Cedar Rapids Brewing Society

NewBo is happy to host this event on Saturday, Nov. 4.

We will discuss this topic at tonight's meeting...perhaps those that are interested in participating can meet immediately at the close of the membership meeting to discuss details.

We are also cleared to include pouring samples....right next to their bar in NewBo.

The schedule thus far....
9 AM - Setup
10 AM - Be ready to engage the public
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. Details to be provided later - we can demonstrate partial mash brewing, display the materials and tools or our craft...maybe brew a Mead? It's up to us.
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Clean-up, pack-up, and depart before closing at 6 PM.

What are we needing to complete this? AG brewing partial mash? I might be able to do this

Perhaps we volunteers should get together over a pint or two to discuss ideas and who can bring equipment.

I think a BIAB brew would be a good demonstration. Or an extract plus specialty grain. Or both.

A static display of an all-grain system would be good too. I could bring my vessels, but not the stands.

I assume that since this is indoors that whatever we do needs to be electric heating. With that, what power is available?

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Good point about it being inside, i didn't think about that, that would count me out being I'm all propane burners in my setup, bummer

We could still use your help at the event even without your gear.

Or, we could use your gear except for replacing the burners with electric.

Or, we could move outside.

We just need to think through our options.

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Yeah I guess you're right Karl if the club or somebody has a tent that we can Brew outside in that would be great, in case it's raining

I have talked with some of the folks at NewBo and here is the overall plan.

They are going to check to see if the Kirkwood Kitchen is booked on that day, if not, we might be able to use it. It is equipped with a gas stove (only 1?, I haven't looked that close).

If we get the kitchen, we can do some partial mash demo's there.

We also have the North Patio booked for us, supposedly that is where the hops are growing, the vines are still there - might be a little frost-kissed by then, but would be a good backdrop. That will be our secondary brew location, if we get the kitchen. We could use it to run demos in parallel or to brew there if a larger system shows up. If we do not get the kitchen, this will be our primary brew location....but there is electric available out there, I do not know if 220V is available.

They can provide us with tables to use....and probably a few chairs.

We also have been invited to pour at this event - not required - but it could be fun....an extended version of our monthly Happy Hour at Lion Bridge. And we would set up and pour, right next to their bar. That is where they put Lion Bridge, Big Grove, etc....when the breweries come in to pour.

Overall schedule....we get access at 9 AM, even a little earlier as the coffee shop opens at 8 AM. I would like for our first demonstration to be ready to go at 10 AM (their high traffic time is 10 AM - 2 PM, and it tapers off from there). So....

10 AM - First Brew - Partial Mash- Water is in the pot heating up to receive the partial mash
11 AM - First Brew - add LME/DME
11:30 AM - Boil begins, start hop profile
12:30/12:45 PM - Boil ends
1:30PM/2:00 PM - Cool wort
2:00 PM - 2:30 - Aerate
2:30 PM - Pitch
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Repeat (perhaps starting the last brew around 12PM - 1PM).
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Try to wrap up the demos in the 4:30 timeframe and begin cleanup. We will have access to the NewBo dishroom, which has sinks and such, so we can clean our equipment.
Plan to be out of there before 6 PM.,

Depending upon the stove's capabilities, this schedule might be ambitious. If we use Blichmann burners outside and minimal wind, this schedule is definitely achievable.

If we get a BIAB volunteer, and we had a second stove inside, we could stagger start the batches - the BIAB will take longer with a one hour mash...but if they were somewhat in parallel, that could be a nice demo.

We definitely need to refine the schedule and presentation.....but we can do that after we know who is willing to brew.

SO.....This is the call for volunteers to brew. Please respond to this post if you would like to actively participate in brewing....even if only in a supporting role, if you are uncomfortable in speaking to the public. Please respond with your availability and perhaps a description as to what you would like to do....in terms of brewing.

I am willing to brew, I can be there at 9 AM to setup, and I will be there throughout the day. I will brew at least one kit; I might be willing to do an all-grain.


As per Karl's suggestion....after we get some volunteers, I will call a meeting for next week to discuss details, develop some elevator speeches on how to homebrew and about our club, etc.

More later...

I would be interested in doing Brew in a bag or an All Grain batch I don't know the size of the patio but I did check with one of my buddies who has a tent it's around 12 by 38 I don't know if that's too large for that patio area but if not and it is raining it would definitely be nice to brew under and also have area for on lookers to stand under and not get wet

Thanks Joel, I think it's going to be a great brew day.

We will be under cover on the patio. I might go down to NewBo tonight and just check out the lay of the land....maybe stop by Stephen's shop and buy something for the weekend. We should have more than enough room.

Question to the club and just a minor one, but should we contact BIY and see if they want to have a poster of their business displayed at this event? Help support our LHBS. Anyway just an idea...

Schwerkraftbrauer wrote:Question to the club and just a minor one, but should we contact BIY and see if they want to have a poster of their business displayed at this event? Help support our LHBS. Anyway just an idea...

And a good idea....I am plannng to stop by and pick up a stack of cards and hand them out to folks who would like more information on purchasing supplies, kits, and equipment.

I've had cooking classes in that kitchen. There are at least 4 full sized gas stoves in there - more than we'll need. They are industrial (restaurant grade), so they put out some BTUs on high.

NewBo has the kitchen booked for that day, so we will be out on the patio, but under cover.

Took inventory of what gear I have available and it looks like I can reassemble much of my original all-grain rig. This includes picnic cooler HLT and mash/lauter tun, propane burner, pump and hoses. But, a kettle and immersion chiller are still needed as I sold those years ago having upgraded to an 240-Volt electric-fired system.

Can someone offer to loan me a kettle (10-15 gallon) and immersion chiller for the event? If so, we could demonstrate a starter all-grain process.

Also, I'll need a table and preferably a couple of milk crates to elevate the HLT above the mash tun.

Then there's the matter of what style to brew. I've got base malt and a number of crystal malts and roasted barley on hand. What do you think would make a good demo?

I was going to bring my muscle rack it's what I usually brew a three-tier system on I also have two blinkman floor burners as well as a immersion wort chiller, and a 15 and a half gallon Keggle boil kettle and a 8 gallon HLT. I didn't know somebody else had already spoken for doing an all grain demo is it too much to have two going side-by-side or would it be better to do something different like Brew in a bag? I mean biab is about the same thing as doing an all grain just seems easier if you if I have the equipment for an all-grain just to do it and not have to mess with lifting and squeezing out a bag but I'm okay with either, Club decision, and as far as recipe Karl, I was thinking about it too I would say something that does smell good boiling to attract people over such as a brown ale or a stout and a porter Etc although a IPA with the boiling hops would attract The Hop Heads in the crowd LOL