Messages

46

Homebrew Clubs / Re: Technical brewing education in brewing clubs

« on: January 03, 2011, 11:39:11 AM »

Hi Kai,

We have a similar issue with the Barons (around 200 members).  We meet on a the 4th Wednesday of every month and have an attendance of 100 to 120.  Some want more homebrewing technical homebrewing presentations, others want more general discussions.  In order to keep the homebrewers happy and bring in more new brewers we started our Brew U educational program about three years ago.  Because of the program we're seeing more and more homebrewers show up to the monthly meetings and greater requests for more homebrew focused discussion.  This year we'll be adjusting our classes a bit more to offer more advanced topics since we're planning on covering more beginning and intermediate topics during the monthly meetings. 

One thing we've learned and you may already know - brew is served at the monthly meetings which means you'll only have an audience's attention for maybe 60 to 90 minutes.  After that it gets too hard to keep people's attention and the side conversations to a low roar.  Because of this we'll probably always have some advanced classes away from the monthly meetings because they are either too technical (like advanced yeast or hops sessions) or does not appeal to a large audience (bjcp study sessions).

Here is a link to the classes we offered last year if you're looking for ideas - http://beerbarons.org/Brew-U/classCatalog.html.  Feel free to contact me if you have questions about the classes or if you'd like to see some of our presentation material.

47

Homebrew Competitions / Announcing the 2011 Midwinter Homebrew Competition

« on: December 15, 2010, 12:21:03 AM »

Hello fellow Homebrewers!

The Milwaukee Ale House and the Beer Barons of Milwaukee are very pleased to announce that the second annual Midwinter Homebrew Competition will be taking place on February 18th and 19th, 2011. This competition is held in conjunction with the 14th annual Midwinter Brew Fest which will be taking place at the Milwaukee Ale House on February 20th. Proceeds from the brew fest and the competition will go towards the MACC Fund.

Registration opens on January 1st and will be coordinated through the competition web site at http://midwinterhbc.beerbarons.org. Entries will be accepted January 15th through February 6th at Northern Brewer in West Allis, WI.

We are also very pleased to announce that starting this year the competition will be a part of the Midwest Home Brewer of the Year circuit.

In addition to the category and Best of Show awards, one of the winning Bock entries (BJCP categories 5A, 5B, 5C, or 15C) will be chosen by the Milwaukee Ale House to be brewed commercially by Milwaukee Brewing Co. The chosen entry will then be tapped during a special event honoring the entrant at the Milwaukee Ale House.

The Best of Show Brewer will also be featured at the 2011 World of Beer Festival along with one of their creations.

Additional details can be found on the competition web site and our Facebook page. Information regarding judging and stewarding opportunities are to come. Please pass this information on to your fellow homebrewing friends and direct any inquiries to the Contact page on the registration page at http://midwinterhbc.beerbarons.org/index.php?section=contact

Thanks and best of luck to all that enter!

MWHBC Organizing Committee

48

Events / Re: Beer Lanyard, Epic Search Continues

« on: November 29, 2010, 12:34:37 PM »

Would this be the type of Lanyard that you're looking for?  This is a link to our club newsletter where we were advertising them.  Scroll down to page 4. 

http://beerbarons.org/publications/bm/2009/bm200906.pdf

They're adjustable in length and have been tested on a WIDE variety of glasses. 

49

WI / Milwaukee Area - Basic Brewing and Intro to Cider Making

« on: October 24, 2010, 11:55:08 AM »

What: Basic Brewing and Intro to Cider Making
When: November 6th, 2010
Brewing: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
Cider Making: 10:30 a.m.
Where: Northern Brewer - 1306 S. 108th Street, West Allis, WI
Cost: FREE!!!

In honor of AHA Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day we thought it would be very appropriate to hold a homebrewing double header.  Both classes together at the same time and hosted by our Brew U and the Northern Brewer staff. 

The first of three Bare Bones Basic Brewing Sessions will kick off at 10:30 a.m. with one of the different American Pale Ales that we’ll be making that day.  We’ll take you through the process of making the wort and pitching the yeast. No super technical jargon, no advanced homemade brewing equipment, and no complex beer recipes.  We’ll make simple American Pale Ale without the geek speak and use basic equipment from a starter kit.

The Bare Bones Cider Making Session will also be kicking off at 10:30 a.m. starting with the pressing of the apples.  Cider making is extremely easy and we’ll cover everything from creating the must all the way up to pitching the yeast. 

Come see how both extract brewing and cider making are done and participate in discussions with experienced home brewers.  The end result of the batches will be served at an upcoming Baron meeting.  All beer made that day will be tracked in the Baron BrewBlog under the featured brews section on the Club Brews page – http://brewblog.beerbarons.org.

No sign up is required, but you must be of legal drinking age to attend.  Like all Brew-U events there will be some homebrews available for sampling.  Do you have a homebrew?  Bring it!  We’d love to try it.  Questions about the event - email us at brew.u.staff@beerbarons.org.

Prosit, Sláinte, Salute, Na Zdravi, Cheers!- Bruce Buerger
Beer Barons of Milwaukee - beerbarons.org & worldofbeerfestival.com
bbbrew.com

50

Club Leadership & Organization / Re: Legal issues: Club Incorporation and Insurance

« on: October 23, 2010, 09:39:43 PM »

The first step was to register with the State of Wisconsin as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC).  

I messed up with this statement.  We actually incorporated as a non-stock cooperative with the State of Wisconsin.  My apologies.

mod edit - corrected in the above post

51

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: The AHA needs your help!

