The May meeting will be hosted by Steve Krebs, on Friday, May 9, starting at 7:30.

Read more about the meeting online, including an interactive map to the location, or download the newsletter, which contains information about the meeting and features extract beers, the style of the month.

Big Brew is a world-wide event celebrating National Homebrew Day by brewing and giving brewing demonstrations. This is your chance to observe and participate in the brewing of beer.

Where: Ypsilanti Brewing Co., 4 W. Forest Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48198
When: Saturday May 3, 2008, 9AM
What: Brewing demonstrations all day, potluck about 5PM
Who: Mike O’Brien 734-637-2532
Contact: obrien@ypsilantibrewing.com

View Larger Map

http://www.truetex.com/carbonation.htm

The April meeting will be hosted by Alex and Claudia Pettit on Friday, March 14, starting at 7:30.

Read more about the meeting online, including an interactive map to the location, or download the newsletter, which contains information about the meeting and features “Light Hybrid Beers”, the style of the month.

Here is a letter from the organizers about both events. Attached to the letter were the following:

• Keg labels (PDF or Microsoft Word)
• Club night checklist (Microsoft Word)

My Fellow Homebrewers!

I’m Jennifer Hermann. President of the Bloatarian Brewing League in Cincinnati will be coordinating this years efforts for Club Night! I have put together a list of items to keep in mind while preparing for this years event. I will be working closely with both the Cellar Master and the director for the Hospitality Suite to ensure that all events run smoothly this year. Please direct your questions appropriately:

CLUB NIGHT – Jennifer Hermann, BBL, Cincinnati, OH

bathingotis at yahoo.com

HOSPITALITY SUITE – Frank Barickman, SODZ, Columbus, OH

fbarickm at columbus.rr.com

CELLAR MASTER – Bill Krauth, LAGERS, Louisville, KY

bkrauth at bellsouth.net

The following information is now posted on the website:

Hospitality Suite

While visiting the Hospitality Suite, conference attendees have the opportunity to sample homebrews from local and out-of-state homebrewing clubs as well as meet fellow homebrewers from across the country. Homebrew clubs take turns hosting the suite and serving club beers. A small trade show is also set up inside the suite for conference attendees to interact with business vendors. Conference participants are invited to visit the Hospitality Suite during session breaks as well as before and after conference events. Visiting the suite provides a great opportunity to socialize with other brewers, clubs, and beer enthusiasts from all over the country.

HS F.A.Q.

How can my club participate? Sign up online (registration form coming soon). You may also contact Hospitality Coordinator Frank Barickman, fbarickm at columbus.rr.com.

How much beer should our club bring? So as to offer variety, each club should offer at least 6 varieties of beer during its shift.

Our club can only travel with 2-3 kegs of beer, can we still participate in hospitality? Yes. Your club can be paired with another club to share a shift. Please indicate that on the registration form, or contact the hospitality coordinator.

What does our club need to bring? Cups will be provided and refrigeration/cellar for the beer, assistance with transport of the beer within the hotel, and back-up resources are available when needed. Your club provides the beer for your shift, and people to serve it during your shift.

Our club might need volunteer help and/or equipment that we cannot ship or transport.
Can we still participate? Yes. An assortment of back-up supplies and helping hands can be provided to your club. Specific arrangements for special needs during a hospitality shift can be coordinated with the Hospitality team.

Our beer is not in kegs, can we still serve it? Yes. Bottles are welcome.

Club Night

Friday Night, June 20^th is Club Night at the AHA Conference in Cincinnati! This night boasts the biggest homebrewed party of the year with homebrewers from across the country clinking glasses in celebration of the best hobby ever invented!

Never been to Club Night before? If you can imagine a Mardi Gras celebration in summertime complete with decorations and painted faces, crazily innovative beer taps and handles, tasty treats to eat and more than 100 homebrews on tap then you’ve caught a glimpse of what Club Night is all about. Many clubs have some sort of theme, and although not necessary, using one might help to spark some of your creative engines. I’ve seen clubs use their club’s name, hometown and state as inspiration. Many clubs have developed a special delivery system that they like to showcase at Club Night. Some clubs have a mascot or favorite quote or unique beer (imagine that) that they incorporate into their presentation. While other clubs simply rely upon their overwhelmingly charming personality.

Cheers!

Jennifer

The March meeting will be hosted by Mike O’Brien at the Ypsilanti Brewing Co. shop, on Friday, March 14, starting at 7:30.

Read more about the meeting online, including an interactive map to the location, or download the newsletter, which contains information about the meeting and features Porter, the style of the month.

Over the weekend my son and I put together a motorized
malt mill. I’d been planning it since Jim Suchy gave me
a washing machine motor just before he left. The parts we
purchased cost less than $25 and it took about four hours
to make, with Ben’s help.

The motor is 1,729 rpms and we adjusted it with two sheaves
at 1.5″ and 8″ down to 324 rpm and attached it to my Schmidling
mill. It grinds a pound of grain in 6 seconds.

Im looking forward to brewing this week.

<

Dan Jeska replied with a couple of photos: Steve, that looks very similar to the mill I have. I used an 1800 rpm
utility motor reduced down via the sheaves you mentioned to around 300
rpm. I have never heard of those wheels or pulleys referred to as
“sheaves”. You will be now be able to use your arm strength for
lifting fermenters instead of crushing grain!

The attached photos show my old creaky grain mill, as well as the
“Mother of All Grain Mills” built by my friend Steve Higdon.

The February brewers’ guild meeting will be held on February 8 at the home of Matt and René Greff. Read more about the meeting online, including an interactive map to the location, or download the newsletter, which contains information about the meeting and features the Saison and Biere de Garde beer styles.