News

Take Me Out the Ballgame

April 16, 2023
Anybody else not able to get ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ out of their head with baseball started? If so, make sure to buy tickets to when MHBA takes over the St. Paul Saints stadium on August 20th! These tickets are highly limited and will sell out.
 
 
Schedule:
Tailgating lot opens at 12PM
Game at 2PM
 
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MHBA Club Elections – Call for Nominations

March 17, 2023

Maybe it’s just me, but amid the cold this morning I could almost hear bleets of March leaving like a lamb. Pretty soon we will be standing in mud pruning back our plants to help them grow. It’s a good reminder that rejuvenation is the natural order of spring. With that in mind, it’s time to plant the club leaders who will help the club grow and flourish through the next season.

Brewing is more fun together. I learn so much and get properly inspired whenever we get together. This is your club and elections are your chance to steer it in azimuths you want.

Club elections will be a little different this year and will be asynchronous to allow everyone to have their say. As a first step, we need nominations for each position. Here are descriptions of what each role entails:

Please click on this form and submit nominations for Club President, Club Vice President, Club Treasurer, Club Secretary, and two At-Large Board Members. All are welcome. Here’s a description of the roles we need filled:

  • Club President: Responsible for the overall direction and activities of the club
  • Club Vice President: Also responsible for the overall direction and activities of the club
  • Club Treasurer: Responsible for keeping track of club finances, sending out membership cards, and getting members reimbursed for club expenses they incur
  • Club Secretary: Responsible for club communications via the website, email, and social media.
  • At-Large Board Members (two): Responsible for programming managing an aspect of the club and Being in the Room Where It Happens. This position has a two year term.

Nominations will close at 5 pm on Monday, March 20.

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Final (final) HOLIDAY Party notice

January 13, 2023

R U Redy?

No? Neither am I, but I will be when we meet tomorrow!

MHBA HOLIDAY PARTY!

This is our annual event, and it’s not to be missed without an EXCELLENT excuse.

Saturday, January 14 – 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Forgotten Star Brewing Co.
38 Northern Stacks Dr,
Fridley, MN 55421

The party is in the private room at the NORTH end of the building. You may enter through the brewery main entrance or directly into the private room from the north entry door.

Setup will start around 5:00 pm with teardown at 9:30 pm
Socializing will be from 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Buffet-style food service will begin at 7:00 pm

Raffles with gift cards occurring throughout the night

What to bring
Food: Come with a potluck dish to share (bonus points for being prepared with a beer, cider, or mead). Make sure to bring serving utensils and an extension cord if needed.

A “People’s Choice” award will be given for the best potluck dish with beer, cider, or mead as an ingredient with voting going on throughout the night.

Plates, napkins, and silverware will be provided.

Beer/Cider/Mead/Wine to share: Bring any beer, mead, or cider that you wish to share. Bottles, growlers, and kegs are welcome. Don’t forget a small tasting glass—some plastic glasses will be available in case of emergency. The club will provide our jockeybox for use.

What? Remember to bring a tasting glass. Really. You should bring a tasting glass.

Even better if you put your name on it for the inevitable “I lost my tasting glass”.

Family and Friends: This is a family-friendly event, so bring your significant other, kids, and/or any friends/family that have ever expressed an interest in homebrewing or beer. As this is one of the most attended gatherings of the year, it’s a great opportunity to get out and meet your fellow homebrewers. If you have not made it to a meeting or would like to join the club, the Holiday potluck is a perfect chance to try some great homebrew and delicious food, and exchange homebrew with others.

We’ll see you tomorrow!

Kevin Meintsma – MHBA Secretary

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One month till holiday party on January 14!

December 17, 2022

The Holidays are quickly approaching (if not already started) for everyone. So don’t forget to put the MHBA Holiday Party on your calendars!

Quick Info
When: Saturday, January 14 – 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Address: Forgotten Star Brewing Co., 38 Northern Stacks Dr, Fridley, MN 55421 – the event space in a private room in the back of the brewery.

What’s Happening
Setup will start around 5:00 pm and teardown at 9:30 pm
Socializing will be from 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Buffet-style food service will begin at 7:00 pm
Raffles with gift cards occurring throughout the night

What to bring
Food: Come with a potluck dish to share (bonus points for being prepared with a beer, cider, or mead). Make sure to bring serving utensils and an extension cord if needed. A “People’s Choice” award will be given for the best potluck dish with beer, cider, or mead as an ingredient with voting going on throughout the night. Plates, napkins, and silverware will be provided.
Beer/Cider/Mead to share: Bring any beer, mead, or cider that you wish to share. Bottles, growlers, and kegs are welcome. Don’t forget a small tasting glass—some plastic glasses will be available in case of emergency.
Remember to bring a tasting glass.
Family and Friends: This is a family-friendly event, so bring your significant other, kids, and/or any friends/family that have ever expressed an interest in homebrewing or beer. As this is one of the most attended gatherings of the year, it’s a great opportunity to get out and meet your fellow homebrewers. If you have not made it to a meeting or would like to join the club, the Holiday potluck is a perfect chance to try some great homebrew and delicious food, and exchange homebrew with others.

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Last Reminder of Manic Meadery Tasting November 2 @8PM

October 30, 2022
Last reminder of the wonderful opportunity to listen to Tony from Manic Meadery talk through his career, the meadery, and tasting some of the FANTASTIC offerings of Manic Meadery on November 2, 2022 at 8PM Central Time!
 
Purchase meads to taste along from the following URL and join at the link on the bottom!
 
