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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!

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DATE: 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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There 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:

Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research
1100 Peninsula Blvd.
Hewlett, NY 11557

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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!

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