The April meeting was attended by our full compliment of members all with beer and brewing on their minds and some with beer in hand. We had a report from Russell and Denise on the Hurricane Blow Off held in West Palm Beach. Russell, Meredith, Denise, Scott and Brian made the trip for the judging. I would like to thank them for making the effort to attend and representing MASH. Congratulations goes out to Scott and Denise for get a Bronze metal for the Coconut Blonde Ale.

The voting approved the release of our mailing list to JUST BREW IT wine & beer making supplies shop. With that done we are now set up to receive a 10% discount on phone in and e-mail orders. Thanks to Walter of JUST BREW IT for setting up the discount. The store hours are; Tuesday through Friday 10:00am to 7:00pm, Saturday 10:00am to 6:00pm, Sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm and closed Monday. Their phone number is (904) 381-1983 and e-mail is ken@justbrewitjax.com. To check their catalog online go to www.justbrewitjax.com. Then send an e-mail with your order and your contact information. They will call you with the total and payment options.

April BOTY style was category10, American Ale which included American Pale ale, American Amber ale and American Brown ale. There where only two entries a Fat Tire clone brewed by Russell and American Pale ale brewed by myself. Russell was awarded second place and I was awarded first place. As I have perched many time and will continued to do so we should have three to four entries each month. SO GET BREWING.

May's BOTY style is category: 18.Belgian Strong Ale which includes 18A. Belgian Blond Ale, 18B. Belgian Dubbel, 18C. Belgian Tripel, 18D. Belgian Golden Strong Ale and 18E. Belgian Dark Strong Ale. I know many of you like Belgian beers so get brewing.

The meeting for May has been changed to Wednesday May 28. The original date falls on Memorial Day and the Titanic is closed. With that lead in Happy Memorial Day to all and fly those flags high and proud.

The Big Brew was a big success!

Our members and friends gathered at Scott and Denise's house around 10 am to fire up the brew kettles. The two brew recipes that we brewed where provided by the American Homebrewers Association with slight hop changes due to the shortage of hop availability. The lighter of the two is named "Fill in the Hop Blonde Ale" and that we did! We used Argentinean Cascades in one batch and Glaciers in the other. It is a Blonde Ale style (BJCP category 6B) that should lend it self to the hops that we used and allow there characters to come through. The second brew recipe is a Standard British Bitter (BJCP Category 8A) named Chiswick Bitter. This was brewed in honor of one of the most if not the most prolific beer writer and connoisseurs Michael Jackson, may his soul rest in beer haven. For you newer members we are not speaking of the gloved freak. The brew session and lunch all went with out a hitch which has not been are normal fore the Big Brews of the Past.

The Big Brew beers will be brought to our meeting May 28. Make sure you invite all of the friends that came to the Big Brew to our May meeting to taste the beer they help and or watched brewed.

President of the best Homebrew club!

Darryl Jon Hickey