Member Benefits
The Melbourne Brewers Committee organises and runs a range of activities including:
Monthly Meetings
Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month. Activities vary - we may taste and discuss a particular beer style, construct/demonstrate equipment, discuss brewing techniques, have intra-Club beer competitions or sample and provide feedback on Member's beers.
Communications
Monthly newsletters, containing details of the next Club Meeting, upcoming Club events and competitions as well brewing information, tips etc, are distributed by email/mail a few days before Club Meetings.
Members are also advised of upcoming events by email. Our members 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. Brew Day dates will be advised to Members via the newsletter or e-mail.
The beers made at Brew Days are usually consumed at the Annual Dinner in June/July.
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. Again, dates will be advised to Members via the newsletter or e-mail.
Events & Excursions
Periodically the Club organises events/trips e.g. trip to Maltings, visits to 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).
Competitions
There are normally 6 main competitions in Melbourne each year (Beerfest, British Ales, Stout Extravaganza, Pale Ale Mania, VicBrew and Oktoberfest. Each comp is organised by one the 5 Melbourne Brewing Clubs or VicBrew.
Entering your beers in competitions is a great way to get feedback on your brewing techniques. By judging at comps you will learn a lot about particular beer styles, what differentiates good examples of a style from the great ones and how to identify brewing faults.
The Club allocates points to Members who place at comps and these points count towards the Club Brewer of the Year.
Club Buys
Club buys (Bulk buys) of equipment offer significant savings to members.
Club Library
Range of brewing books and equipment available for loan by members. See the full list here.