Announcements
Just in time for our visit to Mighty Axe Hops comes a fantastic looking cookbook from a club member. If you want to expand your cooking skills a bit, go check out Hedonistic Hops, a cookbook all about cooking with hops! This looks like a fantastic excuse to go buy more hops! You can pick up a copy of the book by supporting their kickstarter right now.
Here’s an excerpt from author Marie:
I’ve launched a Kickstarter campaign for my upcoming cookbook, “Hedonistic
Hops: The HopHead’s Guide to Kitchen Badassery”. It will be my 5th
cookbook.“Hedonistic Hops” will be a lot of fun, filled with recipes that use
various varieties of hops in cooking. We have everything from side and
main dishes, to condiments, desserts, and (non-beer) beverages!This cookbook is the first of its kind. Aside from a couple bloggers doing
the odd experiment with hops in food, cooking with hops isn’t really a
THING… YET!As someone with an alphabetically-arranged spice rack that now tops 80
pieces* , though… I’m always looking for new flavours, new combinations,
and new things to play with. Cooking should be fun, not a chore!Much like salt or lemon juice can be added to dishes to perk them up, a
small amount of hops – used wisely, and with specific techniques to do so
in a balanced fashion – can really make a dish sing. This is especially
true when supporting ingredients are selected to kill the *bitter* of the
hops, allowing for the flavours and aromas of the hops to shine through.
Marie’s husband & MHBA club member Michael will be handling all the photography for the book.
Go check out the kickstarter project for Hedonistic Hops!
Read MoreDATE: 7/31-8/2
LOCATION: El Rancho Manana, by Cold Spring
Call for Reservations: See Reservation Section ASAP
Cheers,
Tom
[email protected]
Location:
El Rancho Manana
27302 Ranch Road
Richmond, MN 56368
We will be staying in one of their big unimproved camping areas. We will have firewood, picnic tables, port-a-potties, and lots of space. The park in general has many extras to offer too. The grounds contain a swimming beach, hiking and biking trails, showers, and a store. Dock space, boats and water bikes are also listed as available for rent, and horseback riding may be available. All is a short walk from where the unimproved camping is.
NOTE: We could use larger tent/tarp type structures to use for sun/rain shelters. If you have one you could bring let me know.
Reservations and Costs:
Camping cost is $25 plus tax per adult for the weekend in our primitive area. Please call Kevin ASAP for reservations at 320.597.2740 and state you are with the Minnesota Homebrewers Camp-Out. Note, if you want more amenities you can talk to Kevin about alternative sites they may have available.
There will also be a charge for those participating in Saturday’s dinner. Final costs will be determined on site. I am expecting around $10 per adult, no charge for kids. Please let me know ahead of time if you are planning on coming or even if you are a maybe so we can plan Sat food accordingly. Email me at [email protected] at least one week in advance.
Master of Malt competition:
This fun competition between clubs has been held at the campout since 1992 (yes this will be year 24). Each club can enter up to four brews: one for ALES, one for LAGERS, one for BELGIANS, and one for MEAD/CIDERS. There will be awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in all categories and best of all, you will be competing for the coveted title of Master of Malt! The win is recorded forever in history for your club AND you get to spend a full year with the prestigious Master of Malt trophy. It is kind of like the Stanley Cup (but not really)!
Cheers and good luck!
Sour Hour:
We are going to get a sour hour together again this year. Sometime in the lull between after Master of Malt and dinner we will get together and break out some sour beers. It is a very casual thing. Bring and share if you like sours.
Sat Dinner:
Saturday’s dinner will be prepared and hosted by the Prairie Homebrewing Companions. Popular thought right now is Gumbo, corn bread muffins and maybe a salad of some kind. Maybe that will stick maybe not. If you really want to know ahead, let me know and I will update you. I will need numbers so please email me at [email protected] at least one week in advance.
General Other Camping Notes:
Please bring your own food to prepare for meals other than Sat dinner.
Jockey boxes, bottles, growlers and any other beer containers are encouraged. The PHC jockey box will be there. If you are bringing kegs and need a line we will try to fit you on that.
This is a primitive site so no electricity and water on site through community water spigots.
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It’s time to head back to the farm…the HOP farm! It’s been about a year since we visited Mighty Axe Hops and they asked us back to see what they are up to!
Join us Saturday, July 18th from 12:00-3:00pm at mighty axe hops in Ham Lake. We are planning on having a picnic. Bring homebrew, bring something to share and bring a chair. Have some friends? Bring them too!
At the Saint’s Game the secret ingredient of Lime was announced for the first ever MHBA Iron Home Brewer competition. People who signed up ahead of time and present before the game got some limes to get them started but if you weren’t at the game you haven’t missed out. If you want to participate, start brewing a beer that incorporates lime. You can find the details on how the beers will be judged over on the event page. This ISN’T a BJCP competition so don’t assume you know how it will work without reading through the details.