« on: October 23, 2010, 09:37:26 PM »

The first step was to register with the State of Wisconsin as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). 

I messed up with this statement.  We actually incorporated as a non-stock cooperative with the State of Wisconsin.  My apologies.

52

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: The AHA needs your help!

« on: October 23, 2010, 09:28:40 PM »

Definitely not as fun as brewing and enjoying it.  Unfortunately accidents can happen.

53

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: The AHA needs your help!

« on: October 23, 2010, 04:32:33 PM »

Hi Mark,

Regarding the Beer Barons we have 3 policies; Commercial Lines Policy (Provides liability coverage for directors, officers, and trustees), Commercial Property Coverage, and Commercial General Liability.  All of these policies were set up to cover our monthly meetings, our educational classes, and our annual beer festival.  It's important to note that we had to achieve non-for-profit status in order to qualify for the Commercial Lines Policy. 

You're correct about the differences for each club impacting the cost of the policies.  State & Federal regulations, number of attendees, etc all influence the costs.  The policies for this year are based on our 2009 numbers which were 12 monthly club meetings (average attendance of 114), World of Beer Festival (360 attendees), 12 officer meetings (average attendance of 12), our class schedule (between 7 and 10 sessions), and the other beer festivals that we serve at (between 3 and 4). 

I'd be happy to put you in contact with our agent if you'd like to talk to him about your situation.  Just let me know.

54

Ingredients / Re: Leaf growing out of a hop cone

« on: August 26, 2010, 10:31:03 PM »

Thank you all for your comments.  At my home brew club meeting the other night a fellow member brought a vine and they had one of these on it.  I was never concerned about these three, just curious.  The total harvest so far has been 1.25 lbs. 

55

Ingredients / Leaf growing out of a hop cone

« on: August 22, 2010, 11:28:38 AM »

I've never seen this before with my home grown hops.  Is this okay to use?  The leafs are coming out from inside the cone.

56

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: The AHA needs your help!

« on: August 20, 2010, 05:07:35 AM »

No problem Crispy.  Happy to help.

57

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: The AHA needs your help!

« on: August 19, 2010, 11:34:29 PM »

Earlier this year our club (Beer Barons of Milwaukee) wrapped up our incorporation project.  This project consisted of becoming incorporated, registering as a non for profit organization, and obtaining insurance.  Each of these steps yielded their own benefits but in the end they were all necessary in order for us to obtain the insurance coverage we now have.

The first step was to register with the State of Wisconsin as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC).  This was completed in August of 2008 and the club is legally known as the Beer Barons of Milwaukee Cooperative.  This step gained the club two advantages.  First, it protects the club Officers and Event Leaders from being sued in the event of some kind of unfortunate incident.  Prior to becoming an LLC if something happened each Officer or possibly Event Leader could be sued individually.  Now that we’re an LLC, in the event of a law suit, an individual would name the club in the suit, not individual members.  On the flip side, the second thing that incorporation gains the club is the ability for the club to take legal action against an individual or another corporation.  So in the event of fraud or a contract dispute, current club Officers can initiate legal action and future club Officers can see it through to the end.  Prior to incorporation if legal action was required the current club Officers would have to initiate it and see it through to the end (which could be many years after they leave office).

The second step in the project was to register with the Internal Revenue Service as a non for profit organization.  This step was taken so the club would not be required to pay federal and state income taxes for the educational services and charitable contributions that are provided from the fees that are collected.  In December of 2009 the Barons were approved by the IRS as a 501 (c) (7) organization, which means non for profit social club.  It's important to note that in order to register with the IRS we had to submit a copy of our constitution, by-laws, and non-discrimination statement.  Here is a link to the Barons for those that might like an example -> http://beerbarons.org/about/constitution.html

The third step was to obtain the necessary insurance for the club.  We already had a special single event policy for the beer festival we hold each June (www.worldofbeerfestival.com), but we didn’t have anything for our monthly club meetings, our Brew-U classes, or club board members.  Since we were now a non for profit organization we were able to obtain a policy that covers all of our events, loss of property, and liability for our board members.  It’s important to note that in order to obtain this insurance coverage we had to be registered as a non for profit organization.  I’ve emailed the details of our insurance coverage to Chris outside of this thread along with the name of our insurance agent for follow up.

The incorporation effort also investigated taking a fourth step, the possibility of seeking sales tax exemption; however that would have required the club to pursue a Public Charities and Private Foundation status.  While the club does provide some nice sized charitable efforts at this time, the amount of charitable effort required to achieve this status would greatly change the way the club operates today.

Hope this helps.

58

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Should the AHA Keep TechTalk?

« on: August 12, 2010, 11:09:31 PM »

Although I'm a fan of TT I casted my vote to retire it.  When it comes down to it the forum offers more information on a broader range of topics while at the same time produces less overhead and cost for the AHA.  How I get the information has changed but I can adapt to that.  Plus I'm all for taking 3 hours of copying and pasting emails out of any one's work load.  Thank you very much to the person who has been assembling those emails and sending them out all this time.  If I had to do 3 hours of copying and pasting for my job I might would probably do some sort of career end-er like the JetBlue guy.

59

Beer Recipes / Re: Hot Peppers

« on: August 09, 2010, 11:31:11 PM »

Here are two of mine.  I strongly suggest that you don't put them in secondary or dry hop.  The ones I did that with turned out way too hot.

http://www.bbbrew.com/index.php?page=brewBlogDetail&filter=buergermeister&id=19

http://brewblog.beerbarons.org/index.php?page=recipeDetail&filter=Buergermeister&id=88