2016 Pro/Am Brew Challenge
Registration is now open for the 2016 Pro/Am Brew Challenge. Sign up and see all the details at the official website Pro/Am .
Tuesday March 1 meeting change of venue!
Our monthly meeting will be held at Fort Garry Brewing this month!
Big Brew Announced – Sunday March 13th 2016
This years Big Brew will be held Sunday March 13th. Your IPA competition winner, Myles, has selected a fine German Altbier to brew!
7B. Altbier
A well balanced, well attenuated, bitter yet malty, clean, and smooth, amber to copper colored German beer. The bitterness is balanced by the malt richness, but the malt intensity and character can range from moderate to high (the bitterness increases with the malt richness).
As always, this will be held at Half Pints brewery, usually running about 9am – 4pm. Your brew master Dave Rudge has lined up some presentation with members of the Manitoba Brewer’s Association, these should be quite informative!
* This is a members only event
December Meeting Date
There was a mistake on the event calendar, the December meeting is being held on December 8th! Bring your best IPA for a chance to have your recipe brewed at Half Pints for the club Big Brew!
Pro/Am Challenge Complete
The Half Pints Pro/Am is now complete, a big thinks to all the organizers who put in countless hours to make the competition a huge success. And not to be forgotten are the hard working volunteers and judges who came from near and far, a big thanks to them as well!
Congratulations to our local winners, Sean Richens, Mark Borowski, Paul Mailhot, Brett Aho, Adam Olson, Jared Carlberg, Matt Hildebrand & Gille Noel and Steve Gauthier!
For full results see: http://www.compete.beer/Competition/results/1
In club news, the event calendar has been updated with some changes. Our next meeting on November 3rd will now be held at Half Pints. This is because the club competition will be held in December at Fort Garry Brewery. This years competition is BJCP 2015 category 21. IPA, so bring your best IPA in December for a chance to choose this years big brew recipe!
2015 / 2016 Season Starts Mid September!
*Update*
First meeting is confirmed for Tuesday September 15th at Half Pints brewery! Start time is 7:30pm.
It has been a busy summer, but the 2015/2016 Winnipeg Brew Bomber season is coming soon! The first meeting should be held mid-September. Check back at the end of August for a confirmed date and location!
Also check out the new club Frequently Asked Question’s page under the “About” section. This should have all the information you are looking for if you want to know how to join!
John Palmer – Next Tuesday!
Join us at February’s meeting for a Skype chat with one of the founders of North American home brewing, John Palmer!
About John Palmer
Two score and seven years ago, two parents in Midland, MI raised a determined young boy who wanted to make things. Make things and catch fish. About this same time, he tried his grandfather’s homemade root beer for the first time, and declared it to be the “best stuff in the world!” The root beer was made in a large stoneware crock with Hire’s extract and tended to make the bottles explode, but it was worth it. As time passed and catching ever-larger fish to impress the girls seemed to lose its effectiveness, John went off to Michigan Tech to learn metallurgy. Metallurgy, snow, and drinking local beer were engaging pastimes for many years but it was finally time to leave Michigan and seek his fame in fortune in Southern California. Girls had nothing to do with it.
The local aerospace industry of Southern California proved to be a very nourishing environment for the up-and-coming metallurgist, but the lovely beaches of Orange County tended to starve a sophisticated beer drinker. It was the heyday of Corona girls serving beer with lemon, but their beauty and its style was kind of smooth after a while, give him two-hand hefty biersteins any time. It was the dark lager beer in particular that he missed, and being an engineer, he decided that actually brewing some could not be that hard. A couple trips to the local homebrew supply store and that first disappointing batch of beer was made.
Ah the twists of fate – that first batch was cidery and did not taste anything like the beer he had in mind. It made him more determined than ever to analyze the brewing processes and determine the best method for brewing his beer. And thus was born his five year mission to explore strange new beers, to seek out new recipes and new brewing techniques, to boldly explain what no one had explained before, at least not quite in the same way. Several years were spent writing and re-writing the material and then the book was published online at www.howtobrew.com, the first comprehensive brewing book on the internet. A year later, it was published in hard copy, and a few years later it was revised and How to Brew was published by Brewer’s Publications in 2006. Many people ask if brewing beer and writing about beer is his full-time job, but no, it’s is just a cherished hobby. His secret identity is being a metallurgist and quality manager for a large heat treating corporation.
John always enjoys having a beer and sharing experiences with other brewers at weekend competitions and conferences.
