March meeting report

Greetings DUFF Club members

I've been lax on sending out follow up reports about our DUFF meeting to those that couldn't attend or couldn't remember what we covered. I hope to become a better person in that regard, so here is a rap up of the March meeting.

The March 2010 meeting was held at Mel and Sandy's place on Friday evening March 5^th, 10 members were present: Jim Kinsman, Fritz and Nancy Klein, Joe Verbsky, Ron Kannenberg, Bud (Kurt) Ihde, Steve & Marsha (last names, spelling, & email address?), Mel & Sandy Smith. We had a lite lunch prepared by Sandy and a lot of wine, beer, and …. Other stuff! I was able to share a trick that Jason Rops taught me for removing a cork from a bottle… very cool Jason! Thanks! We also had a pretty good 'meeting' as DUFF meetings usually go.

April

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled at Fritz and Nancy's place in Mauston. Since Good Friday & Easter occur on our normal first Friday meeting night, the meeting will be postponed one week until the second Friday. Fritz is going to check into getting that Friday, April 9^th off, and if all goes well, that's where/when the April meeting will be held, at Fritz's place. I'll post directions and the regular invitation around the 6^th or 7^th of April a few days prior to the meeting as usual. We should be making the final plans for the 'Big Brew at the April Meeting, and having further discussions about the Golden Growler Competition coming up in May, and the M.S. benefit in June 6^th.

May

May is 'Big Brew' month. The Big Brew will be held on Saturday, May 1^st or try again on May 2^nd in case of heavy rain if brewing is out of the question on the 1^st! We talked about the styles and have tentatively chosen the American Craft Beer Wheat as the one for this year's Big Brew. Depending on interest and orders for beer, the style and quantity of beer we brew may be adjusted. In addition to the 55 gallon barrels we used last year, I also have a 150 quart Coleman cooler that could mash an additional 40 gallons of wort in a different style if we choose, that could make around 100 gallons of beer in a single (2 container) mash. If we want more than 100 gallons, we could even use the second dairy cooler to do a larger mash. Since we're in the mood to brew and have things set-up, I'll be available on the 4^th-7^th of May to continue big brews for your summer drinking pleasure.

May is also the month for the Golden Growler competition. That will be held on May 22^nd in Wausau, and the entries for DUFF club will be judged and chosen during the Big Brew day. The beer style is Saison and will be judged according to the BJCP style guidelines but is not a BJCP sanctioned event. Also, there will be a people's choice competition. Entries will be transported to Wausau either by Mel, Fritz, or Jim sometime between the 13^th and the 20^th of May.

June

After recapturing the Golden Growler in May, the DUFF club will turn it's collective conscious toward the benefit for MS in June to be held at the Barn in Baraboo, Sunday, June 6^th. Those that want to enter should brew up 5 gallons of awesome beer for a competition that isn't to be taken too seriously! There will be 4 judges and 175 tickets sold! Christin is hoping for 15-20 entrants all bringing 5 gallons of beer….

Let's do the math. 20 x 5 = 100 gallons for 175 people…. That equals …. Holy crap! I think were going to have some drunk judges! Brew for drunks! Ha! Ha!

Anyway, that was about as far ahead as we thought last Friday evening. Kurt and I stayed up till past 10:30 discussing politics, natural health, gardens, Alaskan vacations and the good Lord only knows what else.

It was a fun night and if I got some of my facts jumbled up, please correct me, but this is as good of a recount of the evening's discussions as I can recall. See you all next month at Fritz's place in Mauston.

Mel