National Homebrew Club Ireland

Hey all,

Belatedly looking for a best date for our first Belfast meet of the year, in our new venue of the Bridge House (Wetherspoons) on Bedford Street.

I've put up a number of Weds and Thurs from now till mid-Feb, so please select ALL the dates that suit you.

We'll go with the winner and book it in the latter half of next week.

Cheers and MERRY NEW YEAR!! WE HAVE BIG FUN!!
(Bogooley-Bogooley-Bogooley- HAH!
Bogooley-Bogooley-Bogooley- HAH! )

-Barry

Great stuff Bazza!  ;D

I'll close the voting on Friday afternoon, but looks like 4th and 5th of Feb are neck and neck. We can argue, fight or flip a coin if it comes down a sudden death sityeeatchin.

In the meantime, keep the votes coming.


Cheers,

-Barry

Im in London so sorry lads wont work for me

Thursday's suit me most. Voted accordingly. Hope to see you all again soon.

Thursday would also suit me.

Alan

Okay, so voting's been locked and the poll is now closed. We have a winner of the 5th Feb  - Thursday week.

I'll get on the blower to Wetherspoons today to confirm.

Cheers,

-Barry

Okay, so I've provisionally booked 'Spoons for 8pm on Thursday 5th Feb.

I'll phone them again on Monday, just to confirm, and will update with exact location i.e. floor, etc.

Did I mention that Thursday's Curry Club  :D

Cheers,

-Barry

Great stuff!

Gonna have to give this a miss - double booked and I'm on duty that night but hopefully next time!

Cool I've never been. What's the format of these meets?

Quote from: banjobrew on January 29, 2015, 12:26:34 PM
Cool I've never been. What's the format of these meets?

Format usually involves guys with bags containing the fruits of their effort shuffling uncomfortably in one corner of the venue looking nervously around for other similarly nervous looking guys with bags (usually to be found in an opposite corner).
The venue, during all this, have no idea of any scheduled club meeting, and disinterestedly sell them a beer to settle their nerves and gather their thoughts.
Suitably empowered by the hit of alcohol, one member from each of the twiching corners does the slow, back bent, eyebrows up and down slide to a middle point whereupon they both whisper at the same time in a barely audible tone: 'Homebrew Club?'

The resulting relief is palpable throughout the room, new friendships are immediately struck, the venue suddenly realise they might have taken a call some weeks back about a club meet, and hastily arrange a spot for them in some far off corner to commence their meeting.

Anyone else who happens to call in at this stage leaves promptly, scratching their head in confusion, as the cloud of amnesia once again descends on the premises.

Anyway, that's enough about the old venue. Wetherspoons is an as-yet untried animal at this stage. I'll speak to them early next week about exact location and the possibility of putting up a sign near the door.

Format is pretty informal: Introductions, buy beer, try each other's beers, buy more beer, general brewing chat. Q&A...

We used to do this weird thing called an 'agenda', but that usually disappeared in the above-mentioned cloud of amnesia.

-Barry

As we lost our venue to JDW ( Old Boro in Swords) we will be watching this with interest. Please keep us informed as to how you get on withe JDW (Am sure it will be down to the managers)

Will (NCB)

Quote from: Bazza on January 29, 2015, 01:28:30 PM

Quote from: banjobrew on January 29, 2015, 12:26:34 PM
Cool I've never been. What's the format of these meets?

Format usually involves guys with bags containing the fruits of their effort shuffling uncomfortably in one corner of the venue looking nervously around for other similarly nervous looking guys with bags (usually to be found in an opposite corner).
The venue, during all this, have no idea of any scheduled club meeting, and disinterestedly sell them a beer to settle their nerves and gather their thoughts.
Suitably empowered by the hit of alcohol, one member from each of the twiching corners does the slow, back bent, eyebrows up and down slide to a middle point whereupon they both whisper at the same time in a barely audible tone: 'Homebrew Club?'

The resulting relief is palpable throughout the room, new friendships are immediately struck, the venue suddenly realise they might have taken a call some weeks back about a club meet, and hastily arrange a spot for them in some far off corner to commence their meeting.

