November 2007 FOSSILS Newsletter.

It's the latest newsletter from the Fermenters of Special Southern Indiana Libations Society, which recently celebrated its 17th birthday and has met at Rich O's since inception (of both).

November 2007 FOSSILS Newsletter

We’re pleased to announce that Brian Reymiller of Browning’s Brewpub will be our speaker this Saturday, November 10. Brian learned traditional German brewing techniques at Victory Brewing but also enjoys experimenting with the endless variables found in ales.

Porter Contest
The November meeting features the return of the annual FOSSILS porter contest. This contest dates back to 1993 when Dennis Barry won. Ed Tash has solicited more porters this year and hopes to set a new record with the number of entries. He continues to do a masterful job in administering one of the few AHA-sanctioned contests in this area. Ed Tash will be at Rich O's on November 8th to pick up porter contest entries – minimum 2 bottles. Information about the porter contest is found at the following link:

Porter competition

The current BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) porter styles are:
12a. Brown Porter – Mild to moderate roastiness with a softer, sweeter taste than its bigger brother – robust porter. O.G. 1.040 – 1.052

12b. Robust Porter – Roasty but not with the overwhelming roastiness of a stout. O.G. 1.048 – 1.065

12c. Baltic Porter – A sweet port-like strength lager. 1.060 – 1.090
Specialty Porters – Other porter variations include smoked malt or wood/bourbon barrel aged.

Local Commercial Porters
Continuing with the porter theme this month, I have gathered some tidbits of information about some of the Louisville-area commercial porters.

Bluegrass Brewing Company
Dark Star Porter was created by David Pierce after trying Boulevard Brewing Company’s Bully Porter from a Beer Across America shipment in 1992. The Dark Star name comes from the 1953 Kentucky Derby winner. Dark Star won a silver medal in the 1998 Real Ale Festival and was voted the best porter in America by Stuff magazine in 2006. Stuff also listed the beer as number 24 of their top 50 beers.

Browning’s Brewpub
A combination of English and German malts flavor Browning’s John Shield’s Blacksmith porter. The beer’s name comes from the blacksmith that traveled with the Lewis and Clark expedition. Brian Reymiller continues to tweak his recipe with roasted barley and smoked malt.

Cumberland Brews
Mark Allgeier described a creamy porter to Brewer Matt Gould that he had sampled in a trip out west which was served under nitrogen pressure rather than the usual CO2. Matt designed the brew using BBC’s Dark Star porter as a starting point and created the ever popular “Nitro Porter.”

New Albanian Brewing Company
After winning the 2004 FOSSILS porter contest, Bob Capshew’s porter recipe was brewed by NABC’s former brewer Michael Borchers. The robust porter sold well enough that it became a staple of NABC. The beer was named after the AHA robust porter style number 15B at that time despite Roger Baylor’s suggestion of Craikhouse Porter. The inspiration for the recipe came from a porter made by one of the founding LAGER members named Conrad Selle.

AHA Bourbon Barrel Brown Ale
On September 29th the FOSSILS made a barrel of brown ale based on Caleb Sunderman’s winning recipe. The beer will be periodically withdrawn from the barrel and set aside for future evaluation. Samples will also be sent for lab testing. Contact Scott Boyer to get access to the Google group.

Membership Survey Results
Thanks to all that participated in the survey. Beth Howard has compiled a very interesting profile of our club membership. The results will be posted on the website.

New Homebrew Shop in Madison IN
The Stein and Stem has opened at 112 East Main Street in Madison Indiana. They are located in the former tasting room of Lanthier Winery for those of you familiar with the town. Their number is 812.292.0332.

BOCK (Brewers of Central Kentucky) Member Wins Silver Medal in AHA
Lexington, KENTUCKY - Alltech's Lexington Brewing Company is pleased to announce that Paris, Kentucky home brewer Bill Caldwell and his German Hefeweizen recipe won a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Pro-Am Competition, the largest national beer competition recognizing the most outstanding beers produced in theUnited States today.

