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The Brew Kettle - Past FBI
Meetings
(Previous years)
Articles
- 2003 AHA Conference
- Barleywine
- Pre-Prohibition Pilsner
- All-Grain Brewing
- Yeast
- Brewery Reviews
- Book Reviews
- Hops Are Good For You
- Legal Issues
- FBI's Jockey Box
The Brew Kettle - Past FBI Meetings
(Previous years)
2003
December
We were joined by some folks from the THC for our Christmas party at Barley Island. There were plenty of growlers, a special offering from Barley Island (John's Oatmeal Stout aged in a whiskey barrel and served on the handpull), and door prizes from Ace Liquors, Great Fermentations, and Barley Island. We almost got out of there before the snow started - but not quite.
Jeff and John were such good hosts, we'll be back there next month for the Heavy Hydrometer Cup.
November
John Mascari hosted the Saturday meeting around a campfire where 20 people tasted from a tableful of beers, watched the entire lunar eclipse, and refused to dance naked in the moonlight druid-style because it was too cold.
The FBI met on a busy Thursday at Chalkies and enjoyed aged ciders from PaulE, GregC, and RonS. Marvin kindly supplied plates of Chalkies' excellent appetizers. A dozen people learned what corked cider tastes like but they also got to taste the last bottle of Ron's ancient Raspberry Honey Wheat Brown.
October
Omar
Castrellón hosted the first Thursday night "Beer Geek" meeting at
Alcatraz Brewing downtown. 10 members were present and they brought about 10
beers to sample. Omar had his American Light Pilsner to taste along with a
honey-conditioned American IPA - horizon hops giving a strong NW bitterness. Ron
Smith brought a bottle of his Imperial Stout aging since the 90's. Greg C
brought a last jug of mega-brew.
About a dozen members picked up 5 gallons of Saison wort from Tim Mitchell at Rock Bottom and will bring the fermented results to a future meeting.
Sunday's Chili meeting hosted by Paul and Connie Edwards was a
disappointment in that only 8 people were there. We've learned that consecutive
days of FBI activities should be avoided in the future.
July
Greg and Mary Ann Christmas hosted the summer picnic and pool party at their
tiki bar. Ron Smith brought his Bacchi Ball set, which was a blast to play. The FBI assured that new
pool/tiki bar received a proper breaking-in. Thanks to everyone who brought beer and/or food to share.
Thanks also to the folks at Ace Discount Liquors for allowing the Club to purchase a keg of Bell's Pale
Ale at a reduced price.
June
Neal Danison's front yard is the perfect place to watch the early July 4th fireworks (Wanamaker has always been ahead of the curve). Some croquet made the meeting a quintessential summer small-town picnic - just lacking the Jarts. Most of the 20+ attendees brought some homebrew of course and a good time was had by all. Thank you Neal.
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May
Thanks to Steve Hugus for hosting the May meeting. About ten or twelve people enjoyed great beer, food and fellowship. Don St. Peters brought a corney keg of an awesome Hefe Weizen. Dozens of commercial brews were shared, including Hogaarten, a couple Berliner Weiss beers, numerous German Hefe Weizens and several American Wheats. Our gracious host sprung for some very tasty sausages, which were a great accompaniment to the variety of Wheat Beers.
April
Randy & Christy Weaver's place in the wooded Morgan County countryside was a great camp-out meeting site. 8 of the about 20 folks stayed the night including the Westerman's from Lafayette. Nothing like a campfire with burnt hot dogs, morels, a dozen homebrews, and a half dozen meads.
March
Thanks to Glenn Kant for hosting a great meeting on March 22nd. Glenn's salt water reef / fish tank is truly awesome. Hopefully Glenn can host another meeting next year, so those unable to make it Saturday can see for themselves. There were an abundance of great brews; Pales, Bitters and IPA's. Too many to list.
February
Thanks go out to Tim Marshall, the new head brewer at Rock Bottom, for hosting a great meeting on Saturday
Feb 22nd. Tim and the folks at Rock Bottom were fantastic hosts and they really rolled out the red carpet
for the Foam Blowers. Thanks also to Don St. Peters for taking the time to make arrangements and organize
the meeting. Those attending were treated to a fantastic time. With the house taps flowing copious quantities
of fresh brew, the group did not get focused enough to do any formal scoring. Tim took the time to give the
Foam Blowers an in depth tour of the brewery from milling, to the brew house, to the fermenting room and
finally the conditioning/serving tank cooler. Several great homebrewed Porters and Stouts were brought by
various members. New members Randy Ballinger and Mark Fisher attended their first FBI meeting, welcome
aboard it was great to meet you both. Luckily, the weather held out long enough for everyone to make it home
before the heavy snow started to stick.
January - Heavy Hydrometer
The Annual Heavy Hydrometer meeting. A formal judging named Paul
Edwards once again the holder of the FBI's most coveted trophy.
Hosts were Scott & Kay Whitaker in their home conveniently located near
the Broad Ripple Brewpub. The judging crew were easily handled in their even
more conveniently located upstairs bar conveniently designed as a copy of the
Broad Ripple Brewpub.
The Trophy.
Designated drivers. No beer belly jokes, please.
2002
December
We had a great turnout at Chalkie's last Sunday.
Thanks go out to Tom Stilabower for making the arrangements and to Marvin McKay and his crew for the great
treatment the Club received.
Brewers Cup / Indiana State Fair Competition
Congratulations to Scott Whitaker of Indianapolis' Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI) brew club. Scott's "Divine Madness Old Ale" won Best of Show honors. For brewing the Best of Show Beer, Scott will receive a trophy and a $50 gift certificate from Ace Liquors, a $50 check from the Foam Blowers of Indiana Brew Club, a Best of Show ribbon and a plaque from the Indiana State Fair. Devine Madness was brewed during the winter at Broad Ripple Brewpub and was on tap in January and February.
Winners in the homebrew division will receive a first place blue, second place red or third place white ribbon from the Indiana State Fair.
Joe Miller of Indianapolis is now a two time winner of the Brew Crew Award for the best beer label! Joe had the best beer label this year and last. Perhaps he'll go for a three-peat? Joe put a lot of time and effort into his labels and it shows. Joe's creativity also helped him to win a first place with his Norwegian Wood Ale, brewed with spruce tips from the Norwegian Pine in his yard.
Even if you didn't win a prize this year, please thank our sponsors for their generous donations. Most of all, please drop Phil Leisure at the Indiana State Fair an e-mail at pleisure@starband.net to thank him for the fair's very generous support of the Brewers Cup. This competition could not happen without their facilities, financial, administrative and catering support. Let them know you appreciate all they do to make the Brewers Cup happen!
Anita Johnson
Great Fermentations of Indiana
January - Annual Heavy Hydrometer Club Meeting / Judging
This annual blind judging is taken pretty serious, as you can tell by the photos, but the fun of it all rules the day. The home court advantage (or perhaps it was just a really great beer) helped Scott Whitaker win the coveted Traveling Heavy Hydrometer Trophy for a second year in a row.
2001
MegaBrew
If this doesn't look like fun... you probably aren't a homebrewer! Greg Christmas has an awesome brewing system that allowed us to make 105 gallons of Porter.
2001's MegaBrew Crew
2000's MegaBrew Crew