January 2003

Next Meeting:

Russ and Amber will host the next meeting February 10 at 6:30 p.m. Russ will demonstrate methods of yeast propagation and talk about brewing lager beer. 639 Kourt Drive.

BREW STOUT NOW so you can bring some to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day March 15 at Chris and Edie’s, 220 East 37^th Street.

Last Meeting:

Many thanks to Chip Hardy and West Brothers for hosting the annual planning meeting on January 7th. Thanks to everyone who turned out to take care of business. We have a great agenda lined up for 2003. Officers for 2003 are Robin and Kent, co-presidents, Mark Smith, vice president, and Janie and Lorie treasurers. We voted to increase dues to $20 per couple. Dues are payable in January. Contact Janie to pay your dues.

And Now a Word from President Robin Chitwood:

The rain pours down as I drink the last of the Oktoberfest beer I brewed on the Sunday after the summer camp-out. Remember sunshine? About this time last year we gathered in the basement of West Brothers to plan events for the coming year. It’s good to look back and say we did most of the things we planned. We had some good tech meetings and a couple of group brews. There was a very fine beer dinner and some memorable parties. We also filled the coffers of the club treasury thanks to the fund raising skills of some industrious members.

As always there are still some good ideas that just need a little development. Above all, the successful events we enjoyed during the past year give us a good basis to build on for 2003. I am looking forward to an agenda which will include more brewing related activities such as beer style meetings and brew-ins. If you have an idea let’s hear it. We actually have had several months in past years when we have had recreational events in place of meetings. We could fit in more meetings as well.

Let the rain pour down. Without rain there would be no beer. Feel the sun’s warmth in those winter brews and think of the months to come. Here’s wishing you a peaceful and prosperous new year.

Cheers, RC

Upcoming Club Meetings and Other Events:

• A new Style night is coming! In addition to the Koelsch night in late summer, we want to have some more of these during the year. Up next is Stout night slated for the March meeting. Fire up those kettles!

• Florence Homebrew Competition: January 25^th. All styles welcome. This will be a BJCP-ish competition, meaning that a lot depends on the number of entries and judges available. You can drop off your entries (3 bottles) at Home Fermenter Center. Entry fee is $2 per category. Contact Matt Jarvis for more info at 342-2203 or m@ttjarvis.com. This is all part of the first annual Winter Folk Fest in Florence - check it out!

• Big Brew 2003 will be here before you know it! It is always the first weekend in May. Stay tuned for further details. See Denny Conn (site coordinator) for more information.

Editors Note: [Please submit any beer related information or articles to the newsletter editor at m@ttjarvis.com or call me at 342-2203.]

Greetings - and a Happy New Year to all! You may notice the new format of the newsletter. That’s because Russ has passed on to me the chore, oops, er, I mean privilege, of being the editor. In addition to the usual news and events, I’ll be adding short articles and stories as time/space allows. If you would like to share your stories about beer or club related trips, just send me the info and I’ll try and get it into the newsletter. Since I’m a pretty active brewer I’ll be contributing brewing notes on a regular basis. Please feel free to do the same!

Reminders:

Shirts for Sale: If you are interested in a club T-shirt ($10 each), please contact Steve McCornack at 689-1181.

Memberships:

SPECIAL NOTE: All club dues should be paid in January. This makes for much easier accounting of current membership - thanks! Please pay your dues if you would like to continue to be a member and receive a paper copy of the newsletter.

Club Information: For over 20 years, Cascade Brewers Society is a sometimes formal, but mostly informal club devoted to the appreciation and art of creating fine alcoholic beverages (you know; beer, mead, cider, and wine).

For more information regarding the Cascade Brewers Society, please contact Kent Macdonald at 935-5711 or Robin Chitwood at 342-2397.