Coming Soon!

I know, I know, its been a very long time since the last post and somehow folks still make their here to read about beer. Over the next few months look forward to a lot of great new articles and reviews. Spring seasonals are on the way to be quickly followed by summer seasonals. I'm gearing up to start teaching home brewing classes, and I have a lot of thoughts about brewing sour ales that I want to share. Oregon Brewers Festival is coming up in July, and I'll be attempting to sweep the home brew competition this year at the Jackson County Harvest Fair. I'm starting BJCP (beer judge certification program) training in a few months with the goal of being certified by September (to assist in judging at the Harvest Fair).

Christmas in July!

This Friday, July 24th, its "Christmas in July" at Southern Oregon Brewing Company. As many of you may know, we saved one keg of Old Humbug, our winter warmer from 2008. Well its time to drink it! We will tap this keg of liquid spirit and cheer on Friday at 4 PM. There will be Christmas cookies, Christmas music and who knows, maybe Santa Claus will make an appearance? Wear your Santa hat or your ugliest Christmas sweater and come down to the tap room and help us get an early start on this years yuletide season! Sorry, no growler fills, just pints of joy!

Press Release: Wild River is hosting "Care for Kelly" Fundraiser

Wild River® Medford host Care for Kelly fundraiser.

Once again Wild River® steps up to the plate this time to support a struggling family that has been ignored by the state health system.

Medford, OR July 15, 2009: Wild River® Medford, part of the Wild River® Brewing Family, will host a Care for Kelly fundraiser, Wednesday, July 22^nd. Wild River® will be donating a portion of all proceeds directly to the family of Kelly Parmenter. Kelly is a former Wild River® employee and long time community resident of the Rogue Valley. Tuesday’s fundraiser will only be at the Medford Location 2684 North Pacific Hwy. (541)773.7487

Kelly Parmenter is a 33 year old wife and mother to two beautiful young daughters Sarah age 10 and Kristen age 12. Kelly became drastically ill about 3 years ago, with rapid severe symptoms that became fully disabling. She urgently worked with doctors trying to understand what was going on, why her body seemed to be fully shutting down. Finally a diagnosis of an untreatable brain tumor was received. For months she could not find a surgeon that would consider surgery. Finally after exhaustive pressure she got a surgeon at OHSU to do a biopsy on the tumor which is on a stalk between the optic nerve and the pituitary gland.

The surgery did little to improve her situation but she was moving forward to getting medications to help restore some life functions. However OHP has denied her the medications that she desperately needs in order to survive with some form of basic life functioning. There are two major prescriptions that are very expensive and not covered. The first is Humatrope Growth Hormone manufactured by Eli Lilly. OHP initially denied coverage of this medicine but with pressure from Kelly's doctor at OHSU they eventually gave her a waiver and begin paying for it; for about a year. Then nearly two months ago, out of the blue she did not receive the shipment, no notice no warning just no shipment. After contacting the pharmacy she found out OHP stopped paying for it. This prescription is over $1000 per month and apparently has severe side effects if you stop taking it suddenly. She could not even begin to pay for the drug even after selling off most of their possessions and maxing out their credit. This is a drug that is not on the formulary and only because an exception had been made was she receiving it. Because she has suddenly stopped taking the drug her health is even more rapidly spiraling downward and will probably be fatal very soon. She does not qualify for assistance from Eli Lilly because she has "Health Insurance" OHP. The second major medicine that OHP will not cover is DDAVP Nasal spray. The manufacture is Bausch and Lomb. She is receiving medication assistance on this one from Sanofi Aventis, however, their limit is 8 bottles out of the 12 she requires every 3 months. OHP also does not cover this one, they never have. It is appx. $100.00 per bottle, and 1 bottle lasts her 1 week. She has used all of her available credit just trying to keep up with the expense of maintaining the difference.

Contributions can be made at Wild River® any time and Evergreen Federal “Care for Kelly” Kelly Parmenter account.

Please find it in your heart to join the Volunteer crew at Wild River® in Medford Wednesday, July 22^nd for this incredible opportunity to help someone in our community.

Premium Dark Lager - Session Dark!

I just saw that Full Sail will be releasing Session Dark Lager in Hood River tonight!

Session Lager, by Full Sail, is one of the best lagers I have drank in a long time. I have used this beer as an "introduction beer" for my non-craft beer friends.

Full Sail is now introducing Session Black as the newest member of the Full Sail lineup. A Premium Dark Lager. I hope that by using the Session name, they aren't just hoping to ride on the coat tails of a great beer, but that this dark lager is being named Session because it is a great beer!

Full Sail, if you read this, send me some...otherwise I guess I just have to wait and buy Session Dark when it finally trickles down here to Southern Oregon....