Anyone else who happens to call in at this stage leaves promptly, scratching their head in confusion, as the cloud of amnesia once again descends on the premises.

Anyway, that's enough about the old venue. Wetherspoons is an as-yet untried animal at this stage. I'll speak to them early next week about exact location and the possibility of putting up a sign near the door.

Format is pretty informal: Introductions, buy beer, try each other's beers, buy more beer, general brewing chat. Q&A...

We used to do this weird thing called an 'agenda', but that usually disappeared in the above-mentioned cloud of amnesia.

-Barry

Haha I genuinely had a good chuckle at this. Also I imagined this exactly. Peering around corners and thinking to my+44 7568 160800self "does that guy look like he brews his own beer? ...nah he's drinking bud, couldn't possibly."

I'm working until 9:30 that night but I'll stick my head in on and see if anyone is still about!

Come on Bazza.....New Year.....New Attempt at Agenda. It's gonna be different this year.

Wat time does the meets normally kick off ? Gonna try it down 2 it :) be my 1st 1.

Normally 8pm is about right. Everyone's generally there around that time and then it's just however long it takes for everyone to get a beer and a seat!

Just off the phone confirming with Spoons.

We'll be upstairs in the training room (same room as CAMRA use for their meetings). Just ask a member of staff to point you in the right direction.

We'll see how it works out in the room versus a more open environment.

As for who's going, I'll set the ball rolling here:

1) Bazza


Cheers,

-Barry

P.s. Alan, will you have a chance to talk to your mates at Nature's Way about the meet?

1) Bazza
2) Quiet_Man

Quote from: Quiet_Man on February 03, 2015, 11:39:50 AM
1) Bazza
2) Quiet_Man
3) Roo.....getting the train...whoop whoop

For the agenda?
I want some help with corny keg set up. I'll take photos of what I have and all yall can tell me what exactly I need? How's that sound

Hi folks. I'm from the maiden city but currently living in Belfast so I'll do my best to make it!

Unfortunately I've nothing bottled at the minute to bring along

Quote from: Roo on February 03, 2015, 10:09:11 PM
For the agenda?
I want some help with corny keg set up. I'll take photos of what I have and all yall can tell me what exactly I need? How's that sound

Great idea. I'm sure there'll be enough collective experience there to get you well on your way.

Quote from: Will on February 03, 2015, 10:47:55 PM
Hi folks. I'm from the maiden city but currently living in Belfast so I'll do my best to make it!

Unfortunately I've nothing bottled at the minute to bring along

Nice one Will. Everyone's welcome, laden with bottles or not.

TBH, since I've moved to exclusively kegging, my bottle reserves have all but diminished. I got a Blichmann beer gun at Christmas for such occasions as tomorrow, but haven't had a chance to try it out yet. Also, all but one of my kegs got depleted over Christmas. Been brewing like a bugger last couple of weeks but nothing's ready.

Cheers,

-Barry

Should make it down with a bottle or two of black IPA in the bag. 

Guys.....just for info....I just saw a tweet about a meet the brewer event in The Hudson tomorrow night from 7 30. Knockout, Fulcrum, Red Hand and Hillstown will be there.

http://www.gapwines.com/events

Some details on their web page about the event.

Also see next month's Meet the Brewer is with Weird Beard on 5th March.

Quote from: Quiet_Man on February 04, 2015, 08:44:59 PM
Guys.....just for info....I just saw a tweet about a meet the brewer event in The Hudson tomorrow night from 7 30. Knockout, Fulcrum, Red Hand and Hillstown will be there.

Hmm... in light of this,  how's our numbers looking for Spoons?

-Barry

Won't be missing the weird beard night, but still about tomorrow.  As is Shane I think.

I'll be at Spoons, meeting some real brewers! Heh, heh.

Haven't been doing much. Have a Coffee Porter to bring along. Poor imitation of Ciaran' s.

Quote from: Quiet_Man on February 04, 2015, 10:54:07 PM
I'll be at Spoons, meeting some real brewers! Heh, heh.