(http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/brewer-of-the-week/john-palmer/)
Also be sure to check out his new book:
2014 Half Pints Pro/Am Competition Results
Category 1/2: Light Lager / Pilsner (13 entries) Sponsored by: Everwood Ave Brew Shop
1st Geordan Sanders – Flip Cup – 1c Premium American Lager / KABOB
2nd Sean Richens – Light Pils 140105 – 2A German Pils / Winnipeg Brew Bombers
3rd John Adair – Missy’s Lager – 1E: Dortmunder Ex
Category 3: European Amber Lager (12 entries) Sponsored by: Grape & Grain
1st Eric Cousineau – Vienna Lager – 3A: Vienna Lager / GTA Brews
2nd Chris Young – Oktoberfest Lager – 3B Oktoberfest / Half Pints
3rd Tyrone Keep – Blacktie Brauhaus – 3B Oktoberfest / Saskatoon Headhunters
Category 4/5: Dark Lager/Bock (14 entries) Sponsored by: Beer Grains Supply Co.
1st Sean Richens – Bohemian Tmave – 4B Munich Dunkel / WBB
2nd Darrin Sayers – The Force – 4C Schwarzbier / Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
3rd Adam Olson – Glacier Bay Eisbock – 5D Eisbock / RCMB
Category 6: Light Hybrid Beer (18 entries) Sponsored by: Grape & Grain
1st Fletcher Stevens – Bi-Polar Blonde – 6B Blonde Ale / Yk Beer Society
2nd Darrin Sayers – Firewater – 6A Cream Ale / Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
3rd Ben Rix – Lars’ Kolsch – 6C Kolsch
Category 7: Amber Hybrid Beer (8 entries) Sponsored by: Grape & Grain
1st Jonas Hurtig – Cali Steamer – 7B California Common / Cowtown YeastWranglers
2nd Robert Doerksen – Pier 179 – 7B California Common / Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
3rd Alvaro Reyes – Funfundsechzig Jahre Alt – 7C Dusseldorf Altbier / VanBrewers
Category 8: English Pale Ale (9 entries) Sponsored by: Rebellion Brewing Company
1st Andrew Stevens – Typical Bitch Face – 8A Standard Bitter / MontreAlers
2nd Paul Brennan – Nelson’s ESB – 8C ESB / MontreAlers
3rd Paul Heslop – Alnwick – 8C ESB / Cowtown Yeast Wranglers
Category 9: Scottish and Irish Ale (7 entries) Sponsored by: Beer Grains Supply Co.
1st Jonathan Voyer/Kevin Deschambault – Scottish 80 – 9C Scottish Export 80
2nd Chris Bourdages – Great Scot! – 9C Scottish Heavy 70 / Durham Homebrewers
3rd Yannick Laplante/Philippe Dufour – IRA – 9D Irish Red Ale
Category 10: American Ale (30 entries) Sponsored by: Hop Dawgs Home Brew Supplies
1st Zack Weinberg/Graham Markham – Markham Pale Ale – 10A American Pale / Toronto Brewing
2nd Fletcher Stevens – Honey Bucket Nut Brown – 10C American Brown / Yk Beer Society
3rd James Watchman/Mike Ozero – Brown Merican – 10C American Brown / Ye Olde Kildonan Boys
Category 11: English Brown Ale (8 entries) Sponsored by: Beersmith
1st David Freeman – Timid Turtle – 11A Mild
2nd Fleesha Willfong – Welcome to Brown Town – 11C N. English Brown /ALES
3rd Paul Heslop – Wear Bridge – 11C N. English Brown / Cowtown YW
Category 12: Porter (11 entries) Sponsored by: Beer Grains Supply Co.
1st Jason Newton – Newtonian Baltic – 12C Baltic Porter / Vanbrewers
2nd Mark Borowski – Goin’ Brown Town – 12A Brown Porter / WBB
3rd Geof Traill – Browndead – 12A Brown Porter / Toronto Brewing
Category 13: Stout (16 entries) Sponsored by: Beersmith
1st Thomas Fenn – Simdicoe Psychosis – 3F Imperial Stout
2nd Mark Pennell – Black Gold – 13A Dry Stout / Brewnosers
3rd Mark Atkinson – Doctor’s Orders – 13C Oatmeal Stout / BrewVIC
Category 14: India Pale Ale (IPA) (32 entries) Sponsored by: Prairie GEM Hops
1st Steve Shaw/Chris Leigh – 77×42 Mleh Heh – 14C Imperial IPA
2nd Marc Loszchuk – Hoppy Birthday IPA – 14B American IPA / ALES
3rd Matt Braun – Hoppin In The Dark – 14D Black IPA
Category 15: German Wheat and Rye Beer (9 entries) Sponsored by: Beer Grains Supply Co.
1st Jason Newton – Newtonian Hefeweizen – 15A Weizen / Vanbrewers
2nd Dean Kelly – I’ve Gone Rogue – 15D Roggenbier / Saskatoon Headhunters
3rd Chris Nowlan – Duke Degenberg’s Daily Bread – 15A Weizen / Cowtown YW
Category 16: Belgian and French Ale (29 entries) Sponsored by: Beer Grains Supply Co.
