November 2024

Homebrewing experimentation is crucial for improving both the brewing process and the final product. It encourages brewers to explore new ingredients and techniques, leading to unique flavors and innovative methods. Customizing recipes based on personal tastes and seasonal ingredients adds to the enjoyment, while adjusting fermentation variables can significantly impact the beer's profile. This hands-on approach offers valuable learning experiences, allowing brewers to understand how various factors affect the final product. Experimentation fosters community among brewers, promoting sharing and collaboration that leads to new ideas. By embracing experimentation, homebrewers not only refine their craft but also contribute to the craft beer movement, pushing the boundaries of traditional styles and enriching the brewing culture.

Monthly Meeting

• Date: November 16th

• Time: 11 am – 12 pm

• Location: Old 121 Brewhouse

• Address: 1057 S Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80226

November’s meeting is a “blind variable tasting experiment” with an American Amber Ale. We’ll taste 3 versions with a variable that was changed in each version. We’ll do this in 2 tasting rounds (round 1: Sample A vs. Sample B and round 2: Sample A vs. Sample C). 

During the meeting, we’ll taste the samples and collect tasting data.  At the end of our time, we’ll reveal the variable changed in each sample and see if anyone guessed it correctly.

Quarterly Happy Hour

• Date: November 7th

• Time: 6pm - 8pm

• Location: Over Yonder Brewing Company

• Address: 18455 W Colfax Avenue, Ste 103. Golden, CO 80401

Mark your calendar and join us at Over Yonder, in November for our quarterly happy hour. Come catch up with fellow club members for a couple hours and have a beer or two. 

Belgian Quarterly Challenge

Our December Quarterly Challenge will be based on Belgian Fermentations. Check out all the details on our website.

Up Coming Competitions

• Sweetheart’s Revenge

  • Registration opens 12/16/2024, register here

  • Entries are due 1/13/2015

• Biere de Rock

  • Registration opens 12/21/2024, register here

  • Entries are due 1/11/2025

Education Corner

Have you ever wondered where the phrase, “Relax, have a homebrew,” came from? It’s from Charlie Papazian, an American nuclear engineer, who is responsible for much in the homebrewing community. He’s one of the OG’s of homebrewing and is considered the Goat of homebrewing by most. We’re lucky to have him call Colorado his home (he lives outside of Boulder). 

Charlie founded the American Homebrewers Association in 1978, which is when Carter signed a law allowing states to consider homebrewing. In 1984, wrote the first homebrewing book, “The Joy of Homebrewing.”

Without him, I’m not sure homebrewing would be where it is today. Here’s two more quotes from Charlie that you may have also heard:

• Remember, the best beer in the world is one you brewed.

• Buy a man a beer, and he wasted an hour. Teach a man to brew, and he wastes a lifetime.

Thank you, Charlie!