National Homebrew Day and the Big Brew

Calling all local home brewers. Sat. May 2nd is National Homebrew Day, and that means Big Brew! This year the Rogue Valley Home Brewers will be brewing and hosting a BBQ. Contact me to time and location if you are interested. Head over to Beertown.org for more info on the event.

Rogue Valley Homebrewers March Meeting [Update]

This month's meeting is almost here.

We'll be meeting at Dennis Dye's house (contact me for specfic address) this Thursday, March 19th at 7:00 to judge our first quarter brew, STOUTS (BJCP category 13).

I am currently looking for 3 to 5 people to judge and score the entries based on the 2008 BJCP guidelines (attached). If you are interested in being a judge (no experience necessary) please let me know.

Those of you wishing to enter your stout are asked to provide at least 2 - 12oz bottles for judging along with any additional beer for others to sample.

The winner of the taste off will take home a pint glass signed by Charlie Papazian courtesy of Bob and Grains, Beans and Things.

Those of us not judging will take the opportunity to sample the entries and discuss what makes a good stout.

We will also be voting on next quarter’s ‘taste off’ beer. In January we decided the second quarter beer would be an American Ale (BJCP Category 10). This month we will narrow it to a single sub category. The choices are 10A American Pale Ale, 10B American Amber Ale, or 10C American Brown Ale

Mark your calendars for the following meetings…

March 19th – Stout ‘taste off’

April 16th – everything hops. From how to grow them to hop characteristics and the sampling of our single hopped beers

May 21st – off flavor workshop. This will be a members only event as dues will be used to offset the cost of the off flavor kit

June 18th – Quarter brew taste off.

CHEERS!

Brian.

American Homebrewers Association 10th Annual Lallemand Scholarship!

(This is a repost from HBD.org by Rob Moline)

Lallemand, the makers of Danstar dry yeasts and Servomyces yeast nutrient,
is proud to sponsor the Tenth Annual Lallemand Scholarship for the World
Brewing Academy's Concise Course in Brewing Technology. The partnership of
Lallemand and the American Homebrewers Association has provided nine
previous winners with what can best be described as a trip to 'Beer Heaven,'
the Siebel Institute! The fact that the scholarship is now ready to award
it's 10th recipient only underscores the value of the AHA/Lallemand
partnership, as both organizations continue to demonstrate leadership in
their common mission, ongoing brewer education, resulting in better beers!.

The scholarship is awarded to a member of the American Homebrewers
Association, and provides full tuition to the World Brewing Academy's
Concise Course in Brewing Technology, held at the Siebel Institute in
Chicago, Illinois, November 2 - 13, 2009, and is valued at USD $3,350. The
winner also receives a USD $1000 stipend to assist with travel and
accommodation while in Chicago, one of America's most exciting and vibrant
cities. .

The famous two-week WBA Concise Course in Brewing Technology will provide
students with a comprehensive knowledge of the brewing process, the dynamics
of brewery operations, and socioeconomic issues affecting the industry.

How to Enter
AHA members may enter the contest by filling out the online form at
http://www.beertown.org/apps/scholarship/form.aspx. You will need to know
your AHA membership number, which appears on your AHA membership card and on
the address label of your Zymurgy magazine. If you do not know your
membership number or would like to join, e-mail info at brewersassociation.org,
call 888-822-6273, or visit the membership page at
http://www.beertown.org/homebrewing/membership.html .

The contest entry forms must be submitted by June 9, 2009. Only one entry
per AHA Member will be accepted. Entries will also be accepted in
registration at the AHA National Homebrewers Conference in Oakland, CA, June
18-20, 2009.

AHA members can get an additional entry in the contest by submitting a
ballot for the AHA Governing Committee election, visit
http://www.beertown.org/homebrewing/election.html. All ballots must be
submitted no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Time, March 31, 2009.

Winner Announced
The drawing for the Lallemand Scholarship will take place at the AHA
National Homebrewers Conference in Oakland, CA during the Grand Banquet on
June 20, 2009. The winner must have a current AHA membership at the time of
the drawing to be eligible.

Scholarship Rules
Members of the AHA Governing Committee, Brewers Association Board of
Directors, staff of the Brewers Association, Siebel, Lallemand, and anyone
who has previously been awarded any scholarship to the Siebel Institute are
ineligible. Awarded courses must be completed within one year. Winners must
provide a written statement on their Siebel experiences to the AHA/Brewers
Association/Lallemand/Siebel. Rights to publication of report and
photographs of the winner are granted to the AHA/Brewers Association, Siebel
and Lallemand.

For more information on the Lallemand Scholarship, visit
American Homebrewers Association Lallemand Scholarship and Danstar, or
contact Rob Moline at danstar at mchsi.com .

More information on the WBA Concise Course may be found at
http://www.siebelinstitute.com/course_desc/concise_tech.html , and a
detailed course catalog of all offerings of the WBA is at
http://www.siebelinstitute.com/catalogs/pdfs/2009_wba_catalog.pdf .