The next meeting of the Heart River Home Brewers (AHA Club Number: 000163851) is scheduled for May 23rd, 2013 at Custom Data World Headquarters 677 10th Street  Dickinson, North Dakota at 7:30 PM.

Brewing at Hawk’s Point 2013

Brewing Biere de Garde on Cinco de Mayo.

Present: Ryan Jilek, Joel Empter, Dale Sattler, Rocky Stoltz, Glen Bruhschwein, Jerry Ford, Alan Church, Jeremiah Thorpe, Paul Ellerkamp, Chip Ford and Jon Stika.

Discussed sharing hop rhizomes among members.  Jon reported that the Imperial Stout entry in the Eight Seconds of Froth competition would not be entered because of pickup issues.  Alan moved, seconded by Jeremiah that Jon contact the BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) regarding the failure by the High Plains Drafters of Cheyenne, WY to uphold their commitment to collect entries in the 8 seconds of Froth competition as originally stated in the competition rules.  Motion passed.  Alan reported on the Outlaw Alcohol presentation made by members Jilek and Stika at the Albers Humanitites Festival at Dickinson State University on April 12th.  Discussed the next collective brew to age in the club’s wine barrel.  Jerry moved, seconded by Ryan that the next style to be brewed for the barrel be a Scotch Strong Ale (Wee Heavy) with any deficit made up by the club (brewed by volunteer members) or a member of the Muddy River Mashers of Mandan if necessary.  Motion passed.  Five-gallon batches of the beer will be brewed by Ryan, Jon, Jeremiah, Jerry, Glen, Alan, Rocky, Paul, Joel and Chip and be ready to transfer to the barrel by the July club meeting.  Discussed the upcoming Blues and Brews scheduled for June 1st at the Biesiot Activity Center.  Rocky, Dale, Ryan, Jeremiah, Paul and Jon plan to attend and serve their homemade beer/wine.  Discussed brewing a beer using second runnings from a big mash.  Jon reported that the beers brewed at Hawk’s Point for Blues and Brews have been kegged and connected to carbon dioxide for carbonation/maturation.

Present: Alan Church, Joel Empter, Ryan Jilek, Rocky Stoltz, Jerry Ford, Marcus Jackson and Jon Stika.

Discussed Albers Humanities Festival and the “Outlaw Alcohol: Chemistry and the Unintended Consequences of Prohibition” in which Ryan and Jon will be participating.  Discussed the 8 Seconds of Froth homebrew competition in Cheyenne, WY on May 11th.  Jon has entered several beers in the competition including the clubs’ barrel-aged Imperial Stout.  Discussed hops that could be grown at the Dickinson Research and Experiment Station.  Ryan, Rocky, Jerry and Jon plan to brew three beer kits at Hawks Point on April 5th.

Jon Stika
Secretary

Present: Ryan Jilek, Chip Ford, Joel Emter, Rocky Stoltz, Chris Scharpf, Alan Church, Michael Kreitinger, Paul Ellerkamp, Jerry Ford, Jon Stika and guest Marya Skaare, Associate Director of Alumni Relations, Dickinson State University Alumni & Foundation.

Marya led a discussion on the 2012 Blues & Brews event scheduled for June 1st at the Biesiot Activity Center in Dickinson.  The club agreed to assist the Foundation by brewing three kit beers to be served at the event.  Jon will work to coordinate ordering the kits, scheduling a time to brew them and getting the registration form to HRHB members as well as ND Brewers.

Discussed the ND Brewers campout.  At last years campout, the consensus was for the HRHB to organize a location and date in western ND.  Jon and Ryan will work on determining a location and date for the event.

Jon Stika
Secretary

Jeremiah, Jerry, Chip, Jon, Alan, (Rocky behind the camera) and Ryan transferred Imperial Stout out of the used wine barrel and refilled it with Brown Ale on the last of January 2013.

Present: Chip Ford, Jerry Ford, Alan Church, Joel Empter, Rocky Stoltz, Michael Kreitinger, Ryan Jilek, Dale Sattler, Paul Ellerkamp, Jeremiah Thorpe and Jon Stika.

Jerry Ford, Alan Church, Rocky Stoltz, Michael Kreitinger, Ryan Jilek, Paul Ellerkamp and  Jeremiah Thorpe delivered quantities of Brown Ale for barrel aging.

Rocky provided a Treasurer’s report showing a balance of $725.65.

Rocky circulated and completed paperwork for the club to retain its’ non-profit status with the state of North Dakota.

Jon reported that he has been promoted to the rank of “Certified” beer judge with the Beer Judge Certification Program.

