New time, new place?

[sub82]

Hi everyone - just starting a thread, as suggested, to discuss what people think about future brew meets.

The Hudson on a Friday plan was started as it suited best at the time but if it suits better we can shake it up a bit!

What does everyone think? We could plan the meets for earlier in the week or look at a different venue? Just any thoughts, ideas, incoherent ramblings would be great!

[Amac47]

For me the ideal situation would be a private room above a bar and that we should aim for the meetings to occur on a regular basis. Say, on the first Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of each or every other month; this would allow members to organise their schedules around the regular date. Failing that we are unable to get a private room and may well have to share a bar then the logical solution would be to have the meetings on less busy nights...a Tues, Wed or Thursday.  I think that it is important that we get to talk about beer, sample each others brews and have those more knowledgeable  brewers pass on their skills to the novices. 

Alan

[Bazza]

+1 Alan

I'm on for the less busy weeknight solution. As for location, there's still a lack of pubs offering decent craft ales, on draught anyway, even less outside of the central Belfast area. (Personally, I prefer places that do draught as you can drink bottles any time).

My knowledge of newer pubs around Belfast is limited but here's a provisional list of possibilities:

Hudson
JD Wetherspoons
Errigle
Bittles?
Alley Cat?
Garrick (no craft on draught but plenty in bottles and it's a good pub)
Pavillion (Big House) again, no craft on draught but always have guest ales in bottles)


Shit, that list is smaller than I thought. I'm sure there're more than that.

My preference would be one of the first 3 in that list, edging mostly in favour of the Hudson.
Can't do Mondays or Tuesdays but we can put all that sort of thing to a vote.

Cheers,

-Barry

[Amac47]

Barry

I'm not really up on the pub scene around Belfast as I lived in England for the best part of 30 years but I agree with you in that we should  for a bar that sells craft beers and preferably draught beers.  I think CAMRA bars might be the most sympathetic to our plight and I noticed that most of those on your suggestion list are just that.  Maybe you should organise a good pub crawl to test the waters so to speak...but count me out as I'm too old for that now!

Alan

[Bazza]

Haha! A pub crawl for 'research' purposes. Like it

Maybe wear a white coat and goggles just to make it look more scientific.

-Barry

[Amac47]

I remember having a stag night pub crawl along Gt Victoria Street.   Robinsons was the starting post and then onto the Crown, Beatin Docket, Laverys at Shaftesbury Sq, Club Bar, Students Union, The Egg and then the Bot and finally topped it off at the Wellie Boot (Wellington Park).  A pint and a half un at each stop...a few didn't make the finishing line...I did!

[sub82]

Nice one lads! I'd also thought about the Garrick, Errigle and Pavilion because they definitely have rooms upstairs. I'll check with the Hudson to see if they've a more private room.

Just a thought and in no way going against any previous suggestions but would using a private room make us more unapproachable for new members?

For the date I'm pretty flexible and could probably do most days later in the week.

[Quiet_Man]

Don't usually vote or comment about meets as I can never commit until a few days before, so am prepared to go with the majority about dates/venue.

However - I wouldn't disagree with a bit of planning (to avoid the A word)!

There is obviously meets to exchange beers, get feedback, share knowledge, drink the pubs beer, fall off stools, etc - but what about things like brew days (need a lot of planning), or socialising (pub crawls, brewery visits, meet the brewer, travel to another NHC club event), maybe a xmas meet, etc - all need advance warning. Or even, challenge each other to SMASH brews..........

Just some thoughts................

[Amac47]

I would think the advantages of holding the meets in a private room would outweigh any disadvantage of making us unapproachable to new members.   Being able to discuss each others beers without a background din and to feel uninhibited about opening our beers is a good thing. Also one could, as the 'quiet man' suggested, organise trips to breweries, maybe initiate some bulk buying of grain and brewing competitions.  A Xmas meet would be a good time to start.  I also think that if a few fliers about impending meets were posted in homebrew shops then these might bring in new interested parties and then it would be up to the club to makes these meets interesting enough to keep them coming back and expand the fold!

 

[sub82]

Good points Alan! I think a bit of formality will do us well.

I've checked with the Hudson and they can offer us Wednesdays in the middle floor or the heel bar (small room out the back). I can give the Garrick a call if anyone is up for contacting some of the other venues.

[matthewdick23]

Laverys could be a shout. They are about to be doing some very interesting things...would be cool to be involved with them.

[Amac47]

I will give any place a go just as long as we can get a private room.  A Wednesday night at the Hudson sounds fine. Anyone else out there with any preferences, ideas, suggestions or the like?

[sub82]

Laverys could be a shout. They are about to be doing some very interesting things...would be cool to be involved with them.

Sounds interesting!

[Quiet_Man]

Anything going to be sorted for an October meet?

[sub82]

Not sure man - if there's interest we could maybe hold out until the first Wednesday in November and have that as the first of our mid-week meetings.

What do you think?