West Sound Brewers http://www.westsoundbrewers.org/index.php July Meeting Notice http://www.westsoundbrewers.org/index.php?entry=entry080710-153349
Contact Us for directions.

Lots o' street parking.

Bring Homebrew. Bring Saison. Lots of Saison! Or just come and drink up all of Matt's. Or bring whatever refreshing weather appropriate bier you want.

If you drink any corked beer or champagne bottles in the next few weeks, or if you have any lying around, please bring them so Matt has somewhere to put his saisons.]]> First Puget Sound Pro-Am Beer Release - July 10, Rock Bottom Seattle http://www.westsoundbrewers.org/index.php?entry=entry080703-120138 WAHA site:
The first of the Pro-Am selected beers, Mark Emiley's May Day Kolsch, is being released by Rock Bottom-Seattle on Thursday July 10th. From 5:30-8:00 there will be $2 cash pints. Rock Bottom is making the release a benefit event for Inner City Outings, a group aimed a providing opportunties for urban dwelling kids to get out to explore, enjoy, and protect nature.

Everyone is welcome to come by and try the beer. We'd love to have a great turn out for all of the Pro-Am beer releases to let our craft brewing brethren know how much we support them and in turn, appreciate their support.

Feel free to pass this information onto anyone. The money all goes to a good cause and $2 pints are pretty hard to come by! There is ample public transportation in the area so I encourage folks to take the bus if possible.
]]> Club Member Takes Gold at NHC http://www.westsoundbrewers.org/index.php?entry=entry080623-111803 National Homebrew Competition last week with his Belgian Tripel. His tripel had previously placed 3rd in its category in the NHC NW Region 1st Round competition in April. The additional two months of aging must have been just what the beer needed to leap-frog the higher placing entries from the first round and sneak away with the gold.

Show up at the July meeting, tentatively scheduled to take place at Matt Riggs' house late in the month, for a chance to sample Brad's award winning brew. His supply is running low and that will probably be the last meeting he brings a bottle of the tripel to.

From the NHC Site:
Category 18 Belgian Strong Ale
# of Entries: 345
Sponsored by Dingemans c/o Cargill Malt
GoldRobert Ginn, Poulsbo, WA, Belgian Tripel, West Sound Brewers
SilverScott Lothamer, Moraga, CA, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)
BronzeBob Thompson, Murrieta, CA, Belgian Dubbel, Temecula Valley Homebrewers Association
]]> June Meeting Tomorrow Night http://www.westsoundbrewers.org/index.php?entry=entry080617-180108
Darryl says they'll have some snacks ready. He does have a nice grill on the deck so consider bringing something for grilling.

Andrea loves fruity lambics so bring those along if you have no homebrew to share. Matt is already coveting the empties (so feel free to bring him any empty corkable/cappable bottles (like Lindeman's), it could earn you some special saison samples).

Contact Us for directions.]]> Puget Sound Pro-Am http://www.westsoundbrewers.org/index.php?entry=entry080515-140952
Got three bottles of a great tasting homebrew around? The Puget Sound Pro-Am is accepting entries (three 10-12 oz bottles, $6/entry) at the mail-in location (Larry's Brewing Supply) from now until May 28th so start sending in your entries (entries can be registered in advance through a link on the competition website at http://www.bewbc.org/pro-am). The other entry points (Diamond Knot Brewery, Bob's Homebrew Supply, Cellar Homebrew Supply, and the Beer Essentials) are accepting entries now through May 28th. Please make sure to use the special entry recipe form available online at the competition website! We want the brewers to know how you brewed it so they'll know that they can!

The Puget Sound Pro-Am is an AHA/BJCP sanctioned competition aimed at providing award winning homebrew recipes to be brewed by Puget Sound breweries with the goal of capturing a medal from the Great American Beer Festival's Pro-Am Competition. Eleven breweries (Big Horn/Ram (2), Rogue, Elysian, Diamond Knot, Rock Bottom (2), Elliot Bay, Big Time, Pike, and Powerhouse) will be selecting their favorite homebrew beers from the best of show round to scale up and brew on their systems. Winning beers of AHA members may be sent on to the GABF for a shot at national glory! Non-AHA members can still enter the competition and win other awards and prizes - also, one of the breweries not submitted to the GABF will not be constrained to picking an AHA member!

This competition is drawing entries from around the country, but we all know that Washington makes the best brews, so get those entries ready! This is the third Washington Homebrewer of the Year Qualifying competition so start racking up some points with your placings! See the wahomebrewers.org site for more details on the program.

Judging will be held on May 31st at Larry's Brewing Supply in Kent, Washington (if you are interested in judging, stewarding, or helping with event execution, contact Mark Emiley at markemiley@... or register online at the website). Check the website for updates on contest details. If you had a beer that didn't make it to the second round of the NHC, send them on in for a second opinion and a chance for an awesome opportunity! Invite your friends to join the AHA and submit beers as well (all beers will be judged and ranked regardless of AHA membership). Good luck, and may your wildest brewing dreams come true!

