Volume 13, Issue 10 The Saturday Evening Prost October 2004 The Official Newsletter of the Bay Area Mashtronauts http://www.mashtronauts.com/

Latest news flashes: Monthly meeting for October is on the 12th at the Outpost, on the right just south of the intersection of Egret Bay/El Camino with NASA 1 It's October, so the style of the month must be Belgians. This month's highlighted LR11 sponsors: Clear Creek Animal Hospital and Perfect Beauty Hair & Nails Salon.

Regular features: The Mission - Where are we and what are we doing in this handbasket? The Commander's Briefing - the MC laments the passage of time. The Countdown - BOTY, meeting minutes, calendar. Crew Brew Review - Odds 'n' sods. Orbit-ale Repairs - Mashtro-nicknames.

The Bay Area Mashtronauts c/o Brian Bartz 18065 Upper Bay Rd., Ste. 230 Nassau Bay, TX 77058 The Mission

The small print: The Bay Area Mashtronauts is a club dedicated to the art and enjoyment of fermented beverages. The club is associated with the Homebrewers of America and supports the American Homebrewers Association's goal of brewing better quality beers and enjoying them responsibly.

Annual dues are $20 for individuals ($30 for families) payable in January (or pro-rated at month of joining).

The club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Outpost, on the right just south of the intersection of Egret Bay/El Camino with NASA 1. Meetings begin at 6:30pm. The officers and newsletter staff assume no responsibility for the accuracy of any story in this newsletter. Read and believe at your own risk; what do you think this is anyway, the National Enquirer?

The cockpit crew: Mission Commander (and Prez): John "The Rookie" Schmalz [email protected] Pilot (and vice president): John "The Mad Baker" Jurgensen [email protected] Payload Specialist (and treasurer): Brian "Bartzbrau" Bartz [email protected] Comm Specialist (and secretary): Joachim "Jocko" Beek [email protected] Data Input Specialist (and club PRster): Scott "Dangerboy" Storey [email protected] The Force (and club conscience): Mike "The Force" Wiley [email protected] Reach the entire "front office" at [email protected]

Our generous Lunar Rendezbrew XI sponsors: These folks helped us...please return the favour! Featured this month:

ò Alltemp Control - residential/commercial heating, a/c, appliances [281-482-9098] Clear Creek Animal Hospital ò Auto Cool-it - automotive a/c repair and custom systems [281-337- 3704] ò Autohouse of Switzerland - European auto repair in midtown Houston [713-523-2363] ò Bayview Duck - authentic English pub and restaurant just south of Kemah [281-339-3510] ò BJ's Restaurant and Brewery [www.bjsbrewhouse.com] - Clear Lake's brewpub [281-316-3037] ò Boondoggles - pizzeria and pub in El Lago [281-326-brew] ò Brian Bartz - CPA [281-335-1823] ò Clear Creek Animal Hospital [www.clearcreekanimalhosp.com] - Clear Lake vet care since 1971 [281-326-5523] ò DeFalco's [www.defalcos.com] - inside-the-loop brewing supplies [713-668-9440] ò Kolache Bakery - fluffy not stuffy kolaches in Old Town, League City [281-338-0446] ò Molly's Pub [www.mollyspubs.com] - 15 locations around Houston [281-486-0971] Perfect Beauty - Hair & Nails Salon ò Outpost Tavern [www.outpost-tavern.com] - a Clear Lake tradition [281-333-1235] ò Perfect Beauty - Hair & Nails Salon [281-488-8802] ò Rent-a-W reck [www.rentawreck.com] - car rental [281-486-5553] ò Saint Arnold Brewing Company [www.saintarnold.com] - Houston's first microbrewery [713-686-9494] ò The Brew Stop [www.brewstop.com] - northside brewing supplies [281-397-9411] ò TheLaserGuy.com [www.TheLaserGuy.com] - custom laser engraving [281-455-8008] ò Two Rows [www.tworows.com/houston/] - Houston's oldest brewpub [713-529-brew] The Commander's Briefing

Another month is gone already!

