Come on fall, I’m all ready for you. Summer didn’t make much of an appearance so might as well get on with it. I’ve got all my favorite things lined up for the next 2 months. I’m waiting for that first frost so I can start picking my boat load of black currants. I guess that is one thing a lot of rain is good for, they are very plump and juicy, and after the first frost they will concentrate all the wonderful sugars in each of the little berries. Towards the middle of this month I will be getting ready to pick apples, not sure on the quality of the crop this year, with the poor amount of daylight they are pretty small, but I don’t care, they all get smashed and pressed anyways. As long as the flavor is good, it will make great cider, cysers and syrup. Come the end of the month Dena and I will be picking Lingonberries also know as low bush cranberries. On a little scouting trip last week, we noticed all the rain has done these little berries a lot of good. The low lying meadows are packed with them this year. If you have a chance venture out and get some of the wild fruit growing all over the meadows, and mountain sides. Every one of them will make a great addition to any mead.

I’m writing my article on the eve of our last summer picnic event. As I scramble to get the newsletter article submitted and the house ready for the club members, the weather seems to be cooperating lately, and we are planning on a bounce house for all the children attending, I have the fire pit all ready to fire up to keep all the stories flowing into the evening. I’m predicting that Thursday August 26th will have been a great time for all members to celebrate the good times with friends. I hope that everyone who attended had a great time.

I am looking forward to the start of the new membership year, yes that’s right! Our fall/winter/spring seasons will begin on September 21st. Start time is always 7pm and meeting will be held monthly on the third Tuesday of every month except December and January. December 11th we will celebrate our Christmas or Holiday party or just PARTY depending on whichever route you prefer to take. And in January of 2010 we will be having our meeting on the Thursday January 13th. This month our meeting coincides with the Great Alaskan Beer and Barleywine Festival. You best mark your calendar for this event, January 14th and 15th. After that we will resume our normal third Tuesday schedule thru the month of May.

In terms of past events, The ET Barnette Homebrew Competition was held on July 31st. I won’t get too involved on all the particulars. I have copied and pasted a bunch of info that Scott Stihler posted to the web. A big congratulations go to Steven Jayich for winning best of show with his Robust porter. I’m not sure if anyone other than Steven has repeated as a BOS at this competition, but he pulled it off. His reward was a cool $500.00………Hope you enjoy it Steve. Also congratulations and thanks to all GNBC members who entered and judged this event. I had the greatest intentions of taking the family up north for the weekend. I had a hotel room was reserved, and then my youngest broke his arm and needed emergency surgery. Upon the doctor’s recommendation, we stayed close to home in case he needed follow up surgery. A big thinks to Scott and Chérie Stihler and to all the business and breweries who donated space and prizes for this wonderful competition.

On August 15th we held the Anchortown Invitational at Café Amsterdam. John Trapp was the competition organizer and did a wonderful job taking entries, setting up flights and putting on a great competition. It was nice to have plenty of judges on hand to make this event fly by. I was there evaluating beer and enjoyed every one of them. Congratulations to Frank Bell and Brian Noonan with their Wood aged beer. If I remember correctly it was a Flanders Brown Ale/Oud Bruin aged on bourbon soaked cedar wood chips. Also congratulations to Breck Tostevin for his BOS mead. Congratulations to all who entered and placed. I want to say thank you to Ken and Shauna Pajak, owners of Café Amsterdam for putting on this wonderful competition for the past three years. They manage to sponsor and accommodate us into their establishment to conduct this competition year in and year out. On behalf of the club we say “thank you”.

That brings up to date on past events. Now it’s time to preach about membership. The end of the membership year is drawing near. On September 30th your membership will expire. Please see the article in the newsletter pertaining to membership and renew early. My goal is to have all past members renewed and new membership cards issued prior to the end of September. Don’t be a slacker and put off doing this till November or even later. Yearly dues are $25.00 and can be paid on line through the club website via PayPal, or you can print off the membership form in this newsletter and mail it in. It’s your choice. As of right now I think only 10% of current members have renewed. Make the Treasurer and Membership Coordinator’s job a little easier and let’s get this taken care of.

Here are some upcoming events you might want to partake in as fall approaches. It will soon be Oktoberfest time. At this time I’ve only received one email in regards to O’fest celebrations. Here is what Dr. Fermento had to write about it. “It’s approaching that time of year again! Beer drinkers delight in the annual Oktoberfest celebrations that happen around town and around the state toward the end of the month and into October. Humpy’s has always been known for throwing a helluva bash and have already announced the dates for this year’s events. Both events will happen on Sundays: the first on October 3rd and the second a week later on October 10th. Both gigs are estimated to start at 6 pm, which is the norm in years past, although a firm time has not been established. The price hasn’t been determined either, but I just wanted to get this out so you can mark your calendars. Reservations will be taken sometime starting in early September. Keep yer mug to the wall and I’ll try to provide more detail later. Expect the same great food, the rowdy Alaska Blaskapelle to get people moving, and plenty of the usual debauchery."

If you haven’t subscribed to the Fermento’s weekly rants, email James Roberts at jroberts@peakalaska.com to get added to the list. Fermento is always on top of everything beer related and his weekly rants are emailed out on Friday.

The next beer event that I have info for is the Eagle River Brew Festival. The date has been set and will take place on October 15th. It is held at the Lions Club in Eagle River, adjacent to Wal-Mart. The price for tickets is $40.00 in advance and $50.00 at the door if they aren’t sold out already. Last year’s brewfest sold out, so get your tickets early. The Eagle River Boys and Girls Club holds this festival every year as one of their main fundraisers to ensure continued programs and events for all the local children. There will be a silent auction and tons of food. Yes your admission will get you a brewfest commemorative pint glass, and all you can eat food (usually prime rib and such.) The local Lions Club volunteers do all the cooking and serve all the food. All of our local breweries are in attendance, displaying all their seasonal and premier beers. I will be contacting the event coordinator for more information and will blog it all out to the club members.

Further in the newsletter you will see an article for the Southeast Alaska Autumn Pour Homebrew Competition. Notice that shipping is free. Arctic Brewing Supply and distributor Specialty Imports have teamed up to get all our entries down to Juneau. Thank them when you drop off your entries. With all of the great beers our club members are brewing I think it’s time we show southeast homebrewers just how good we are. I can see a little club rivalry starting here. The event is being put on by the Juneau Homebrewers Club and sponsored by Alaskan Brewing Company.

In closing I want to put a plug out there to all club members in regards to becoming an officer or board member in our homebrew club. In September and October we will be taking nominations for several positions. If you are interested in helping out this great club, please feel free to volunteer. I myself will not be running again as your Prez. Due to unforeseen family issues, I need to step down. I sound like a politician bowing out don’t I? The time needed to help our club run smoothly is minor, but with the plethora of volunteers we have had at each event this last year, GNBC events have been a true success. I hope you will consider stepping up and giving a little time to the best homebrew club in Alaska.

Till we meet again, let’s think before you drink and Brew On.