Mark Emiley
PSPA Organizer
]]> Two Club Members Place in NHC 1st Round http://www.westsoundbrewers.org/index.php?entry=entry080512-211042
Category 16 Belgian and French Ale
Sponsored by S.A. Bieres de Chimay c/o Manneken-Brussel Imports
1   16e   Terry Bucher, Kirk Studach of Salem, OR, Cascade Brewers Society
2   16c   Matt Riggs of Bremerton, WA, West Sound Brewers
3   16a   Dean Malte of Auburn, WA

Category 18 Belgian Strong Ale
Sponsored by Dingemans c/o Cargill Malt
1   18e   Rory Petrik of Seward, AK, Great Northern Brewers Club
2   18d   Brian Thatcher of Kingston, WA, Impaling Alers
3   18c   Robert Ginn of Poulsbo, WA, West Sound Brewers


Click here for full results from the 1st round.]]> Big Brew Report http://www.westsoundbrewers.org/index.php?entry=entry080504-121945 We had a great turnout and great fun at Big Brew yesterday, especially considering the weather. It rained nearly the whole time; sometimes a sprinkle and sometimes a downpour. We had tents and umbrellas set up to keep us mostly dry. By my recollection 6 people braved the weather and brought their gear to brew, and a total of 45 gallons of beer was produced. Many more stopped by to enjoy the weather, beer, food, and company. A gallery of pictures is posted.

A big thanks to the Shaws for hosting again this year.

Chris Devlin, the Seattle Beer Examiner came over to brew his first batch. Matt brought ingredients and Brad brought equipment and Chris brewed a Pale Ale. It would have been pretty hard for him to carry a carboy full of fermenting wort home on the ferry and bus, so Brad took Chris' beer to his house. It's fermenting away happily in Brad's bathroom as we speak. Chris will come over again when the beer is ready to bottle, and hopefully the whole experience will inspire him to take up the hobby.]]> May Newsletter & Big Brew on Saturday http://www.westsoundbrewers.org/index.php?entry=entry080429-171151 May Newsletter has been posted. This month's meeting will coincide with the Big Brew event at Steve & Frances Shaw's house. Read the newsletter for details and Contact us for directions.

Big Brew is a great time and everyone is welcome to attend whether you plan to brew or not. If you are a novice brewer, or even just thinking about getting into the hobby, it's a great opportunity to watch some seasoned brewers brew up a batch and learn from their mistakes. Brewers of all skill levels are encouraged to bring their gear and brew with us. If you don't want to haul your stuff around you are welcome to come and observe, sample homebrews, and eat some great food. Bring any beers you want to share and any food you want to barbeque. ]]> WAHA Education Speaker - Dick Cantwell, May 20th http://www.westsoundbrewers.org/index.php?entry=entry080428-133848
The Washington Homebrewers Association would like to invite all homebrewers and beer lovers to hear to the inaugural speaker of the WAHA's Educational Speaker Program - Dick Cantwell. Come to the Elysian Fields brewery down by Qwest Field to hear Dick Cantwell talk about his homebrewing past, transition to a professional brewer, and views on the future of brewing in America. You'll have a chance to pick the brains of one of Washington's brewing pioneers, get a homebrew recipe of one of Elysian's award winning beers, and have a chance to meet and mingle with your fellow Washington Homebrewers. Admission is free and open to all homebrewers and beer lovers. Just bring your brewing questions!

Event Details:
Date: May 20th
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Elysian Fields Brewery
542 1st Ave South
Seattle, WA 98104
206-382-4498

To help plan how much space will be needed, please RSVP at the website below by May 17th:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=s ... ctvQ_3d_3d

For more information check the WAHA's website at http://www.wahomebrewers.org. Please pass on this information to any interested homebrewers.
]]> April Newsletter/Meeting http://www.westsoundbrewers.org/index.php?entry=entry080412-162848 April Newsletter is posted.

This month's club meeting will take place at the Moums' on Saturday, April 19, starting at 2PM. Alan hopes to have at least one beer related demonstration prepared. Actually, in addition to some other demo we'll probably do the glassware aroma test once again to help re-inspire our eternally delayed glassware purchase.

Contact us for directions to Alan's and read the newsletter for more details.

Homebrewers of all skill levels, even those who haven't started brewing yet, are welcome at our meetings. If you are thinking about getting into the hobby, come to a meeting and meet a bunch of folks who are passionate about brewing and beer. You'll probably leave with more advice than you can handle and excited to brew your first batch.

Don't forget, Saturday May 3rd is Big Brew. It will be at the Shaw's house again this year. It is a great time and all are welcome, whether you plan to brew or not. If you do plan to brew, bring all your equipment and ingredients and Steve will provide the utilities. Keep your eyes out for the next newsletter for more details.]]>