.
As it drew near, they were ecstatic to find that it was an oil lamp (the kind the genies come in). They grabbed the lamp and
rubbed it. "POOF" out popped a tired old genie, who said,
"OK, so you freed me from this stupid lamp, yadda, yadda, yadda.
But hey, I've been doing this 3 wishes stuff for a long time now and quite frankly, I'm burned out. You guys get only ONE wish
and then I'm OUTTA here. Make it a good one".
The first guy, without hesitation or thought blurted out, "Give us all the beer we can drink for the rest of our lives!!!"
"Fine," said the genie, and he instantly turned the entire ocean into beer.
"Great move Einstein!" said the second guy, slapping the first guy in the head.
"NOW we're gonna have to piss in the BOAT!"
Up Coming Events
05/08 Business meeting
(Location TBA)
05/14 General Meeting at Castaways
05/15 Sunshine Challenge
05/25 May-Day picnic Brew In The Park
Put these events on your calendars!!
OFFICIAL
PALM BEACH DRAUGHTSMEN
T-SHIRTS
$12.50 EACH
100% COTTON POCKET TEES
LOGO ON BACK AND FRONT POCKET
ALL SIZES AVAILABLE
SEE MEL OR PLACE ORDER AT THE NEXT MEETING
Best of Show & Gold Medal Belgian Ales
1998 Hurricane Blowoff
Steve Vallancourt and
Bruce Ficcalora
Central Florida Homebrewers
"Oud Bruce"
Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Ingredients for 5 U.S. gal
9.9 lb. Northwestern Wheat Malt Extract
1 lb. 6 row Malt
1 lb. Wheat Malt
.25 lb. Belgian Aromatic Malt
Belgian dark candi sugar
3 oz Saaz hop pellets (60 min)
Wyeast Belgian Ale yeast
3/4 cup Dextrose (to prime)
Original specific gravity 1.097
Final specific gravity 1.011
Boiling time: 60 min
Primary fermentation: 22 days at 56 degrees F in glass
Secondary fermentation: 14 days at 33 degrees F in glass
Mash grains for 60 min. At 158 degrees F
1st Runner-Up Best of Show & Gold Medal Strong Ales
1998 Hurricane Blowoff
Michele Wohleber
Central Florida Home Brewers
"Mitch's Little Imp"
Imperial Stout
Ingredients for 5 U.S. gal
6.6 lbs. Northwestern Dark Malt Extract
3.3 lbs. Northwestern Amber Malt Extract
1 lb. Amber Dry Malt Extract
1/2 lb. Black Patent Malt
1/4 lb. Chocolate Malt
1 lb. Roast Barley
2 oz Chinook hop pellets, 11.8% alpha acid (60 min)
1.5 oz Cascade hop pellets, 4.5% alpha acid (15 min)
1 oz Cascade hop pellets, 4.5% alpha acid (2 min)
Wyeast London ale yeast
3/4 cup Priming sugar
Original Specific gravity: 1.092
Final Specific gravity: 1.021
Boiling time: 60 min
Primary fermentation: 10 days at 70 degrees F in glass
Mash grains for 60 min. At 158 degrees F
2nd Runner-Up Best of Show & Gold Medal German Ales
1998 Hurricane Blowoff
Larry Stenger
Palm Beach Draughtsmen
"Tucher Alike"
Weizen/Weissbier
Ingredients for 10 U.S. gal
10 lb. German Pils Malt
8 lb. Wheat Malt
2 oz Styrian hops, 5% alpha acid (30 min)
Yeast nutrient extract
Wyeast #3068
3/4 cup corn sugar (to prime)
Original Specific gravity: 1.048
Final Specific gravity: 1.009
Boiling time: 60 min
Primary fermentation: 12 days at 65 degrees F
Secondary fermentation: 30 days at 65 degrees F
Mash grains for 120 min. At 149 degrees F