| 2013 Ninkasi Sponsor | 
Visit Four Peaks Brewing Co. Four Peaks Events and Announcements: Sunday, March 17 St. Patrick's Day
Festivities start at the 8th Street location with $14 all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet from 7-11 am. $4 beers, $6 car bombs, $5 specialty shots all day.
March 23 & 24 Scottish Highland Games Steele Indian School Park 9am - 5pm The 49th annual event includes athletic competitions, Highland dance, reenactments, seminars, clans, food, live music, bag pipes and drum bands from around the globe. |
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Upcoming Events
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Saturday, March 23 Downtown Chandler Jumpstart Your HomebrewingSaturday, March 13 The Root, Phoenix
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Total Gallons Brewed in 2013
| 694 Gallons
This tally is based on your input. Be sure to log your brews here
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Competition News,
Due Dates
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Light Hybrid entries are due March 19 at the General meeting
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Greetings!
Sometimes I think as home brewers we get a bum wrap. I think because we love beer so much, we get lumped into a beer-drinking, couch potato stereotype. Now, I love to sit in front of the TV with a good brew just as much as the next ASHer, buy I also have never met a more competitive group of people. Nothing will get a homebrewer out of his or her chair faster than an reason to brew, pour or educate for a good cause. And if there are bragging rights and awesome prizes attached, it's more like a race. Well, ASHers. This is our year. We need volunteers, competition entries, judges and more to make ASH better than ever.
I'm having a lot fun getting into the action. I hope to see you out there.
Prost!
Angela (@girlfromarizona) |
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I did not sleep at all last night.
We have a meeting coming up on Tuesday with a talk about BJCP and BA Judging in the run up to the Canned Craft Beer Fest and our own Oktoberfest comps. Great talks! The things we have coming up in April are spectacular too!
At Tuesday's meeting, we will also be making a big push for the March 23 Chandler BBQ Fest and our volunteer efforts in general.
As you may have heard, this event is the first of four that will enable us to secure the larger brewery/warehouse space our club desperately needs. I am positive that we will achieve this goal. You've heard me talk about this at every meeting. I've had face-to-face conversations with scores of ASH members about it.
People in the industry, both local and national are on our side. They want us to succeed. They want to help us. And they will help us. Can you image local brewers coming down for our brewouts? There are so many local behind-the-scenes people that we could enlist. Lauren Salazar helping us with out barrels. Larry Bell hanging out in our tap room for a happy hour? How about Crispin Cider helping us jump start our Cider room? This is all possible.
But first we have to come through on our end. I know that we will. I'm not able to sleep when I think about the possibilities and the great things that we will do.
We have some people in ASH that have spent a great deal of time and energy because they believe in this plan. I lose sleep for them too. They may not be used to putting themselves out there, facing criticism, not having all of the information or support that they need. I don't want us to let them down. I don't want them discouraged. I've seen what ASH can do. We will do this.
Help us make our Quarterly Goal on March 23. Three hours of your time gets us that much close to the dream. Join the pour folk of ASH--the ASHional Guard!
From the President
�Salud!
Rob Fullmer
President, ASH
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From the Judges Table
Matt Brown
First off, thank you to everyone who helped judge and steward the K�lsch competition this year, and congratulations to Ken Forrey for winning the Kaptain's Kup a second time! There were not only a lot of beers entered this year (19), but many of them were fantastic. Hopefully that competition will continue to grow.
Homebrewer of the Year / AHA Club Only Competition
If you entered a K�lsch at Springfest, you should consider entering it in the Light Hybrid HBOY competition as well. Entries are due at the upcoming general meeting.
As a reminder, here are the remaining HBOY deadlines:
3/19 -Light Hybrid
4/16 - Extract Beer*
5/21 - English Brown
6/18 - Fruit Beer
7/16 -Pilsner
8/20 - European Amber Lager*
11/19 - IPA
Like before, the dates with an asterisk are the competitions where the winner is going to be entered in the AHA COC, and you can drop off all entries either at Brewer's Connection or at the ASH general meeting. We are still planning on offering some great prizes for the English Brown and IPA competitions. We are also registering those two competitions
with the BJCP. Unfortunately, we are not quite in a position to announce the prizes, but I can promise you they will both be worthwhile apart from getting you HBOY points.
The complete 2013 HBOY schedule is available online, but the AHA has still yet to announce the styles we will need to require for November and December. Hopefully they will do that soon, though I am not holding my breath.
Great Arizona Homebrew Competition and Arizona Mead Cup
Brewmeister's Anonymous is judging its Great Arizona Homebrew Competition and Arizona Mead Cup on 4/27 and 4/28, and entries are due on 4/16 in Tucson and 4/18 in Phoenix. Flyers are out now and can be found here . You can contact Sonja Lockhart at (602) 770-1535 if you have any questions. This is a great opportunity for points if you are willing to judge.
Salt River Fields Oktoberfest / ASH Oktoberfest
Here are the dates to remember in October:
10/4 - ASH Oktoberfest Entry Deadline
10/5 - ASH Oktoberfest Judging
10/6 - ASH Oktoberfest Judging (if necessary)
10/11 - Salt River's Oktoberfest Entry Deadline
10/12 - Salt River's Oktoberfest Judging
10/19 - ASH Oktoberfest
We need as many judges as possible, so please keep 10/5, 10/6, and 10/12 free!
BJCP Class
The BJCP class starts on 4/15 at 7pm. Join the group here.