URL: https://vinoshipper.com/shop/manic_meadery?list=4062
 
A special Manic Meadery pack has been put together for the Minnesota Homebrewers Association virtual tasting on November 2nd. Please order no later than Tuesday, October 25th to guarantee delivery in time for event. Includes free UPS ground shipping on your entire order when you purchase this Tasting pack!
Includes:
4pk Heirloom Cider 12oz cans
375ml bottle Starthistle
375ml bottle Genevieve
375ml bottle Marion the Barbarian
Manic Meadery glass
 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82255923259…
Meeting ID: 822 5592 3259
Passcode: 160394
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MHBA Cider Buy 2022 and Inaugural Full Core Press Cider Competition

October 6, 2022

Details for the 2022 MHBA Cider Buy

Where: Minneapolis Cider Company
When: Saturday, November 5, 2022 starting at 10 am
What: Purchase cider for $25/five gallons and stick around for a fun bottle share!

You must bring your own plastic containers. For your safety and ours, we will not fill glass carboys/jugs under any circumstances. We hope to have the cider pickup portion of the event complete by noon. And don’t forget to support our wonderful new hosts for this event by buying their cider and merch!

Link to purchase for MHBA members

Link to purchase for NBA members (password available from NBA leadership)

 

Details for the Inaugural Full Core Press Cider Competition

The MHBA is proud to announce the first Full Core Press Cider Competition. Getting expert and neutral feedback on your ciders and cysers is key to improving as a cider/mead maker. Here are key details:

  • 100% of the cider you use MUST come from an MHBA club cider buy regardless of year or what club you belong to.
  • Full Core Press encourages entries in three categories: Standard Ciders (C1), Cysers (M2A), and Specialty Ciders (C2, including grafs)/Fruit and Spice Mead (M3A)/Experimental Mead (M4C)
  • Awards will be in-person at the 2022 MHBA club cider buy
  • All entrants will receive two completed BJCP cider or mead scoresheets via email providing an evaluation of the aroma, appearance, flavor, and mouthfeel of your entries.
  • Bring your ciders and cysers to the 2022 club cider buy for a fun bottle share!
  • Two 12 oz (or larger) bottles will be required for judging.
  • There will be two bottle drop-off locations: one in Saint Paul and one in Saint Louis Park. The addresses of the drop off locations will be provided upon registering. Entries are due October 22.
  • There is no cost for this competition!

Please register here!

If you think you may be able to help judge, please register as a judge here! All judges will receive BJCP judging credit. The time/location of judging will be announced soon.

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Nine Mile Brewing Recap and Bear Cave Brewing Visit Aug 27

August 21, 2022
Thanks to Nine Mile Brewing for hosting the MHBA for a fantastic visit! We learned about the history of the brewery, their brewing philosophy / setup, received a tasting of five of their flagship beers, and were treated with free hops!
If you missed out on this opportunity, don’t worry as we have another event coming up here next weekend. On Saturday Aug 27th at 11:30 Bear Cave Brewing is hosting the MHBA! Make sure to come on out! FB Link: https://fb.me/e/20E2C2tpk
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Reminder: MHBA Visit to 9 Mile Brewing

August 15, 2022

This Saturday at 10am, join the MHBA at 9 Mile Brewing in Bloomington for a tour of the facility & brewery, and to ask any burning questions you have for this newer brewery!

FB Link: https://fb.me/e/1OWXKiVxT

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Brew For Good is back!

August 3, 2022

It’s been a couple of years due to Covid restrictions, but IT’S BACK!

Brew For Good is a Beer/Mead/Cider sampling festival.

It will be on September 18th, from noon to 4pm at Forgotten Star Brewery in Fridley.

It raises funds through free will offering to support a local non-profit partner:
East Side Neighborhood Services.

For more information, please check out https://linktr.ee/brewforgood

The way this festival works:

MHBA and Primary Fermenters each get a “booth” (table) in the event space at the brewery We bring OUR beer/mead/cider to serve to members of the public in attendance at the festival. It’s a great way to raise money for a good cause and to showcase your talent and your beer/mead/cider to friends/family/public. Many people in both clubs have done this in the past, and it’s a BLAST!

Let the club leadership know you are participating so we get a solid idea of our capacity, and then get busy, finish your beverages, and sign up with your “brew” information here: https://goodcompanybrewing.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ea219b2d804e2dd729f6d4417&id=bcd0e6cc2b&e=9889974183

Please let us know on Facebook, or via email (use the form on the website: https://mnbrewers.com/about-us/contact-us/) to let us know what you are bringing!

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All Club Campout – Last Chance!

July 30, 2022

ALL-CLUB CAMPOUT is just under 3 weeks away!

August 4th – 7th

At camp Nushka on Cass lake, between Bemidji and Lake Winibigoshish

This is it! The All Club Campout starts Thursday, and goes through Sunday. This is one of the great events of the summer and we hope to see you there.

In case you didn’t catch that, it’s at camp Nushka. This is a change of location due to tornadoes that damaged the original campground chosen for our weekend campout.

Come for one night, two nights, or three! Open to any homebrewer and their family. Loosely-structured weekend of sharing beer around the fire. We have rented the two pavilions and the entire 26-acre campground, located in a remote area right on the shore of Cass Lake.

Saturday’s festivities include a fun club vs. club homebrew competition and a Sour Hour (bring your homebrew and open up your cellar – these are the people that you want to share with!), complete with trumpet fanfare. The MHBA will provide the Saturday evening feast.

Tents and small campers welcome. Well-behaved dogs and acoustic instruments also welcome (no radios or amplified music, please). You must let John Longballa know you’re attending. The cost depends a bit on the meal, but should be around $30/adult; kids are free.

Water is available onsite, with pit toilets that Jim Longvaala has volunteered to clean.

This outing is not to be missed!

You must let John know you are attending via email: jlongballa “AT” netzero.net

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=camp+nushka+cass+lake&ia=web&iaxm=maps

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