Next meeting: Friday November 19th

November 2003 Issue
Get your Alers stuff!

By Brian (I'd increase the gravity) Thatcher

Winter Warmer Tasting

This month's meeting is scheduled for a Winter Warmer tasting. We will discuss style guidelines and brewing hints in preparation for judging at the January meeting. Tom Barnes is scheduled to lead the discussion, which he did very well last year. Unfortunately, I will not be able to join you, as I will be at an Apple Cup party that evening.

Novembeerfest and the Fall Classic

The results are in. Novembeerfest was held on November 8th. There were 74 entries from 29 brewers. Best of show was won by Jonny Miner of Seattle for his Have a Very Berry Christmas Mead. To view results go to http://www.brewsbrothers.org/nbf03/nbf03results.htm.

Also, on November 15th, the Oregon Brew Crew held their third annual Fall Classic competition at the Laurelwood Public House & Brewery. I was there to help judge and won a couple of ribbons. Results should be posted soon at http://www.oregonbrewcrew.com/.

Get ready for Santa!

Bring the kids and visit with our own Irish Santa at the annual Dessert Potluck in December. No milk & cookies for this Santa - he likes Guinness!

Free Polaroid pictures will be available for all those who wish to sit on Santa's lap - kids and adults.

Date: Friday, December 19th, 7 pm

The following are excerpts from articles posted on the Real Beer Page, www.realbeer.com

Beer For Blood In Colorado

A promotion by four Durango, Colo., breweries to help a local blood bank ended up attracting international attention last month as newspapers ran headlines like "A bottle of beer for a bag of blood" and "Sounds like a fair trade - blood for beer." The premise was simple: Durango Bootlegger's Society members offered the public a certificate for a pint of beer if they donated a pint of blood to United Blood Services one week before Halloween. In turn, United Blood Services donated a certain dollar amount per blood unit to KDUR Community Radio, which did a live remote broadcast from the event as part of its fall pledge drive. When the 6th Street Hair Salon & Day Spa dispatched estheticians to transform the technicians who were drawing blood into vampires, a picture of that appeared in the Durango Herald. Then the world started to take notice. The British Broadcasting Corp. in South Africa highlighted the fact that vampires were drawing blood and donors were walking away with beer. MSNBC carried a report. CNN put it on its Headline News scroll.  http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002059.php

Why Beer Drinkers Are More Fun Than Wine Drinkers

Beer drinkers, in general, are more extroverted than wine drinkers, according to a new study in Canada, and that could explain conflicting evidence about the health benefits of certain types of alcohol, such as beer versus red wine. The scientists at the University of Manitoba's Alcohol and Tobacco Research Unit in Winnipeg found relatively distinct psychological traits when they surveyed hundreds of beer, wine and liquor aficionados. The results were published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol. Beer drinkers tended to be more extroverted and ego-driven, the wine drinkers less so, and spirits drinkers fell somewhere in between the two. While it is clear that alcohol in general can aid cardiovascular health, the apparent advantages of one type of drink may have as much to do with the psyche of the people who consume it as the properties of the beverage itself, according to the report.
http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002060.php

Win a Trip to Scotland or Ireland!

There's still time to buy a raffle ticket from Jason Johnson or John Navin for a trip for two to Ireland or Scotland! Help support the Northwest's own Irish community! Just $2!

The drawing will be held on March 13, 2004 at the
St. Patrick's Day Potluck at Larry's Brewing.

Monthly Club Meeting and Events Schedule

Some of the events are tentative and new ones will be added for 2004 by the new officers.

Upcoming Events

Holiday Ale Festival, December 5 - 7
Pioneer Courthouse Square (between Yamhill and Morrison) Portland, OR
Fri. 12 - 10, Sat. 11 - 10, Sun. 12 - 6. $3 for mug, $1 for taste, $3 for full beer
http://www.holidayale.com/html/fastfacts.html

Great Alaskan Beer and Barley Wine Festival
Typically the third weekend in January at Humpy's Alehouse, Anchorage

Toronado Barley Wine Festival, February (mid to late)
www.toronado.com

Real Ale Festival, March 3 - 6
Chicago
www.realalefestival.com

Whiskeys of the World Expo, Saturday March 20, 2004
San Francisco Hilton, Union Square (new venue)
Tickets $85
www.celticmalts.com