Discussed transfer of barrel beers.  Thursday, January 31^st was tentatively set as the date to transfer Imperial Stout out of the barrel into shareholders vessels and transfer Brown Ale into the barrel for aging.

Elections were held for Vice President, Treasurer and Members at Large.  Ryan was nominated by Michael and Michael nominated by Rocky for Vice President.  Rocky moved that nominations cease, seconded by Alan, motion passed.  President Ford called for a voice vote which elected Michael Kreitinger as the new Vice President.  Alan nominated Rocky for Treasurer.  Michael moved that nominations cease and unanimous ballot be cast for Rocky, seconded by Alan, motion passed.  Rocky will continue to serve as club Treasurer.  Rocky nominated Jeremiah for Member at Large, seconded by Paul.  Ryan nominated Alan for Member at Large, seconded by Michael.  Dale moved that nominations cease and unanimous ballot be cast for Jeremiah and Alan, seconded by Ryan, motion passed.  Jeremiah and Alan are Members at Large.

Discussed malting, home grown hops, wine grape varieties suited to North Dakota and Belgian yeast strains.

Rocky brought a Chokecherry Wheat beer, Ryan brought samples of experimental beers from Budweiser and some of his home-brewed “Hop Concentrate”, Paul brought an ale from Saint Somewhere brewery, Chip brought  an Abbey Dubbel, Jon brought a barrel-aged Scottish 80 Ale, Alan brought Goose Island Mild Winter ale, Dale brought spiced wine and lime wine.

Jon Stika
Secretary

At the monthly meeting of the Heart River Homebrewers last night we collected all the members beer for the next filling of our Cabernet barrel. Although it was slightly after several members left for the evening we did tap into the current offerings to make sure they were worthy. The 60 gallons of imperial stout that has been resting in there since August 26th has blossomed into a very fine beer. The roasted malts have really balanced out nicely. The delicate subtleties of the cabernet and oak have worked their way nicely into the malty base. This was from a room temp barrel and not carbonated.

The successor for the imperial stout in the barrel will be a brown ale that we collaboratively on a recipe and brewed. There will be 10 different batches of brown ale going in from 8 different brewers. We will be dumping and kegging the stout and putting in the brown Thursday evening the 31st. So samples should start becoming available from the contributing members within a few weeks.

For those who missed the tasting last night at the meeting you’ll see that your club president Jerry didn’t let the spilled imperial stout go to waste. Like a true boy scout the improvised straw made from a pen made handy work of slurping up the spilled stout!

Present: Michael Kreitinger, Alan Church, Ryan Jilek, Jeremiah Thorpe, Dale Sattler, Rocky Stoltz and Jon Stika.

Discussed barrel beers.  Shares of current barrel beer (Imperial Stout) will be distributed at a date to be determined near the end of January or beginning of February.  Shares are as follows: Jeremiah Thorpe – 5 gal, Jerry Ford – 5 gal, Paul Ellerkamp – 5 gal, Alan – Church 10 gallons, Jon Stika – 5 gal, Rocky Stoltz – 10 gallons, Ryan Jilek – 15 gallons.  It was decided that the club would absorb the estimated 5 gallon angel’s share evaporation loss that has occurred.

Quantities of Brown Ale to refill the barrel need to be delivered to Custom Data on or before the January club meeting scheduled for January 24^th 2013.  Planned quantities of Brown Ale will be supplied by the following members: Paul Ellerkamp – 5 gal, Rocky Stoltz – 5 gal, Ryan Jilek – 10 gal, Jerry Ford 5 gal, Alan Church 10 gal, Jon Stika 5 gal, Jeremiah Thorpe 5 gal, Michael Kreitinger 5 gal and the club 10 gal.  Jon’s share and the clubs’ share have been brewed and delivered to Custom Data to date.  All other shares have been brewed or planned to be brewed soon.

Rocky moved to maintain the price of club dues at $25/year.  Seconded by Alan.  Motion passed.

Discussed group Brew Your Own (BYO) magazine subscription.  The club needs at least 10 subscriptions or renewals to participate in the discount.  Rocky moved to have the club provide a $4 discount on each BYO group subscription that is accompanied by payment of club dues ($25).  Seconded by Michael.  Motion passed.  Contact Rocky Stoltz at rstoltz@ndsupernet.com regarding the BYO subscription group discount and payment of dues.

Mention was made of upcoming elections for club officers at the January meeting.  Vice President (currently Ryan Jilek), Treasurer (currently Rocky Stoltz) and Members at Large (currently Jerry Ford and Alan Church) terms expire in January 2013.

Discussed possible locations for a club outing; including: Laughing Sun in Bismarck, Buffalo Commons in Mandan, or Beaver Creek in Wibaux, MT.

Jon Stika
Secretary