If you want it done right, you have to brew it yourself!

At this very moment, I am enjoying a lovely Boon Geuze (by far my favorite Geuze) that I purchased this afternoon at Valley Liquor in DePere. Paul ordered it at my request. If you like Lambic at all, do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle or two. Remember, Rackers members get a 5% discount! He's also trying to get a Belgian beer pre-buy direct import going. I'll get that information formatted and posted as soon as I can.

Remember that April 9-18 is the entry deadline for the First Round of the AHA National Homebrew Competition. For all the gory details, visit the official NHC page.

Out of the blue, I got an email from Stephen Mallery, the former editor of Brewing Techniques. If you had some subscription time left when BT went under email him. He is trying to settle accounts (finally). I had almost a full two-year subscription left when the magazine ceased production. I hope I actually get to see my back issues. He is also offering 20% off any back issues still available.

The NEW Beer Festival will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2003, at the Monarch Gardens in Appleton from 5:00-9:00 P.M. Tickets are $22 in advance and at $25 at the door. Tickets are available at Titletown, Fox River, Appleton Brewing, Homebrew Market, I.Q. Bar, and Flanagan's.

What . . . February's gone already? Anyway, I got the email page updated with what should be all the correct information. Please check your address and email me with any changes. I also updated the Titletown Open page and the news item from January 30 with the correct date for our competition: May 3.

Remember that this coming Tuesday is our club brew at Dan Rogers' house. All club members should have had directions emailed to them. Email him if you did not receive them. Unfortunately, I will not be able to be in attendance since this is kind of a busy week for people in my profession :)

Hey! We broke 20K hits! Whodathunkit?

Paul Koehler from Valley Liquor in DePere informs us that they now have their own website. Even better, he is offering Rackers members 5% off all specialty and imported beers not on sale or closeout items. Just show your Rackers' membership card when you make your purchase. Next time I'm in the area, I'm especially going to check out their lambic selection.

Hey kids! It's your not-quite-dead-yet webmaster with a great big update! Here's the latest scoop:

• Mike sent me the latest membership list, which I will soon be using to update the email directory.
• The entry form (PDF) for the 2003 Titletown Open is now available for download!
• Dan Rogers will be our brewmaster for next month's club brew. Email him for directions to his house. On a related (har!) note, Jeff Rogers has volunteered to host our May club brew. Thanks Jeff!
• gak sends word that someone has bought the recipe and rights to Thomas Hardy's Ale and will brew it again! The 2003 vintage should be out in August.
• Chad Brown reports that a winery he visits periodically has 55 gallon food-grade plastic drums which he can get for $5. If you have any interest in getting one, email him.
• The Association of Brewers announces the redesign of their website.
• The Urban Knaves of Grain announce their 2003 Drunk Monk Challenge homebrew competition on March 22.
• In case you missed it, Jim Enloe said at our last meeting that Wal-Mart will upgrade an old LP tank with the new valve for $4.

Whew!

Our esteemed President sent along this reminder about Saturday's meeting:

Last year we had a record attendance of 27 members at the February meeting. Because this is brewing season, (I think it's always brewing season) I hope to see all of you this year at Titletown Brewing Company, 200 Dousman, Green Bay, on Saturday, February 1st, at 1:00 pm. The beer styles that will be featured are Bock, Doppelbock, and Dunkel. If you have any of these that you want to share, take them to the meeting. If you have ANY style that you want to share, it will be well received! Plus, there is the fine selection of Titletown brews to choose from. Don't forget that the Titletown Open Homebrewing Competition, hosted by the Green Bay Rackers, is coming up on May 3rd, so get your brew kettles fired up.

In other news, Chuck sent along this link to a cool site for converting units. Also Prez. Bob is gathering information on parts for connecting a garden hose fitting to a liquid-out ball-lock fitting for cleaning out dispensing lines, etc. He will have more information soon.