As most of you know I do not like to use this message to push a political agenda but I am boycotting the consumption of any and all Chinese beers till the China tell us the real age of their gymnast. Ok I really don't care.

  Our August meeting was attended by sixteen members. May of you have paid your yearly dues so for the rest of you Bob "The Treasurer" Beard and I "Da Pres" will be at the next meeting collecting the dues.  

We talked about trying to put together a tour and tasting at Schenbly Redland's Winery. I have been in contact with them and will have some dates soon. I need to know how many are interested and if we want to do it September 20, 21, 28 or another date. Please contact me soon. There will be more information to follow.  

I will be putting in a gain order on September 8, 2008 so if anyone needs gain contact me. Remember the orders have to be in one sack (50 lbs) increments. If you do not want that many pounds of grain contact me and we will see if one or two other member(s) may want some of the same type grain and then we can split a sack. Right now if anyone needs Pilsner malt I have an order for a half sack so if some one can use some Pilsner malt contact me real soon.  

Our very own Peter Buschbaum gave a very informative technical talk on "How to use your hydrometer". Several of the members came up to me afterwards and said that they enjoyed the talk and would like to have more of them. So send me your suggestions for tech talk topics and we will try to get a speaker, not the electric type the human type. Peter thank you very much for taking time to research and delivery the August Tech Talk.  

August BOTY style was Smoked / Wood Aged beers BJCP category 22. We had a very interesting group of entries this month. With bourbon porter, bourbon old ale, buckwheat honey braggot, smoked rye and smoked India pale ale. And for the second month in a row we had a tie but this time it was for second place. Due to this there was no third place awarded. So with out further waiting or is that writing, what ever in second place was the Buckwheat Honey Braggot by Russell and in second place the Bourbon Ole Ale by Scott and Denise. The first place honor goes to the Bourbon Porter by Denise and Scott. A great job was done by all the members that entered beers this month. Keep up the good and tasty work.

That leads us in to the BOTY style for the September meeting. Pilsner is the style that is BJCP category 2. This includes subcategories 2A German Pilsner (Pils),2B Bohemian Pilsener and 2C Classic American Pilsner.

Darryl Hickey
Miami Area Society of Hombrewers President.
Hickey Family Brewing & Meadery.
Brewing at ten feet above sea level with bar stool correction.