National Homebrew Club Ireland

As we're already into August it might be a bit short notice for an August meet, so how does Friday 26th September sound to everyone?

The Hudson have said this should suit but are to call me back and confirm.

Hi Chaps

I probably will be scarce in September, going to the States for 2 weeks for work then moving house on around the 26th

Cheers
Andy

Aye, should be fine for the 26th. I'll just postpone washing my hairs till the following Friday.

Any other takers out there?

-Barry

Yep, I'll be there.

I will be there

Alan

Hi everyone - I was just confirming the date with the Hudson yesterday. Unfortunately the person I spoke to said that we're no longer able to sample homebrews on a weekend night. Not sure why there's been a change of heart but the main reason seems to be that, at the weekend, the bar will be busy and they don't want other people seeing us opening our own beers.

We can still use the Hudson and sample homebrews but it needs to be earlier in the week when the bar is quieter. I was chatting with Barry about this and it seems we've 3 options:

• Pick a day earlier in the week.
• Choose a new venue which will allow weekend sampling (any suggestions would be great!).
• Continue with our original plans but have no sampling and organise some sort of homebrew swap, a kind of homebrew swinging, if you will!

I'll add a poll to see what people think and any comments would be great!

I can see their point. I don't mind mid-week, my job's far more enjoyable when I roll in half cut.
Alternatively, don't the local CAMRA branch use an upstairs room at the Bridge House for their monthly meet-up?

I'm mostly with Yarmot on this one.

I'm not a lover of doing these things on a Friday, mainly because we usually end up being bunched in with all the Friday drinkers and it can get very crowded. Now a lot of that can be put down to the Hudson never being able to remember a booking and therefore not reserving a space for us. I can understand, however, any bar's reluctance to reserve an area for a crowd of folk who are going to come in and drink their own beer for 2 hours on a busy Friday, whilst surrounded by a surge of regular paying customers. Now, I know there's the unwritten rule that we also buy from the bar but I guess it's also down to the perception of the regular punter who comes in and sees this going on, without the benefit of the full facts.

Weekdays mean more breathing space, better chance of a booking remembered and we can drink our own samples. There is the obvious downside of work the next day, etc. Then again, for those of us whose kids have numerous stuff on early from early Saturday through to late Sunday every day is effectively a weekday  >:(

On the subject of other venues, I can't see it being any different anywhere else on a Friday night; in fact for a lot of bars it's their busiest night of the week.
Yarmot's point about the Bridge House upstairs room could be one line of inquiry but bear in mind that the CAMRA guys don't go there to drink their own beer. A bar is perfectly in their own right to flat refuse letting people drink anything other than what they bought on the premises.

If Friday 26th still suits most people then maybe we can stick to that date in the Hudson and just bring samples for swapping. The main agenda item would have to be what happens from October onwards.

Personally, as  much as I'm frustrated by the Hudson's lack of consistency and organisation, coupled with the constantly forgotten bookings and the feeling that we're in their way, I still prefer the option of continuing to use them on a weeknight, as long as we can sample our own beer and have more dedicated space. Better the devil you know.

A good number of the other clubs have their meetings on weeknights, so maybe we were the lucky exception up until now.

-Barry

Great points yarmot and Bazza!

So we'll run with the 26th and in the meantime look at what weeknight would suit best? Would anyone prefer a weeknight? I'll give it until Monday and then confirm with the Hudson.

Hey guys,

Room for a complete newbie? Just started kit brewing but definitely keen to learn more. Be useful to meet with some more experienced / knowledgeable folks such as yourselves. Just discovered this board. Really useful but more importantly, extremely active! Definitely good to see.

Jonny.

Hi Jonny - absolutely! The more the merrier!

What kits have you been doing?

Superb!  Thanks Chris.  I'll keep an eye on what you guys are planning then and hopefully be able to make it along.

On my second kit now.  But started with this one.

http://www.houseofhomebrew.co.uk/beer-kits/brewbuddy/brewbuddy-lager-beer-kit

Then I moved on to this one.

http://www.houseofhomebrew.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=459

It's amazing how much you learn just by giving it a go.  Wanna get a good feel for it all before I move on to the all grain brewing but definitely looking forward to giving that a go.

Great stuff Jonny! You've probably already read about extract brewing but we found that a great stepping stone to all grain brewing.

I'm with Barry on this one and would much prefer a weeknight with the possibility of sampling each others beers rather than swapping. Think it's nice to hear the comments first hand about ones brew.  I was with the Bristol Craft Brewers for just under a year...they held their meets on the first Thursday of the month and rented an upstairs room of a local pub. We all paid a sub of £1 to cover room rental.  Anyone know of a bar with a room which they would rent on a monthly basis...I think this would be the better way to go?

Alan

Just to let you all know that this meet is still planned. I've been chatting with a few people at the Hudson and there's a possibility that we might be able to sample homebrews. Apparently the first person I spoke to had us confused with another group. I've been promised an email by the end of the weekend to let me know either way.

@Alan That's a great idea - will have to confirm it but I think if we plan a meet during the week the Hudson should be able to give us a room.

Finally got confirmation today! Wooot!  O0

We will be upstairs in the Whiskey bar of the Hudson on 26th September from 8pm and we will be able to sample homebrews!

See yous all there  ;D

Belfast Homebrewers September Meet (http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/wordpress/event/belfast-homebrewers-meet/)

Nice one Chris! Great work. Thanks for sorting this out once and for all.

