Category Archives: Announcements

Our regular meeting is Thursday, February 18th at 8 p.m. just like always, but this month we'll be meeting across the street from our usual haunt. Waverly Brewing Company has graciously agreed to host us, give a tour, and hook us up with some drink specials.

We hope you'll join us. Check out the event page on Facebook.

We're still working out the agenda — and you can help us by adding to it — but so far here's what we've got:

• March Group Brew
• Baltibrew Yeast Bank
• Baltibrew Glassware/Merchandise
• State Fair Competition
• Single Carrot Theatre Social Event
• Guild Notes
• NHC Committee Updates
• Ed Topic: Sour Beer Tasting

The Baltibrew Bylaws Subcommittee has produced a draft for club review. You can view it on Google Docs. This document has a great effect on the club's ability to achieve a 501(c)7 nonprofit status.

Any comments, questions or concerns should be directed to Ryan Boddy via email at altarego@gmail dotcom. Do not post comments to the entire Google group.

The comment period will last for a week from this posting, and will then open up to a Yes/No vote for dues current members.

We recognize that the content isn't the sexiest in the world, but we'd like you to read through it and we'd also very much like you to vote when the time comes.

Baltibrew will meet next week at Nepenthe at 8 p.m. instead of this week due to some conflicts with beer week events.

We will update soon with an agenda.

Hope to see you out.

Big news this go-round:

As many of you know, Nepenthe was operationally destroyed by floods on the Jones Falls the first week in May. Graciously, Baltibrew, Lady Brew, and Brewtherville Labs put aside their Big Brew plans to aid in cleaning up the store, which remains closed, and in a state of repair.

As such, we'll be meeting at Blue Pit BBQ (1601 Union Ave.) at 8 p.m. this Thursday (5/15) instead of our usual spot. Blue Pit is across the street from Artifact Coffee, and a stone's throw from Nepenthe.

One key thing to note about this meeting — NO HOMEBREW this go-round, please. Let's support Blue Pit for supporting us, and for supporting Nepenthe. We'll get back to sharing our own once we're back at our normal location.

On the agenda:

• Proposal to roll our Big Brew brewers into a July brew with Killer Ales (creation of subcommittee to support July brew)
• Details on various fundraising events to aid Nepenthe's recovery
• Guild notes from Steve Hulbert
• Guild Summer Picnic, and wheat beer competition details (We've won this a couple years in a row, it'd be nice to continue doing so)
• Ed Topic: Open Q&A session led by Greg Apker and Jonathan Gibbs
• Eating Blue Pit's excellent Reuben sandwich

Our March Group Brew is scheduled for tomorrow, March 8th, 9 am to 6 pm. We're making 3 different beers, including an Australian-style BiaB (say whaaaat?), a crimson ale, and a delicious schwarzbier.

The brew will happen at Jonathan Gibbs' place, in the alley between Lake Ave and Kenneth Square with access from Henderson. Look for folks standing around mash tuns (or just follow your nose) and come down the alley, we'll be brewing outside. Best parking is on Lake or Henderson.

Heating the strike water begins around 9 a.m. and we're aiming to be done around 6 p.m. As always, please bring food to share, grillables as we'll have a charcoal grill going and some homebrews with you for a malty good time.

The Facebook event page also has details.

Cheers!

Hey folks, online dues payment is now open! If you didn't receive an email via the Google Group, here's your info.

Payment gets you a year of club membership.

Remember, you get access to parts of this site that non-paid users can't see, a 10% discount at Guild affiliated shops across Maryland, the right to vote on club business, and the right to take home club wort from collective brews.

One small caveat, if you'd like to pay as a couple, we'll ask you to go ahead and pay the individual rate so you both get a username, and then we'll reimburse you for the extra expense next time we see you. (Hoping to work that kink out before next year's re-ups.)

And just so you have some idea what we'll be using your hard-earned money for:

• Website upkeep expenses
• Beer Education events
• Supplies for style examinations
• Equipment
• Club parties
• General expenses to support Baltibrew's mission

Etc.

Hey, BaltiBrewers.

Hopefully either you've already filled out an entry form for the ChiliBrew (v3.0) this upcoming Sunday, or you're going to do so immediately upon reading the rest of this...

In case you've somehow been completely out of the loop 'til now, I'm talking about this event: http://bmorecharmin.intuitwebsites.com/

You will read that site's About section and realize why you will have an awesome time at ChiliBrew.
You will read the Rules section and understand what you must do to compete.
You will go to the Compete section and fill out an entry form to bring mucho booze.
You will email bmorecharmin@gmail.com with any questions.
You will show up with us in Hampden at noon Sunday and rock that $#!*.

That is all.

GO NOW AND BEER BE WITH YOU.

Well folks, the effort we put into making that Ginger Snap Cookie ale a couple months ago has paid off. We got together as a club after the Baltimore Washington Monument Holiday Lighting at co-founder Paul Capestany's excellent home this past Thursday to taste the versions of the beer, and decided upon the slightly less attenuated version fermented at co-founder Kevin Berry's house.

At last night's Free State Homebrewer's Guild Holiday Party, we took first place in the annual hedonistic homebrew competition!!!

For a very young club, in its first year as a guild member this is a big deal, and some of you helped make it possible. We'd LOVE to have more of you involved next year.

The guild represents the collective interests of all of the associated homebrew clubs all over the state of Maryland. As members of the guild our members receive a 10% discount at the two better homebrew shops in the state — Thirsty Brewer, and MDHB — and the club is eligible to take part in a number of guild events. There's an annual picnic at Patapsco State Park in the summer, the Zymurnauts Crab Feast in September, Mashout — a camping trip to Western Maryland with campsite brewing — in August, and most spectacularly, the annual holiday party held within the Clipper City Brewery.

The holiday party involves support of a variety of charities through donations and fund raising events held during the festivities — a raffle, silent auction, and the hedonistic homebrew competition. This competition involves a different style of judging from most homebrew contests. Instead of judging to style, those attending the event submit a single vote for their favorite beer served at the party. BaltiBrew's Ginger Snap Cookie won by a margin of three votes over about 25 other beers. No small feat for a club that barely boasts 10 members.

Kevin, Ryan D, Paul, and I collectively believed that our beer was a winner, and we know that our triumph makes a big splash in the eyes of the guild. Remember, this competition lets the rest of the clubs — and more importantly US — know that OUR beer was the favorite at a party full of beer afficionados.

For our efforts, we won a box of holiday themed beers hand-selected by Guild President, Les White — some from his personal collection. So here's where you come in:

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We're up and running.

Despite some setbacks, Baltibrew is now an official club. We have Free State Homebrewer's Guild membership, and currently have 8 members, with more to come.

We've worked out some basics you should know about if you're planning on joining us.

The rules so far:

• Meetings will be held one weekday a month and MUST be within the city limits of Baltimore.
• Collective brews will be held on weekends, and don’t have to be held within city limits but will be whenever possible. And also in close proximity to public transit whenever possible.
• Meetings and brew days will be announced no less than two weeks in advance
• Meetings will be used to discuss a wide range of topics related to brewing including beer styles, technical topics, and brewing technologies. They will also be used to vote on what to brew, and to taste beers the collective has brewed or finds interesting.
• The collective will employ a tech-forward mode of operation, i.e. tech forward means of communication (twitter, etc.), use and application of mobile technologies in brewing, and high quality presentations and demonstrations on new ways to make better beer.
• The collective will work to share equipment with members.

More info to come.