[MKOB] 2007 MKOB Brew to style events

[Russ Clayton]

Dear fellow piwo heads:

At the meeting this week we discussed bringing back the club only type 
events, where everyone would brew to style a pre-ordained style for 
learning purposes.

After talking about it a bit, we decided on a few things.  I'll be 
filling in the details after I get a bit more feedback.  All feedback on 
this matter should be sent to me before the end of December, so that I 
can compile and get everything in order for the January meeting.

There will be one brew-to-style event per quarter in 2007.  It's looking 
like the first event will start with a discussion at the January 
meeting, and end with the brew tasting and judging at the March 
meeting.  February was discussed as the first brew tasting, however, if 
we did this, it would only allow a month for the brewing.  This may be 
fine for a lighter style or quick ale ... but not enough time for others.

I have several feedback as to beer style selections for the year from my 
last email.  If you have not emailed me with your 4 choices, please do 
so.  I'm going to make an effort to pick out 4 varied styles that 
everyone is interested in and not have 2 similar.

At the January meeting, I will bring the guidelines for the style.  We 
will discuss the style in depth and also list a commercial beer that is 
to be used as a reference point.

At the meetings designated for the Brew-to-style events, our beer 
tasting will be limited to the beers for the event.  This is not to get 
anyone mad, it is to allow proper time to evaluate each brew and offer 
constructive criticism per check off point.  This is mostly meant as a 
learning tool.  I have yet to ask the new president if there will be any 
awards, other then being able to say that you make a great beer.

Once I list the 4 styles for next year, please email me if you are 
interested in leading the discussion on one of the styles.  For instance 
if it is one of your favorites or if you've been brewing it for a long 
time and feel you have a good handle on it.

George has graciously volunteered to lead the critiques.  I would also 
value Tom's help in this matter too.  Both of whom, I believe, would 
give fair and balanced evaluations.  Each person at the meeting will 
have a critique sheet to fill out per beer.  The club agreed that we 
should have some of the baseline style beer (commercial) on hand to 
taste before the critique to attune our taste buds...while George or Tom 
is telling us a few things about the style.

When bottling for these events, try to make the bottles plain.  We will 
put numbers on each entry.  This is to facilitate a professional review 
of each beer.  Each entrant will not know the number of his (although he 
may recognize his bottle.)  Even in this case, we ask that a person try 
to fairly judge his beer.

At the end, we will calculate up the numbers and see who had the 
favorite beer of the evening.  I would also ask that those entering, 
bring in a recipe sheet for their brew. Please remember to list the 
ingredients, Original Gravity, Final Gravity and the basics of how you 
brewed it ... including anything interesting that you may have tried.

I really think this will make our meetings more interesting and 
educational.  I do not expect everyone to brew for each event ... but I 
will.  Some people expressed opinions that they thought I was trying to 
impose myself on what they were brewing.  Not so.  This is not 
mandatory.  If you really object to a style that was picked ... just 
don't brew it.  Simple.

Thank you and good night.

~russ