Wow, another month has gone by! I've really got writer's block this month. I'm sure most of you are just as glad as I am that I will not be writing these newsletter articles anymore. I've really run out of things to say, and it's too early for the trip down memory lane. So I think this will be short.

Dixie Cup is this month. That's usually a good time and I would love to see us do well again this year. We are responsible for the Fred tasting this year so if you can, please try to make it out Friday night and help out. We are going to need about 10 to 12 people. Last year I think I was the only Mashtronaut around at the start of the Fred tasting.

Club officer nominations are this month, and though we have some fun with this, we should make certain we have people who are able to fulfill the posts, even if they are not overly willing. And that of course, means that elections are next month. The meeting in November is moved from the second Tuesday to the second Saturday, as that is also our interclub meeting. It will start early with the annual stout brew-in and the actual meeting will take place early in the afternoon. I'm thinking around 1:00.

The Outpost Tavern has volunteered to provide whatever beer we want as long as we let them know a week ahead of time. We will still have to purchase the beer, but at least we will have some options now instead of only St. Arnolds. Which is not a knock on St. Arnold amber ale. It will just be nice to have some variety. It is the spice of life after all. Of course there are other spices too, like salt and pepper and allspice, but I digress.

And finally national and local elections are coming up early next month. If you have not already registered to vote it is too late and shame on you. We have soldiers dying in foreign countries who are trying to secure the vote for others, to say nothing of the sacrifices out founders and earlier generations have made to secure your right to choose who will govern you. It is a sacred trust and should not be taken lightly. Although I care whom you vote for, all I'm going to say is on November 2, GET OUT AND VOTE.

That is all! John Schmalz. Mission Commander. The Countdown

September's minutes

* Meeting place: the Outpost...Monthly style: Oktoberfest. * Foam Ranger visited to announce Dixie Cup ...nickname assigned to absent newbie ...new La Quinta owner announced free beer at hotel grand opening.

What's on tap for October

* Meeting place: the Outpost...Monthly style: Belgians * Officer nominations, Dixie Cup events, holiday pub crawl, Nov meeting is inter-club meeting * Don't forget your St. Arnold's pint glasses!

Brewer of the year competition

Beer Styles of the Month: W e have a winner! September's 1-2-3: Wayne January - Stouts and Porters Hughes, Mike White/Bill Kilty, and Jonathan February - Amber Ales Procknow. Others: Wayne Hughes (to style), John March - British Isles Jurgensen (2 not to style). Jan- April - Nuts & Bolts JulLR11SepPts May - Lagers and Light Ales Jun June - Beer, American Style TheMadBaker 380 60550 20 1010 July - Wheats Mr Drysdale 260 45480 35 820 August - Rendezbrew ribbon winners Stumpy 285 - 120 - 405 September - Oktoberfest Rambo 60 - 195 35 290 October - Belgians Dr Know 140 1545 30 235 November - Big Ass Beers: Barleywines, Dubbels, Tripels Allspice 10 - 160 - 170 December - Holiday, Specialties, Novelties, the Force 45 - 95 - 140 Liquors, Ciders, Meads Bro Don, Bubbles 45 - 60 - 105 Scott Koehler - - 100 - 100 Brews judged for the style-of-the-month: Mr. Haney - 1015 60 85 45pts for first place Rookie 45 - 30 - 75 35pts for second place 30pts for third place JB the Elder, Skipadeaux 20 - 45 - 65 others: Maxgrav 30 35- - 65 15pts for bringing a to-style homebrew Peppah - - 65 - 65 10pts for bringing a not-to-style homebrew BobZ 60 - - - 60 Frosty 15 - 35 - 50 The small print: entries due by 6:30pm, your two Sodium, PapaJoe - - 50 - 50 best brews count, must be shared with rest of club Barnacle Bill, Jake the 15 35- - 50 to be eligible for points. Snake Tom Nix - - 45 - 45 Extra pointage for local competitions: MOASS, King of Angst 30 - 15 - 45 ò Lunar Rendezbrew - all entries count Bartzbrau - - 35 - 35 ò Bluebonnet, Crescent City, Sunshine Challenge, Big Batch Brew Batch, and Dixie Tom Heig, Jim Rich - - 30 - 30 Cup - all winners count (otherwise only your Mike M, Chuck 25 - - - 25 best six beers for Dixie Cup or your best two Popeye 15 - - - 15 beers for the other 4) SWMBO, Lee Spinner - - 15 - 15 ò 50 pts for Best of Show, 40 for Honorable plus 15 to everyone for entering N&B Mention (well, ok, except Frosty/Bartzbrau)

