The Prez Sez
By Ira Edwards

Is it August already?  Where has summer gone?  Did it even get here in the first place? Where did I place my beer?  Are the fish running?  Are the berries ripe yet?  Where is my beer?  Was that snow on the mountains I saw?  Do I have the house winterized and my skis ready.  Am I ready for moose hunting?  Where in heck is my damned beer?!?!?!

As your current GNBC president, these are the “important” thoughts that I ponder.  As you can tell, not too much of substance, but I manage to get by.  I hope everyone has enjoyed the 4.5 days of sunshine we have had in the last 3 months, and I am convinced that we will have approximately 1.75 more days of sun before it starts to snow.  August is here, and that marks the end of our summer journeys with the Great Northern Brewers Club.  July was a busy and trying month, and I want to thank everyone for the help and comfort they have provided to the Yanoshek family after Dave’s passing.  Barb has told me that the Brew Club has been great and she is very happy to have so many people to lean on.

While August marks the last month of our “summer break” before getting back to our monthly club meetings and events, our summer is by no means over.  We have a new Homebrew contest on the 17th at Café Amsterdam, the “Anchor Town Invitational,” organized by John Trapp.  There is even a special side challenge with additional Brewer of the Year points for the best SchwartzBier, a favorite style of the organizer.  I put that challenge in there at the beginning of the year with the hope that John would hop in and help organize the event.  What do you know, it worked!  Read last month’s newsletter for more details, but I hope to see you all judging and entering at our newest contest.  Hopefully, this event will be more convenient and lend better judging feedback than driving our beers out to the Valley.  The date conflict was purely coincidental, as we picked our date some time ago…

Another new event this month is the location of the August GNBC Bar-B-Que.  This year it will be hosted by my wife Kara and I.  Be prepared for a great time hanging out with friends around the fire and enjoying great food and beverages.  Bring camp chairs to sit around the yard, and if you bring your kegged beer, I’ll even have a beer tent complete with CO2.  I have a 6 regulator distribution system that has connections for both Sankey and Ball-Lock kegs. Bring a dish and something for the grill and remember that families are welcome.  We have dogs that love beer, so don’t leave you cup unattended…

That is all for this fine month, but I hope to see you all soon and remember to enjoy your Beers, Meads and Ciders responsibly.  Cheers!