Falcons, sign up now for the July Club Shop Brew Session as Board Members Matt and Andy lead the crew in brewing a Belgian Witbier, your ultimate warm-fermenting, cool-drinking summer brew, on Sunday, July 31!
Witbier, white beer, bière blanche, or simply witte is a delicious, creamy, fruity, refreshing, highly aromatic, light straw colored barley/wheat ale with coriander and Curacao orange peel brewed mainly in Belgium and the Netherlands. Hoegaarden is the gold standard, and the style was first brewed in the Flemish village of Hoegaarden in 1445, and revived in the 1960s by Pierre Celis, a milkman who grew up next to a village brewery and sometimes helped with brewing. He started a new brewery, de Sluis, in his hay loft, to produce Witbier. It derives its name from suspended yeast and wheat proteins that give the beer a cloudy appearance. It is a descendant from those medieval beers flavored and preserved with a blend of spices and other plants known as "gruit" rather than hops. Today, Witbier is typically brewed with softly floral and spicy Czech Saaz, Styrian Goldings or other noble hops. The beers sometimes are a little tart due to the presence of lactic acid. Sugar is added to lighten the body, and (if you're up for it) a decoction is used to get that high-protein creamy mouthfeel.
Sunday, July 31
8:00 am
Home Beer Wine & Cheese Making Shop
22836 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills
Click here for a map
Everyone participates, from start to end of clean-up
The brew session will use the Falcons' 40-gallon all-grain brew system at the shop. There are 5 spots on this brew crew, including the crew leader (s), and the Falcon's Share, which will be poured at club events. All Brew Crew members will participate in all aspects of the brewing process from measuring and crushing the grain to clean up and fermentation. Yeast will be provided, unless otherwise announced. We need one crew member to step forward to ferment the Falcon's Share at home!
Economical & educational
Yeast will be provided for participants, but you may also choose to use your own yeast. Each participant will pitch in for the cost of ingredients (usually $10-$15 cash), and take 5 gallons of wort to ferment at home. So it's very economical and a great opportunity to get some hands-on brewing experience on a larger, more sophisticated brewing system than most homebrewers have access to, learn new recipes, and, of course, a chance to hang out with your fellow Falcons and share brews and snacks. Bring a carboy, bucket or keg for your wort, or buy one in the shop.
You must be a dues-paid Maltose Falcons member
Your membership status will be verified prior to your spot being confirmed on the brew crew. You must sign up here by clicking the "Sign up for March Club Shop Brew" link below. Please email me your FULL NAME and CELL PHONE NUMBER at publicity@maltosefalcons.com so that your membership can be confirmed and you can be reached if there are any problems with your membership or with the brew day itself. No exceptions.
One Club Shop Brew Session every three months
No experience is necessary. We welcome new members, or members who have never been on a Brew Crew, to sign up for this event. If you have been on a Brew Crew within the past 3 months, you can still be on the waiting list if slots are left empty by brew day. Signups are at the end of this event posting.
First-come, first-served basis. Sign up online only
No sign ups will be accepted via the Yahoogroups, comments on Facebook, or emails to the crew leader or the Publicity Director. Once the crew is filled, members can be on a waiting list. Email publicity@maltosefalcons.com to ask about getting the waiting list. Participants are expected to arrive on time and stay until all equipment is cleaned and stowed and the work area and clubhouse are cleaned up. That is often after 4:00 PM. The Leader(s) of the Brew Crew is responsible overall for making sure that the equipment is properly handled and cleaned up, although the whole process is participatory and everything is up for discussion and debate. The Brew Crew Leader MUST provide a write-up and a few photos for the newsletter, and have all participants sign a liability waiver and submit them to the Board.
All are welcome to hang out & observe!
Anyone, non-members included, is welcome to observe and learn the all-grain brewing process, hang out and chat with the Crew. Beer and snacks to share are always welcome.For questions, please email me.
Proost!
Matt Myerhoff
Publicity Director, Maltose Falcons
Publicity@maltosefalcons.com