Do you have a great way to incorporate lime into a porter? I want to see it! How about a fantastic Witbier with lime involved? Bring it on! We want creativity and good beers!
Read MoreThere was sad news this past week. Our friend, Kathy Stock, passed away early the morning of the 29th. Kathy was Curt Stock’s wife, and one of the first “Database Queens” of the Upper Mississippi Mash-Out. She was one of the sweetest and most tolerant people ever, putting up with all of the shenanigans of the brewing community. She will be deeply missed – our hearts go out to Curt, and all of their family. The funeral will be Thursday, June 4. Please check the obituary for additional information.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers to the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research, or by postal mail to:
Read MoreMusella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research
1100 Peninsula Blvd.
Hewlett, NY 11557
The time is upon us! If you are thinking of joining us at the St Paul Saints game this Monday, go get your ticket now. There are just a couple left and we cannot get more. Details of tailgating and ticket pickup will be emailed out in the next day or so here.
Also, if you want to participate in the Iron Brewer competition and would like to get the secret ingredient for FREE, sign up quickly for pickup at the game!
Read MoreJoin us for the first ever “MHBA Iron Brewer Competition”
Details:
- This will be a club only contest that will utilize a secret ingredient in the brewing process.
- Brewers will have from June 8th until September 13th to brew any beer that they feel will work in harmony and exemplify the secret ingredient.
- Brewers should bring at minimum 6 – 12 oz bottles or 1 – 64oz growler. We will have the club jockey box available for kegs as well.
- The secret ingredient will be unveiled June 8th on-line and at the “Sinning with the Saints” game.
- The secret ingredient will be provided for free to any member that pre-registers for the competition and arrives at the Saints game and wants to participate in the competition.
- The secret ingredient will be chosen at random from one of these 4 ingredients:
- Coconut
- Lime
- Salt
- Wild Rice
There are two ways to win:
- We will have a panel of 3 qualified judges to select the Iron Brewer. The winner will win an MHBA Iron Brewer trophy and a $50 gift certificate to Midwest SUpplies.
- We will also have a people’s choice award will win a $50 to Midwest Supplies.
If you plan on picking up the ingredient at the Saints game (we need to ensure we have enough), or have any questions about this event please e-mail Matt Weide at[email protected] or register on the event page.
Read MoreHere’s a quick rundown of some of the awesome events coming up!
May 21 : Social event at Burning Bros Brewing
Come join us at Burning Brothers for a tour and discussion of Gluten Free brewing. Burning Brothers is doing some amazing things without lots of your typical brewing ingredients. Come stop out, try their beers and meet some fellow club members.
June 1-6 : Cider Week & Cider Competition
Town Hall Brewery is having their 2nd annual Cider Competition coming up in coordination with Minneapolis’s Cider week, coming up June 1st through 6th.
June 8 : Sinning with the Saints
We are fast approaching out annual outing with the Minnesota Saints. If you haven’t purchased tickets, there are a couple more available for purchase. When they are gone, we CANNOT get more so don’t wait. John will be sending out more details to those who have purchased tickets very soon.
In 1988, May 7 was announced before Congress as National Homebrew Day. The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) created AHA Big Brew as an annual event to celebrate National Homebrew Day around the world. AHA Big Brew is held each year on the first Saturday in May.
Once again Lucid Brewing is hosting a Big Brew day where they invite homebrewers to bring our equipment and joy for homebrewing for a day of beer camaraderie. They will supply the hot and cold water and a few beers. Feel free to bring homebrew to share!
Interested or have questions? Send an email to [email protected].
Read MoreIt’s time for one of our most popular events of the year! This Saturday the Minnesota Home Brewers Association will host out annual chili cookoff. Once again, the winner will get to walk away not only with bragging rights but with the coveted “Chief Chili Pepper” award!
- When: Saturday, March 21, 2015 AT 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Where: East Side Neighborhood Services, 1700 2nd Street NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55413
Please note the location change from previous years!. We will not be at the CSPS hall as we have in the past.
There will be the much coveted Chief Chili Pepper award, voted by popular opinion. The categories of chili will be:
- Red Chili – meat, but NO beans
- Chili with Beans
- Open – green, vegetarian, white, whatever
Homebrew, mead and cider are welcome and especially those that go well with chili.
You should bring: Bring your chili ready-to-eat, in crockpots, along with extension cords, power strips, and serving utensils. A sample glass to sample your fellow members beverages.
The Club will provide: Bowls, spoons, and napkins will be provided. We will also have the club jockey box at this event.
Inviting both family and friends is highly encouraged! Particularly if you have someone in mind that is interested in homebrewing.
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