Springfest Competition
Finally, we are still planning on doing a big competition prior to Springfest in 2014, and we hope to make it as big as our Oktoberfest. There are a lot of other things going on around the same time, so we have a lot of variables to consider. If you have any ideas or just want to help out, please join the Competition Committee. We are going to need all the help we can get to make it happen!
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The Volunteer Corner
Kat Morrill
It's spring time in Arizona and that means there's a lot of festivals going on throughout the valley! Arizona Craft Beer Week is already in our rear view mirrors, but that won't slow us down when it comes to celebrating great craft beer.
Festivals also mean we're looking for volunteers to help out pouring beer. By volunteering your time, you not only help the festival out, you also provide a service to the other people attending the festival. How many times have we stood in line and asked about the beers being served only to be met with a blank stare and told, "Well, there's a light one and a dark one." If we volunteer for these festivals, we get an opportunity to educate other people on beer and get them just as excited as we are about good craft beer. The Great American BBQ and Beer Fest is coming up on March 23. All volunteers will get two additional tickets for friends/family to attend the festival. This is also one of the 4 festivals Rob talked about at the beginning of the year that will pay ASH $5,000 by providing beer pourers for the festival. That money can mean the difference in us finally getting our own clubhouse. And it will have been because you helped out!
If you're interested in volunteering, fill out the document in this link and email it back to Landon at [email protected] or fax it to 815.642.4836.
I will also have these forms at the March General Meeting. You can fill them out and return them to me at the meeting, and I will deliver them to Landon.
Thanks for being willing to volunteer a few hours of your time to help ASH out!
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Give Someone a Beer And They Drink for a Day...
ASHers teaching next wave of homebrewers
by Laura Kuning  Throughout the year, ASH members and homebrew stores are holding beer brewing classes across the valley. If you have friends interested in brewing, or looking for some advanced education, here are some upcoming classes and details so that you can get out there and start brewing!
Jump Start Your Homebrewing
ASH member Cat Pugh is holding several homebrew classes at The Root in North Phoenix. Her first class this Saturday, March 16 covers the four basic steps you need to know to start home brewing.
WHEN: Saturday March 16, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
WHERE: The Orchard Room at Root Phoenix
7120 N 12th St, Phoenix 85020
COST: $17
DETAILS: Anyone can learn what is necessary to create this ancient old art of brewing. While there are only four basic ingredients to beer there are hundreds of styles, numerous methods, and an array of brewing equipment to choose from. I've got all the equipment but please feel free to bring something to take notes with, a beer in mind to talk about, and an open mind to explore your palate.
Brew Your Own Brew Beginner and Advanced Classes
This home brew store in Chandler holds monthly classes for beginner and advanced brewers. The dates and topics vary, so to take either class, contact the store to leave your name and number. They will call you when classes have enough interest and are scheduled.
WHEN: Saturday mornings, dates vary
WHERE: Brew Your Own Brew: 525 E Baseline Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85233, (480) 497-0011
COST: Beginner - free, Advanced - $5
DETAILS: The beginner class covers all the basics to get you started in homebrewing, including watching and participating in the entire process. They go over sanitation, boiling, temperatures, yeasts, and many other subjects involved in completing an extract brew. The advanced class covers all-grain brewing. They go over selecting grains, milling, mashing-in, sparging, and enzymes among other subjects.
City of Chandler, Whole Foods Chandler
ASH member Andrew Bauman teaches beginner brewing classes through the City of Chandler. The next class begins in the fall of this year and details will be forthcoming. Andrew will also be teaching a class in May at Whole Foods. Details will be posted soon. |
February Recap
There was no General Meeting in February. ASH celebrated Arizona Beer Week with an outstanding volunteer turn out at Strong Beer Fest, Hot Scotchy Night at the Hungry Monk and Moto, and our annual "It Ain't Over Til We Say So" Brewout.
We kicked off March with Springfest and the Kolsch Kup. This year we had a record 19 entries in the competition which honors the late ASH member Mark Helms. In the end, Ken Forrey walked away with the coveted Kaptin's Kup.
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March General Meeting
Tuesday, March 19, 7pm - 9pm
ASH Clubhouse (Rose Market Storefront
2515 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ
The topics of the night are volunteerism, BJCP and judging. We'll recap our activities in February and talk about what's to come. Krystal Bittner will present on why and how you can become a BJCP certified judge. If you're interested in volunteering, Kat will have the forms to get you signed up.
Bring your homebrew to share. If this is your first meeting, you're still welcome to bring your beer. We have a reach in cooler in the back where your homebrew goes. Make yourself at home, place your beer on the shelf and help yourself to other members' beers. If you do not have a tasting cup, we have extras next to the cooler.
Light Hybrid beers are due for HBOY. This includes Kolsch. Bring your entries to the meeting for submission.
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The ASH Hot Break is distributed every month to our members and friends. If you stumbled upon this issue through Facebook or Twitter, take a minute to join our website, azhomebrewers.org, so you can get our newsletters and updates in your email. (There might even be some secret events and deals announced as well).
We're always looking for reader input. If you're excited about a new project, teaching others how to brew, hosting a homebrew event, or have anything else you'd like to mention on Hot Break, email [email protected]. We want to see stories and photos from our members.
We'll see you at the General Meeting. Till then brew on.
Prost!
Angela
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Your Club Board Members
President - Rob Fullmer
Vice President - James Swann
Secretary - Laura Kuning
Treasurer - Christian Chandler
Communication - Angela Muniz
Member at Large - John Rudolph
Member at Large - Ben Conner
Arizona Society of Homebrewers
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