Presidents report. 

I hope that this newsletter sees our members coping with the lockdown. As many in our club have young families, I’m hoping the efforts to keep them at home and occupied hasn’t taken to big a toll. Others are also finding not being able to come and go at ease rather trying, so hope we can all hang in there until we get on top of this pandemic. If anyone needs or wants some assistance, don’t be afraid to yell out.

Another month without actually meeting up is certainly frustrating, however with the stay at home edict from the State Government has given me more time to brew.

The June meeting was to be our annual general meeting but as we couldn’t conduct a face to face meeting, the committee decided to postpone it. Initially we were to make it happen in July, and now it’s August so we will conduct the AGM via this month’s Zoom meeting.

Most of the committee have indicated that they are happy to continue again for another year if elected by the members, however if you would like to become involved in the running of the club, you would be most welcomed.

To broaden our education regarding brewing, this month we will have a guest, Craig Dillon from Perth W.A who is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about brewing low and non-alcoholic beers. He will speak about making them and what you could expect. He will be with us after the AGM. You may want to purchase one of the many low alcohol craft beers on the market and give us your feedback at the meeting.

The Dinner and Christmas party are both difficult to try and organise presently, however when it is possible to lock in a date more details will follow.

I look forward to catching up this Wednesday on Zoom for our August club meeting.

Ian Bennett

President  

 

 

The next meeting, Wednesday the 25th of August.

Augusts meeting is the AGM and will be held via zoom due to lockdown restrictions. We will also be chatting about Non-Alcoholic beer with Craig Dillon from WA joining us.

 

Beerfest 2021.

Beerfest was located for 2021 at Beach Hut Brewery at 4 Rocco Drive, Scoresby.

 

Our sponsors  put up some fantastic prizes this year in support of the Home Brewing Community. Lets show them some love back and get   behind them when you next do your shopping or recommend a store to a new brewer. It's these sponsors that keep our competitions running so lets return the favour and support them any way you can!

Major Sponsors.

 Category Sponsors.

 

 

The Old Dick.

Since 1999, the Club Brewer of the Year trophy has been an unusual mechanical device, affectionately known as “The Old Dick”.

The trophy was built about 22 years ago by former Member Dick Seville who was a popular and eccentric Member of the Melbourne Brewers and the ABAV which preceded it. “The Old Dick” is designed to hold a 750ml bottle of beer and to gradually tilt it in order to pour the contents without disturbing the sediment, thereby obtaining a crystal clear beer.

Dick an engineer by trade would regularly take the device with him when dining at BYO restaurants and drinking his own beers, mostly bottle conditioned brown ales.

Longstanding Members will remember Dick as the quietly spoken gentleman who would bring a large plate of cheese and onion sandwiches to every club meeting which would be unveiled late at each meeting after the standard Club nibbles had been consumed. These would rapidly be devoured and were a traditional part of Club meetings for many years.

Dick was an inventive guy having a hand in building one of the first commercial washing machines ever built in Australia. Unfortunately, Dick passed away several years ago but much of his brewing equipment was donated and subsequently auctioned by the Club so many current Members have equipment designed and built by Dick and his legacy lives on.

The Old Dick was donated by Dick’s family and Colin Penrose. So next time you see “The Old Dick” remember that it, like our Club, has a rich history built on the efforts of eccentric good blokes like Dick Seville.

The Old Dick is a prestigious award given to the Club Brewer of the Year, based on all the members points tallied from all competitions entered. First, Second and Third all generate points to determine who gets to be this years Brewer of the Year.

 

Membership.

The club's preferred method of payment is online. http://melbournebrewers.org/register/melbourne-brewers-membership-2018-2019/ New members: If you believe you are not on the club mailing list, send the committee an email or bring it up with someone at a meeting to make sure we add you in.

Your membership comes with these great benefits plus many others so support the club and help keep it going.BYO Magazine  All members receive the BYO magazine as part of their yearly subscription.

(This is a great saving over an individual subscription)

Monthly Meetings

Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month at different locations. They are a great place to socialise, listen to talks, participate in Club competitions, BBQ's and of course taste lots of beer plus many other things.

Communications

A monthly newsletter outlining upcoming Club events and competitions as well as general Melbourne Brewers information and photos.  This gets distributed by email a few days before Club meetings.

Members are also advised of upcoming events by email. Our member email distribution is also used as a forum to discuss topics of interest and to provide brewing information amongst members.

Brew Days Periodically, Members volunteer to have a Brew Day at their brewery and invite Club Members or guys who may be interested in brewing to have a look at how they brew, equipment used etc. Brew Days are a good way for novice brewers to learn how to make all-grain beer.

Activity Days Every so often, days are organised for a group of members to build or assemble equipment e.g. convert kegs to boilers, make immersion chillers, yeast stir-plates, counter pressure bottle fillers, temperature controllers.

Events & Excursions Periodically the Club organises events/trips e.g. trip to Maltings, Melbourne microbreweries, weekends away at country pubs, fishing trip.

Annual Club events include the Annual Dinner, Xmas party, Steinbeer weekend and Beerfest weekend (Club run comp).

Club Buys Club buys (Bulk buys) of equipment offer significant savings to members.

Club Library There is a large range of brewing books and equipment available for loan by members.

 

Things to keep you busy.

Go to our Calendar and sync it with your own so you never miss an event.

Get some reading done after you buy some books through our book depository link.

Last but far from least, help keep the Club alive and don't forget to pay your membership fees for this financial year.