The Club Calendar

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2004 Day Week Month Year Event Lists Tasks Jan Feb Mar Printable View Apr May Jun October 2004 Jul Aug Sep Monday Tuesday WednesdayThursday Friday Saturday Sunday Oct Nov Dec 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 W eek 7p F.A.R.T: Today is: July 16, 2005 40 Bayview Duck Time Zone: U.S. Central 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Tasks [Add Tasks] 6p F.A.R.T: 10a Dixie Boondoggles Cup 1st rd judging at Search Events St Arnolds W eek 41 Go 1p Octoberfest Advanced Search at Haak Winery in Santa Fe 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 6p 6p F.A.R.T: 8a Dixie Dixie B.J.'s Cup Cup Barleywine W eek 6p Dixie Cup 42 1st rd tasting, judging Fred Tasting 2nd rd cont'd judging, if pub crawl, needed awards 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 W eek 6p F.A.R.T: 43 Molly's League City 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 W eek 7p F.A.R.T: 44 Molly's LC

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The Mashtronaut calendar is always available at http://calendar.yahoo.com/mashtronauts/ Crew Brew Review

Odds and ends - a bit of this and a bit of that. As collected, sifted, and compiled by Joachim "Papa Joe" Beek

[http://www.realbeer.com/] YOU KNEW THIS: BEER GOOD FOR YOU Another study, this one out of Canada, reminds beer drinkers they can enjoy the same health benefits from their favorite beverage as they can from red wine. Researchers at the University of Western Ontario found a drink of either beer or wine provided equal increases in plasma antioxidant activity. The increases help prevent the oxidization of blood plasma that triggers diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and cataracts. "We were very surprised one drink of beer or stout contributed an equal amount of antioxidant benefit as wine, especially since red wine contains about 20 times the amount of polyphenols as beer," said biochemist John Trevithick, one of the researchers.

[http://www.realbeer.com/] INFLATABLE PUB Airquee, a British company responsible for the first blow up church, has also designed a fully working inflatable pub. The pub is 40-feet long, 19 long and 22 high. It can be customized for use as a fully working pub, with room for a bar and 30 customers. It can be erected in 10 minutes with two small blowers and can be put on any firm, level surface. Of course, installing a system to serve beer adds to set up time. Andi Francis, the designer at Airquee who came up with the idea, said: "You can do everything you would do in normal pubs. You can even smoke and play darts in it. It has a traditional feel and is themed on great buildings around the world." [Does it come with inflatable barmaids?]

Other news from http://www.realbeer.com/: ARMY CLAMPS DOWN ON WWW.BEERFORSOLDIERS.COM "...regimental briefs said it was unethical..." ANGEL CITY BUYS BREWERY ON EBAY "...Bowe slammed in a last minute bid of $150,100, and the brewery was his..."

[http://www.beertown.org/] LAST CALL IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM Many a bartender has likened his establishment to a zoo, but beer-drinking critters made headlines twice last week. First came the tale of a discriminating black bear in Washington state who was found passed out after drinking 37 cans of beer at a resort campground. And not just any cans. "He drank the Rainier and wouldn't drink the Busch beer," said Lisa Broxson, bookkeeper at the campground and cabins resort east of Mount Baker. Fish and Wildlife enforcement Sgt. Bill Heinck said the bear did try one can of Busch, but ignored the rest. "He didn't like that (Busch) and consumed, as near as we can tell, about 36 cans of Rainier." When agents tried to 86 the bear from the campground, the animal employed an old frat boy trick and climbed a tree to sleep it off for another four hours. Agents finally herded the bear away, but it returned the next morning. Agents then used a large, humane trap to capture it for relocation, baiting the trap with the usual: doughnuts, honey and, in this case, two open cans of Rainier. That did the trick. Then came word that drunken elephants in India had tramples six people to death after drinking homemade rice beer. "They smashed huts and plundered granaries and broke open casks to drink rice beer. The herd then went berserk killing six people," a forestry official told AFP news agency. The elephants reportedly emerge from the forests looking for food and have developed a taste for a local brew made from rice. Officials say at least 150 have been killed by elephants in India in the past two years .

