The Coolest Beer Club Ever!

If you could imagine the coolest beer club ever, what would it be like? I asked myself that question as I thought about where DUFF Club is going in the next few months, the next year, the next five years and beyond. Technically, I suppose it’s called a vision or mission but really all it comes down to is this, what would the coolest beer club ever look like and how can we become that club?

First equipment, I think the coolest beer club ever would have some really cool equipment that members could use just for being members of the club. This would be stuff that one person alone might only be able to dream about having but the club would have it all, and members could use it or rent it sometimes.

The equipment might be acquired by group efforts, combined talents, or pooled resources. One member might have a source for stainless steel, another might have the equipment and knowledge to cut and weld, and a third might have the engineering skills to design and draw up the plans for an item. Together, a team might be able to achieve things that any one person working alone would find hard to do. Another option is simply to purchase items as a group.

This equipment would help its members brew the best beer and wine ever and win awards! It could also help the club raise money without the need for charging membership dues by charging rent on some of the equipment.

Second supplies, I think the coolest beer club ever would help its members acquire brewing supplies as a brewing co-op. Group buying, bulk buying, and ever alert for sales and good deals would help defray hobby costs for its members. Rather than just paying dues to be a member of a club, being a member of the coolest beer club ever would be a financial asset for its members.

Next education and encouragement, I think the coolest beer club ever would be a source for knowledge about brewing high quality homebrew. Their education program would help initiate new brewers and hone the skills of the experienced ones. Through challenging competition and on-going education, members of the coolest beer club ever would win awards, have beers named after them, and have Samuel Adams calling up for advice on how to brew better beer!

The coolest beer club ever would definitely write a book that may or may not make it on the New York Times bestseller list. Probably not, but who is to say? Many church groups, school music departments, and even families publish their own cookbooks, why shouldn’t the DUFF beer club? I think we should begin saving our great beer recipes, great brewing stories, and unique brewing tips and tricks for the book! I believe this might be a unique way to raise money in the future, selling on ebay, area brew stores, and at competition events.

As I think about the future, I would like the DUFF Homebrew Club to become a club that is a real asset to be our members because it will help them to make great homebrew, give everyone access to equipment that they could not afford on their own, and help hold down the costs of our hobby. We will also share our knowledge, experience, and encourage others in becoming great homebrewers.

Some people live by the motto, “If you can’t learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly.” A funny saying but too many folks (myself at times) take this funny saying to heart and give homebrewing a bad name! The DUFF Homebrew Club should be all about learning to enjoy doing our hobby really well. We have some great brewers in our midst, and I hope I can be counted in their number someday.