Hah. No worries. I just got this fear that I'd be sitting there alone in a large room explaining to the Spoons staff 'There's normally more than just me comes to these things'. Having said that, I be interested in finally making it to at one of those meet the brewer nights. Criminal that I didn't make the 10-minute walk down to the Errigle last Friday  :-[

Quote from: Quiet_Man on February 04, 2015, 10:54:07 PM
Haven't been doing much. Have a Coffee Porter to bring along. Poor imitation of Ciaran' s.

Interesting. Porter's next on my list to brew and have a few questions, especially around how much and when to add the coffee, e.g is it enough to just bung in a couple of shots of espresso after initial fermentation.

Some good topics for discussion tonight.

-Barry

I'll be there this evening and will bring along 2 bottles of my Best Bitter (TT clone). Will also bring along a few Corny keg bits and pieces and off course a couple of plastic jugs!   Don't forget the bottle opener!!!
Heard on the grapevine ( pun intended!) that House of Homebrew is setting up their own Brew Club and are plannnig monthly meets...not just for beer but wine, kits and the like.

Alan

Quote from: Quiet_Man on February 04, 2015, 10:54:07 PM
Poor imitation of Ciaran' s.

Behave yourself.

Quote from: Bazza on February 05, 2015, 09:35:08 AM
Interesting. Porter's next on my list to brew and have a few questions, especially around how much and when to add the coffee, e.g is it enough to just bung in a couple of shots of espresso after initial fermentation.

Pretty much yeah, it was a 2 gallon batch of porter which we split in two.  Left one alone and the other got a dose of 4 shots of cooled espresso at the end of primary fermentation.  Pity it was 1 gallon, kept 2 bottles for the NHB competition and the rest was all gone long ago.

Just back from Spoons there. Strictly research purposes only. I researched a curry and 2 pints.

All looks good.

-Barry

All sounds good everyone! Really disappointed that I can't make it down - have a pale ale I wanted some feedback on but hopefully next time  :-[

Upstairs room,  folks.

-Barry

What a great night lads. On the train back to Gods country. I like to judge beer by the mantra of "I'd buy that!" Let's just say I'd be clean skint! Top class brews from top lads. I don't know if I'm wanting American IPA, Timothy Taylor clone, Black IPA or a robust porter.  There's stuff there that could be a success commercially.

Ditto.

Great night. Some great beers.

Fair play to Spoons too. Very  helpful and accommodating. Plus,  they remembered the booking!

-Barry

Quote from: Bazza on February 05, 2015, 10:59:08 PM
Plus,  they remembered the booking!

Definitely a good thing!!!

Sounds like a good night then - how many turned up?

Great night, learned a lot and met some good lads! I'll definitely be back again.

All samples last night are worthy of a place in their respective categories!

Good luck in the comp and after those comments I might even submit a bottle myself!

Great night and Spoons did you proud Barry: room, glasses and even mints for the trip home! I really enjoyed myself and hadn't laughed as much in a long time and oh, there was some great beers there as well! To be repeated.

Alan

Hi guys,

I was on the phone to the manager of Spoons earlier this week, pretty much thanking them for being so accommodating.

He did ask would we prefer to be in the same room next time, or would we prefer to be in a little reserved section of the bar. For the latter he would need a day's notice and some idea of numbers but basically not a problem either way.

I think some of you said you'd prefer to be nearer the bar next time so just want to gauge opinions for the next meet.

Cheers,

-Barry

P.s. Also, will we stick with Fox's Glacier mints or do we prefer something more exotic like Mintos or After Eights?

It would definitely be less formal in a sectioned off area of the bar.  And also make it easier for late stragglers to find us or for any inquisitive potential members to find out what it's all about.  Either way as long as they're selling sixpoint bengali I'm happy :)

Quote from: Ciaran on February 13, 2015, 12:16:42 PM
It would definitely be less formal in a sectioned off area of the bar.  And also make it easier for late stragglers to find us or for any inquisitive potential members to find out what it's all about.  Either way as long as they're selling sixpoint bengali I'm happy :)

I'll second all of the above but in particular the last point.

Would definitely be a good idea to be available for inquisitive potential members.