I'll not even dare to ask how many times you had to phone them to get final confirmation  :P

-Barry

Haha!  ;D

I've managed to get a mobile number so hopefully it's a direct line to the mainframe!

I'm going to try to turn up, if I can. What's the format, how much Homebrew do we need to bring ?

Glad the Hudson is still a goer for these meets.
Unfortunately I need to pull out of this one, lastminute.com trip to Donegal for the weekend on the cards. I'll get to one of these eventually...

Quote from: DubbelD on September 06, 2014, 07:31:17 PM
I'm going to try to turn up, if I can. What's the format, how much Homebrew do we need to bring ?

Good stuff! Just 1 or 2 500ml bottles is about right, or whatever you can spare.

I will be there and have a Guinness Extra Stout, a TT Landlord and an Irish Amber ale to sample...six bottles in total.

Alan

Great stuff Alan - will be looking forward to these. I saw TT Boltmaker was crowned champion beer of Britain at the GBBF. Is it similar to landlord?

Don't know but I would think it would be very similar to Landlord.
Alan

I might have asked you this already, Alan, but what yeast did you use with your TTL?

Just kegged one myself this week. Didn't have any of the Wyeast Yorkshire strain so went with Notty. The last TTL I did was with S04 and it ended up more like John Smith Than Timothy Taylor, i.e. nondescript and verging on tasteless. Had done a previous one with Mauribrew Ale yeast and it was excellent. Used to love S04 too, but I think it's best for stouts or milds, where there's less emphasis on the hops.

-Barry

Like you Barry I used a SO4.  Can't say that my palate would be sensitive enough to discern the differences between yeast types!  Will be interesting to hear your comments on the meet night.

Alan

So, folks. All set for tonight's meet?

What's the expected headcount tonight? Might as well start one of our famous lists:

1. Bazza (Barry) TTL (untested) and an APA or two


Dare I mention the 'A' word?  :P


-Barry

P.s. Does anyone need empty 500ml bottles? I've more than I know what to do with. Can bring a box down if needed.

I'm planning to shout down for my first meet up with you guys, I'll bring the few brews I have to sample.

Mick.

I will be there with a six pack
Alan

Good stuff. I'm hoping to be there before 8:30.

Cheers,

-Barry

Hey guys,

Don't think I'll be able to make it tonight unfortunately.  Was hoping to make it along and meet some of the local brewers but that'll have to wait I'm afraid.  Another time.  Keep us posted if you plan to do another brew day in the next couple of months like folks were talking about.  Be cool to meet and learn from some more knowledgeable folks.

Anyway, I'll get to one of these another time.  Glad to have discovered this list and look forward to chatting to you guys.  For those of you that manage to make it along tonight have a really good time.

Jonny.

Sorry all been mayhem today but just in the Hudson now!

That was a great wee night! Some good brews on show - thanks to everyone who came down!  :)

Great to have met up with fellow brewers on Friday night...we were 7 in total so not a bad turn out.  Although the Hudson was OK I am still of the opinion that a private room is needed for the next meeting as I found the distraction and noise of the bar made it difficult to discuss and appraise the various beers people brought along.  I also think that if these meetings are to become a regular thing then a fixed night each month should be selected...say, the first Thursday of each month or every other month. I would quite happily host a meeting at my place but I live out in the sticks and transport would be an issue there. I did mention to Barry about trying the see if Natures Way might host us but maybe that is not a good idea as there is always the risk of contaminating the shop with  some wild yeasts or the like!  So ideas needed and also a bit of scouting around for a room. Some feedback on this please esp. from those who attended the meeting.

Alan

Apologies for only getting to this now.

Yep; was a good wee meet last Friday. Modest turnout but great to see a handful of new members join. Always a promising sign.

Alan, to your point about the venue/night, I'm of an open mind. Same venue on a weeknight might mean a much quieter experience, though that's not always guaranteed. I personally prefer to have the meetings in a pub where craft beer is sold on tap so we can sample both homebrews and commercial craft beers/ales. If you're like me and don't get out very often anymore then the nights are very much about quality :) 

Also, you're not the first one to comment about the noise and congestion that is the Friday night pub experience. The point of the club is to encourage new members, not put them off, so if folk feel strongly enough about having meets in a quieter atmosphere then you have my vote (as long as we don't end up all oak panels, suits, sashes and silver spitting buckets a la Frasier and Niles' wine club :)   )

We have talked before about setting a certain night each month for meets and then folk can plan stuff around that rather than the other way round. It does make sense. Unfortunately every time we attempt to broach the subject someone opens the window of the Hudson and that bloody agenda goes flying out on the breeze.

Personally, I prefer to do the meets on a weeknight. Weekends aren't great for me and I suspect that's the case with the majority of folk.
As regards venue; like I say, I prefer to use a good bar but with a more private setup.

I think I'm agreeing with you here, Alan :)

I'd be interested to hear what other folk think. After all, it's our club and ours to use in the way we think is most satisfactory.

Maybe time to start a new thread on the subject.


-Barry

Yep - I also think a weeknight makes more sense and would be easier to plan around than a Friday.

What would everyone make of trialing the top floor of the Hudson during the week? It was pretty empty for a Friday night so possibly very quiet during the week?

The only other place I can think would be the private room upstairs in the Garrick.

Agree with you Barry...a good bar with a private room would be the best option. Are we tied to trying to find a bar in the city centre?

Alan

New thread would be good!

Great stuff lads! Will do.

I'm sorry I missed this, but I was away for work and didn't get home till the Saturday.

Next time...