The next meeting of the Heart River Homebrewers (AHA Club Number: 000163851) is scheduled for Thursday, September 28th, 2017 at 1436 12th Street West, Dickinson, North Dakota at 7:30 PM.

Present: Ryan Jilek, Terris Dietz, Joel Emter, Ellery Dykeman, Ryan Buetow, Casey Ritz, Curtis Blaik, and Jon Stika.

Discussed club logo redesign, wort aeration, brewing yeast management, and A Knight’s Brew beer event.  Jon reported that one club keg currently contains barrel-aged Wee Heavy and that he has brewed a club-purchased Belgian Blonde Ale kit to put in the other keg for serving at A Knight’s Brew on October 5, 2017.  Jon will pass long comments regarding the club logo design to Greg Walter for consideration and any revisions.

Jon Stika
Secretary

Present: Jerry Ford, Derek Fox, Ryan Jilek, Steve Day, Terris Dietz, Rocky Stoltz, Craig Whippo, Greg Walter, Jacob Walter, Curtis Blaik, Paul Ellerkamp and Jon Stika.

Discussed “A Knight’s Brew” charity event organized by Knight’s of Columbus scheduled for October 5th at the Dickinson Charities Bingo Hall south of WalMart.  The club will bring a keg of barrel-aged Wee Heavy that is now stored at Stika’s.  Motion by Stika seconded by Jilek for Rocky to purchase a beer recipe kit with club funds to fill the second club keg to also be served at “A Knight’s Brew”.  Motion passed.  Jon offered to brew the beer from the kit and bring it to the event.

Ryan presented copies of a design for the club banner.  Greg and Jacob Walter suggested artistic improvements to the design and will work on the design further.

Jon Stika
Secretary

Present: Jerry Ford, Steve Day, Casey Ritz, Ellery Dykeman, Derek Fox, Rocky Stoltz, Joel Emter, John Reger, Stepheny Reger, and Jon Stika.

John and Stepheny Reger led a discussion of the potential for a U-brew/homebrew supply shop in Dickinson.  Stepheny is researching the idea as part of a course assignment and sought ideas from members on the subject.  Joel mentioned that “A Knight’s Brew” charitable fund-raising event is being considered for sometime in October, most likely on a Thursday.  Jon mentioned that he spoke with Chris Miller of Buffalo Wild Wings regarding participating with the club in a guest tap as a charitable fund-raiser.

Jon Stika
Secretary

Present: Terris Dietz, Ryan Jilek, Ellery Dykeman, Jerry Ford, Steve Day, Greg Walter, Darrell Neubert, Rocky Stoltz, Joel Emter, and Jon Stika.

Discussed the free copy of the Big Book of Homebrewing provided to the club by the Quarto Group of Minneapolis, MN.  The book, and other brewing titles are available to club members for half price.  Jon reported that himself, Terris Dietz, Ryan Buetow, and Derek Fox served homebrewed beers and commercial beers at the recent “A Chocolate Affair Plus” to benefit the Best Friends Mentoring program for local youth.  Jon reported that member Casey Ritz was interested in hosting the club barrel for production of a sour beer.

Jon Stika
Secretary

Present: Jerry Ford, Ryan Jilek, Greg Walter, Ellery Dykeman, Casey Ritz, Scott Hanson, Ryan Buetow, Joe Natwick, Joel Emter, Curtis Blaik, Derek Fox, and Jon Stika.

Discussed “A Chocolate Affair Plus” fundraiser scheduled for May 13th.  Jon asked for volunteers to assist with serving beer at the event.  Jon will follow-up with volunteers to confirm those that will participate in the event.  Jon reported that the Wee Heavy beer is out of the club barrel and has been distributed to those involved.  Casey and Ryan Jilek expressed interest in continuing to use the club barrel to age a sour beer.

Jon Stika
Secretary

Rocky, Greg, and Jon transferred the Scotch Strong Ale (Wee Heavy) out of the barrel and into buckets, carboys, and kegs on April 19, 2017.

Present: Jerry Ford, Michael Kreitinger, Terris Dietz, Ryan Jilek, Greg Walter, Craig Whippo, Ellery Dykeman, Rocky Stoltz, Casey Ritz, Nate Shilman, Steve Klicker, and Jon Stika.

Casey reported that the Eagles Club would be willing to allow the Heart River Homebrewers to meet in the lower level of their establishment with advance notice and approval.  It was agreed that the beer currently in the club barrel should be removed from the barrel and distributed to those that were due shares of it.  Jon reported on the Chocolate Affair Plus scheduled for Saturday,  May 15th 2017 from 7:00PM to 10:00PM at the Biesiot Activities Center.  The Heart River Homebrewers will serve an Oktoberfest and Oatmeal Stout that Jon brewed at the event.  The beers are brewed and in the clubs two kegs.  Rocky brought hops purchased from Laughing Sun Brewery in Bismarck and distributed them to those that ordered some.  Greg reported the the Dickinson State University Alumni Association is planning an event in 2018 that may include homebrewed beer from the Heart River Homebrewers.

Jon Stika
Secretary

Present: Derek Fox, Jerry Ford, Joel Emter, Michael Kreitinger, Terris Dietz, Ryan Jilek, Joe Natwick, Greg Walter, Craig Whippo, Ellery Dykeman, Rocky Stoltz, Casey Ritz, Nate Shilman and Jon Stika.

Discussed surplus hops for sale by Laughing Sun Brewery in Bismarck.  Greg moved that the club pursue compilation of an order among members and purchase of order by the club.  Seconded by Derek.  Motion passed.  Jon will canvass members to determine variety and amount of hops to be purchased.

Discussed hop rhizomes for upcoming growing season.  Greg will canvass members to determine if a combined order might be made from Great Lakes Hops.  Several members currently grow hops and would be willing to share rhizomes upon request.

Jon presented the club with a courtesy copy of “Craft Beer for Homebrewers” that was given to the club by the publisher Quarto Group.  A copy of another book by Quarto Group, “Brew Your Own Big Book of Homebrewing” will be forthcoming in April.

Jon and Ryan reported that their respective breweries and beers are now on Untappd.  Jon reported that he used some excess Two-Track malt that belonged to the club to brew a batch of Oktoberfest that will be packaged in one of the club kegs.  Jon reported that he had updated the “Local Water” page on the club website.  The page describes the water chemistry of Dickinson municipal water, ions important to homebrewers and how to treat the water to improve it for use in brewing beer.  Jon reported that he authored the article “How to Cold Steep, a Cool Approach to Specialty Grains” in the March-April 2017 issue of Brew Your Own.

Jon Stika
Secretary

Present: Derek Fox, Ryan Jilek, Joel Emter, Jerry Ford, Craig Whippo, Greg Walter, Ellery Dykeman, Rocky Stoltz, Joe Natwick, Ryan Buetow and Jon Stika.

Walter and Fox were nominated and elected as Members at Large.  Michael Kreitinger was re-elected Vice President.  Rocky Stoltz was re-elected Treasurer.  Several members paid annual dues and participated in the club group subscription to Brew Your Own.  Remaining Two-Track malt was distributed to members who purchased some through club group order.

Jon Stika
Secretary