1st Kent Courtice – Sanctify – 16E Belgian Specialty / VanBrewers
2nd Rob Loewen – Sour Belgian Dubbel – 16E Belgian Specialty
3rd Jimmy Bernier – Wild Yeast Saison 076 – 16C Saison
Category 17: Sour Ale (10 entries) Sponsored by: GL Designs
1st Mark Borowski – The Forgotten – 17B Flanders Red / WBB
2nd Greg Zeniuk – The Headless Tartsman – 17A Berliner Weisse / Edmonton Homebrewers Guild
3rd Greg Zeniuk – Cotton Gueuze – 17E Gueuze / EHG
Category 18: Belgian Strong Ale (12 entries) Sponsored by: Alley Kat
1st Chris Nowlan – Contemplatio Divina – 18C Belgian Tripel / Cowtown YW
2nd Brett Aho – Marteau D’or – 18D Belgian Golden / RCMB
3rd Dave Janssen – Extra – 18A Belgian Blond / BrewVIC
Category 19: Strong Ale (8 entries) Sponsored by: American Homebrewers Association
1st Jonas Hurtig – Low Efficiencywine – 19C: American Barleywine / Cowtown YW
2nd Mark Borowski – ALE X – 19A Old Ale / WBB
3rd Ben Rix – THUNDERPIG – 19A American Barleywine
Category 20: Fruit Beer (11 entries) Sponsored by: Farmery
1st Dave Janssen – Wheat Saison With Brett & Lemon – 20A Fruit Beer / BrewVic
2nd Jimmy Bernier – Raspberry Saison 075 – 20A Fruit Beer
3rd Cedric Dauchot – Blackberry FestivALE – 20A Fruit Beer
Category 21: Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer (9 entries) Sponsored by: Grape & Grain
1st Scott Higgins/Justin Shead/Ken Sandilands/Alex Wall/Dave Callighan – Coconut Curry – 21A SHV Beer – ELAlers
2nd David Callaghan – D’unkel Juniper – 21A SHV Beer
3rd Parker Willfong/Fleesha Willfong – Gilligan’s Radio – 21A SHV Beer / ALES
Category 22: Smoke-Flavored and Wood-Aged Beer (16 entries) Sponsored by: Townsite Brewing
1st Andrew Thorne – Fornicator – 22C Wood-aged Beer / RCMB
2nd Marc Loszchuk – Big Baltic Bastard – 22C Wood-Aged Beer / ALES
3rd Adam Olson – Islay Scotch Ale – 22C Wood-Aged Beer / RCMB
Category 23: Specialty Beer (15 entries) Sponsored by: Toronto Brewing Homebrew Supply Store
1st Kent Courtice/Marc Raymond – The MAK – 23A Specialty Beer / VanBrewers
2nd Marc Loszchuk – Big Bourbon Bastard – 23A Specialty / ALES
3rd Dave Janssen – Rye Spiced Saison – 23A Specialty / BrewVic
Category 24-26: Mead Sponsored by: White Labs
1st Jason Toews – A Good Swift Kick In The Oranges – 26A Metheglin / Saskatoon Headhunters
2nd Tyrone Keep – Orange You Glad – 26C Open Mead / Saskatoon Headhunters
3rd Alex Wall – Ginger Merry Mead – 26A Metheglin / E.L.Alers
Category 27-28: Cider and Perry (6 entries) Sponsored by: Grape & Grain
1st Donovan Fontaine – Nottingham Cider – 27B English Cider / WBB
2nd Donovan Fontaine – Champagne Cider – 27A Common Cider / WBB
3rd Ian McCallister/Cali Ramsey – Fuggle Rock – 28D Specialty Cider / WBB
BEST OF SHOW: Winner will brew at HalfPints Sponsored by: Halfpints Brewing Company & Fort Garry Brewing Company
1st Kent Courtice – Sanctify – 16E Belgian Specialty / VanBrewers
2nd Dave Janssen – Wheat Saison with Brett & Lemon – 20A Fruit Beer / BrewVic
3rd Zack Weinberg/Graham Markham – Markham Pale Ale – 10A American Pale Ale / Toronto Brewing
4th Steve Shaw/Chris Leigh – 77X42 Mleh Heh – 14C: Imperial IPA
BREWER OF THE YEAR: Set of Brewing Classic Books for 1st Sponsored by: Brewers Publications
1st Mark Borowski with a total of 7 points / Winnipeg Brew Bombers
Tied for 2nd with 6 points: Jonas Hurtig, Marc Loszchuk, and Jason Newton
WBB’s Half Pints Pro/Am Brew Challenge 2014 Sponsors
A special thanks goes out to the sponsors for the Half Pints Pro/Am Brew Challenge.
