If You Want It Done Right You Have To Brew It Yourself! Since 2004

Present: Jerry Ford, Casey Ritz, Shannon Bertelsen, Joel Emter, Nate Shilman, Alan Church, Glen Bruhschwein, Ellery Dykema, Ryan Jilek, Trevor Dykema and Jon Stika. Discussed barrel beer.  Jerry brought a batch of Imperial Stout to be used to top up the barrel to keep it full as it ages and is sampled.  Discussed Alive@5.  No decision was made on whether to participate in Alive@5 next year.  Jon reported on a new craft malt business proposed Read more…

Present: Jerry Ford, Ryan Jilek, Michael Kreitinger, Joel Emter, Derek Fox and Jon Stika. Jon reported on the barrel beer project.  The barrel has been hydrated and swelled water tight.  Jon will treat the barrel with Barrel Kleen to ready it for filling with beer.  Discussed Alive@5 participation.  Consensus was that Rocky Stoltz and Glen Bruhschwein need to be involved to determine club liability serving beer and to determine a charity to receive donations for Read more…

Present: Jerry Ford, Casey Ritz, Ellery Dykema, Nate Shilman, Rocky Stoltz and Jon Stika. Discussed possible participation by the club in Alive@5 event in downtown Dickinson during the summer.  Rocky will follow-up on information regarding Alive@5.  Discussed wort aeration, wine-making, hop growing and mead-making. Jon Stika Secretary

Present: Jerry Ford, Alan Church, Ryan Jilek, Rocky Stoltz, Glen Bruhschwein, Ellery Dykeman, Nate Shilman and Jon Stika. Discussed brewing of Imperial Stout for the barrel.  Rocky, Joel, Glen, Tyler and Jon have their pledged shares brewed.  Others are planning to brew their shares soon.  Tentative deadline to brew batches is by the June meeting.  Discussed location, date and potential logistics of a beer event for September.  Rocky brought Cream Ale brewed as a club Read more…

Present: Jerry Ford, Rocky Stoltz, Steve Klicker, Nate Shilman, Glen Bruhschwein, Ellery Dykeman, Ryan Jilek and Jon Stika. Discussed collective brewing to fill the new wine barrel.  Rocky, Joel (Empter), Glen, Tyler (Benson), Nate, Steve, Ellery, Jerry, Ryan and Jon will brew Imperial Stout to fill the barrel.  Jon will brew a batch of his own plus a batch sponsored by the club.  Ryan will brew a double (10 gallon) batch. Discussed a club-organized beer Read more…

Present: Tyler Benson, Nate Shilman, Glen Bruhschwein, Ryan Jilek and Jon Stika. Discussed brewing beer of the month kits to be shared with members.  Glen and Ryan will each choose a kit and brew it and be reimbursed from the club at at later date.  Jon has brewed the Halcyon kit which is still bottle-conditioning and will be brought to a future meeting when it is carbonated.  Motion by Stika, seconded by Jilek to trade Read more…

Present: Casey Ritz, Alan Church, Steve Klicker, Ryan Jilek,  Rocky Stoltz, Nate Shilman, Glen Bruhschwein, Tyler Benson and Jon Stika. Evaluated several beers brewed by members.  Discussed Beer of the Month kits and brewers.  Rocky, Ryan, Glen and Jon will brew club kits.  Rocky will order kits.  Discussed repitching yeast and sparging methods. Jon Stika Secretary

Present: Alan Church, Ryan Jilek, Tyler Benson, Michael Kreitinger, Glen Bruhschwein, Nate Shilman, Jan Heimdal, and Jon Stika. Motion by Ryan to cast a unanimous ballot for Michael Kreitinger for vice president, Rocky Stoltz as treasurer, Alan Church as member at large and Glen Bruhschwein as member at large. Seconded by Michael. Motion passed. Jon will contact Rocky regarding renewal of club non-profit status. Dues were collected from some members. Jon will brew first beer-of-the-month. Read more…

Present: Ryan Jilek, Glen Bruhschwein, Ellery Dykeman, Joel Emter and Jon Stika. Collected 2015 dues from Jilek, Bruhschwein, Stika and Paul Ellerkamp.  Collected payment for Brew Your Own group subscription from Jilek, Bruhschwein, Stika and Paul Ellerkamp.  Election of Vice President, Treasurer and two Members At Large was tabled until the January 2015 meeting.  Discussed cleaning of club barrels when the weather warms in the spring.  Discussed harvesting and reusing yeast. Motion by Stika, seconded Read more…

Notes by Jon Stika from presentation at Hoppy Halloween 2014, Fargo, ND by Russ Karasch of Black Swan Cooperage, Park Rapids, MN White Oak (Quercus alba) is used for barrels because the xylem contains tyloses that are one-way valves that close when the tree dies and prevent fluid from flowing through the xylem pores afterward. White Oak used at Black Swan is sourced from Wisconsin. Rough sawn white oak is shaped into rough staves and Read more…