[http://www.whitelabs.com/customerclub.html] White Labs Customer Club White Labs creates customer club to reward loyal White Labs customers and retailers. Customers can redeem empty vials with White Labs and receive special prizes, including free yeast, t-shirts, glassware, subscription to BYO, personal visit by Chris White ... Orbit-ale Repairs

Mashtro-nicknames as assigned by Mike "the Force" Wiley and culled from his email proclamations

1. Chuck (formerly Chuckeeeee) Fulcher: As we have learned, if it's Russian, DA! It is Chuck. He brings comrades to BAM meetings; talks of travels to the mother of all that is borscht; and secretly carries a few rubles at all times. For that, he deserves some Russian Space love... Chuckski? NYET! Vladimir? NYET! For Mr. Fulcher, I bestow upon you my most favorite space term that is Russia through and through... From this day forward, Mr. Chuck Fulcher is bestowed the Mashtronick of SPUTNIK! Wear your "sput" well, my comrade!

2. Lonnie and Deb: Recent members who love the judging table at The Outpost and are another pair of afficianados of the greatest beers in the world (THAT'S RIGHT, DAMMIT!!!! IF IT'S NOT BELGIAN, IT'S SCOTTISH!), as I perused your entire website, I see plenty of nickname material... Do I play up the Belgian theme? Do I "Ph" everything? Nah -- what we are remiss in our club are some good 'ol tye-dyed, folk & blues influenced, wish it were Woodstock/Kerrville/SXSW/Bumbershoot everyday nicknames for our club... So, for you two, from this day forward, you shall traipse the hopped fields of BAM-dom as: Lonnie "GUTHRIE" and Deb "MOONBEAM" MacAllister... a/k/a "THE PHUN COUPLE!"

3. Notably missing from the business end of our meeting was RON (nick to be named later) ARMER. Mmmmmmmmmmmm -- trash talk and no appearance??? Well, for those of the Mashtronauts that were present, we collectively decided to do what we do best -- PUNISH PEOPLE WHO DON'T SHOW UP AT MEETINGS.... A choice of nicknames was presented for a vote: a) THE HAMMER or b) NANCY. Did I mention that RON was missing from the business part of the meeting?? Needless to say, in a fair and balanced vote without dangling chads, the club decided that our newest witted scribe will don the BAM nickname Ron "NANCY - the Velvet Hammer" ARMER. Next time, be ON TIME, sailor. Yes, Ron did eventually show up to accept his award (thank you sir, may I have another?)

4. Speaking of nicknames, Mr. Middleton has promised some info for me, so watch for his nick soon, and, John Delapp, one of our latest Bammers and newspaper editor/typesetist/paperboy has volunteered his lifelong nickname, "PICA" (yea, like 12 pt. type)... So it shall be. So it is done. PICA, you are hereby Mashtronicked by your, er..... "size."

5. Late Tuesday night, as we were imbibing on some St. A's, listening to NANCY squeal about her nickname, discussing the political future of $$$ and what do I notice? The STRIKING resemblance of JIM RICH to the true "acting' Quaid, RANDY. This observation was confirmed by others of this club (perhaps it was the beer -- OH WELL). After flashbacks to the long and storied career of Randy Quaid, it was agreed that his memory MUST be maintained by our club. With that in mind, I bestow onto JIM RICH and pronounce to all Bammers his official Mashtronick-- KINGPIN !!!