The GABF Pro-Am entries are brewed by professional craft brewers based on award-winning homebrew recipes from American Home brewers Association (AHA) members. Homebrew recipes are scaled up and brewed at a craft brewery for submission into the competition.

Caldwell said, "I still can't believe it. This is a nice feather in the cap of Alltech and Kentucky Ale."

"We're pleased to be a part of the Pro-Am competition," said Christopher Bird, master brewer at Alltech's Lexington Brewing Company. "It's a chance for us to not only help a talented home brewer, but to try our hands at brewing a wheat beer, which is something new and exciting for us."

Caldwell, a resident of Paris, Kentucky, has been an avid home brewer since 1975 and a member of the Brewers of Central Kentucky (B.O.C.K.) since 1994. Mr. Caldwell's winning recipe is a Hefeweizen, a German wheat beer that he discovered on a trip to Germany in March 2007. The recipe was printed on the menu of the Schneider Brewery and Restaurant in Munich. Bringing the recipe home and adding the unique flavor of Munich malt, Mr. Caldwell created his winning beer.

More than 100 judges labored for three days to evaluate 2,793 beers and pick the best entries and top breweries for this year's festival. Medals were awarded in 75 beer-style categories with only 8 percent of all beers entered earning a medal.

Alltech's Lexington Brewing Company currently produces three award-winning beers, Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Light and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. Alltech is the proud sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010T to be held September 25-October 10, 2010.

Upcoming Meetings:
November 10 – Porter Contest

November ?? – Executive Meeting – contact Bob Capshew if you want to be notified

December 8 – Holiday Party

January 12 – Funky & Pungent Appetizer Contest

FOSSILS Supporters and Friends
FOSSILS is generously supported by and supportive of these beer -friendly businesses (In no particular order):

Rich O's, Sportstime Pizza and The New Albanian Brewing Company – As founding FOSSILS members, Roger & his crew have always been an integral part of our club, serving as our home base since 1990. With a beer list unrivaled in the Midwest, excellent food and the fine handcrafted beers of the New Albanian Brewing Company on site, this is the BEST place for FOSSILS to call home.

Youngstown Cigar Shop - Tobacco lovers will find cigars, pipes, pipe tobacco, lighters, humidors, and many other accessories at Mike's fine establishment. The shop is located behind Regions Bank, East 10th Street in Jeffersonville, 1 mile from I-65 (exit 1). NOW SERVING BEER ON TAP!

The Keg Liquors, FOSSILS member and Keg owner Todd Antz carries a fine selection of micro and imported beers at his Clarksville store at 617 East Lewis and Clark Parkway, Clarksville, IN (812) 283-3988. Check their website for periodic beer and wine sampling nights.

Riley Ridge Wine, Beer and Canning Supply Shop, LLC - "Let us help you enjoy the fruits of your labor."
Visit FOSSILS members Becky and John Riley at 6335 Riley Ridge Road in Lanesville for a full line of wine and beer supplies. Plus, the offer canning supplies all year and will be glad to set you up with gifts and gift certificates. Hours: Mon/Tues/Thur/Fri. 10 – 6 pm; Sat.12 – 5 pm; Closed Wednesdays and Sundays. Call for details and directions (812) 952-2121.

Sarah Ring with Harrison Realty - Understanding the needs of beer drinkers since 1993 through Bluegrass Brewing Company, now wheeling and dealing houses for FOSSILS and Friends in Southern Indiana. Referrals always welcome -call 502-550-9503.

Memphis Meat Processing - These are the guys who donate the very cool buffalo femurs we make into lamps. They offer great quality buffalo meat at good prices.

FOSSILS sponsorship is an effective way to reach discerning and intelligent readers who are your friends and customers. Not Dog advertising is bartered for goods and services donated to the club. If you are interested in becoming a FOSSILS sponsor, please contact Bob Capshew.

FOSSILS Contact Information
President
Bob Capshew