Cedar Rapids Brewing Society

The October 2010 meeting of the Beer Nuts is on Thursday the 21st at 7:00pm. We're meeting at our house (Michelle and Randy Carris) this month, which is a little off the beaten path for most people. We're out near Stone City, just over the Jones County line. It only takes about 10-15 minutes to reach our house from Hwy 13, so it's not really that bad. However, feel free to arrange carpools if you like.

The address is 10502 246th Ave, Anamosa, IA 52205. Any of the online mapping tools should have no problem giving you directions, or if you use a GPS it should take you right here. See the map below. Here's directions:

From CR and Marion: Take Hwy 151 east towards Anamosa. A couple of miles past Springville look for Linn-Jones Rd. It's the next road after mile marker 47. Turn LEFT on Linn-Jones Rd. Drive a mile to Fairview Rd (it's a T intersection). Turn RIGHT on Fairview Rd. It's less than a ¼ mile to 246th Ave, which is on your left. There is a street sign, a big sign that says “Stone City Log Homes”, and a post with RED reflectors marking the drive. You need to pay attention because it's easy to miss the driveway into the development.

From Hiawatha and Robins: Take County Home Rd East. Go past Hwy 13 and continue East. Go through Wittier and Viola. After Viola, County Home Rd becomes Fairview Rd. After about 1 mile you'll pass Linn-Jones Rd on the right. It's less than a ¼ mile to 246th Ave, which is on your left. There is a street sign, a big sign that says “Stone City Log Homes”, and a post with RED reflectors marking the drive. You need to pay attention because it's easy to miss the driveway into the development.

From Mount Vernon, Solon, and I.C., Take Hwy 1 North to Hwy 151. Pass under 151 and continue North to Fairview. Turn LEFT on Fairview Rd. After about 1 mile, you will come to the road to Stone City, County X28. Continue on Fairview Rd. It's less than a ¼ mile to 246th Ave, which is on your right. There is a street sign, a big sign that says “Stone City Log Homes”, and a post with RED reflectors marking the drive. You need to pay attention because it's easy to miss the driveway into the development.

If you get lost, call my cell phone at 721-2442.

Our house has a looped driveway. There's room for a number of cars, plus additional parking along the edges of 246th ave. In the photo below I've highlighted the best places to park in yellow.

If the weather cooperates, we'll be meeting outside in our back yard. We'll have a nice fire going in our fire pit. I don't have a lot of fire wood, so if anyone can bring some that would be great. Lawn chairs are another item that would be nice.

The next food competition will also be judged at this meeting. The theme this time is Beer and Cheese. Here's the info from Tony:

tony b wrote:General rule is that the dish can be either hot or cold, but MUST contain BOTH Cheese (any variety) AND Beer (any variety). The judging is based upon not only being tasty, but clearly highlight both key ingredients.

Ask folks to post if they plan to enter so we get a rough head count. They don't need to post what they're bringing, only that they plan to bring an entry.

I will make up the voting materials like for the brisket comp. We might split it into "Hot" and "Cold" entries. It would be hard to compare a hot Queso dip with a Cheese/Beer bread.

Since it's October, I'll call the beer theme as Octoberfest or other German styles. As unusual, you can bring other beers too, especially if they pair well with cheese. I'll encourage the group to hold back the big IBU beers until everyone has a chance to judge the food entries, however, so we all have working taste buds.

Thanks Randy for the very detailed instructions. I know this is a bit out of the way for folks, but hope they make the trip.

I'd also like to remind folks that it is election time and if your planning on running, please make sure you display your intentions under the members only area under the current thread.

I'll also announce the winners of the brown comp at this meeting as well and have your judging sheets.

I know I plan to go. It really is not far from my house.

Randy, sure looks like your pole building is the right size for a start up brewery.

Yeah, and what kind of dog food you giving the dogs.. it looks like along the road and your front yard is glowing yellow!!

hahah.

It is like Randy has a crystal ball. That is what it will look like after the meeting.

Yeah, the pole building is bigger than the house, which is kinda cool! I've definitely fantasized about a brewery there. I do plan to eventually move my brewery operation out there when I get more funds. I'd like to set up an electric system sort of like Lee's. The barn already is wired for 240V and has water too. And to think I bought the place before I had any idea I'd be brewing!

As for dog food, my dogs only eat Redpaw. They keep most of the peeing, however, to the area behind the house which is fenced in. So maybe Matt is on the right track with his idea. But with the food competition at this meeting plus the brown comp results, I suspect we'll have more than enough of a pissing match without the yard marking!

I just wanted to post a reminder to keep this on people's minds. I encourage people to coordinate shared rides. This might be a good one to bring your spouse along as a DD if they are willing. There's also room for a few people to crash here as long as you don't mind sleeping on the floor.

The weather looks like it will be nice but a bit cool. Dress accordingly as the plan is to have the meeting on the deck and around the fire pit. Does anyone have any firewood they can bring? I have a couple of bundles left but that won't last long.

Also, this is the Beer & Cheese food competition. Anyone is welcome to come out before 7pm if they want to. I have a gas grill if anyone needs it, and the stove and microwave in the house are available too. We should be able to handle a few crock pots as well. I'll have a table or two out on the deck for serving.

I'd also suggest bringing lawn chairs if you want to sit around the fire. I have a few but not nearly enough for everybody.

Thanks for the reminder Randy,

The beer & cheese competition will have 2 divisions for judging - hot and cold. I mean hot as in temperature, not spiciness. Although spiciness is strongly encouraged!! Remember, there must be either beer or a beer ingredient(s) combined with the cheese in the dish. Judging will be on both taste and creative use of beer & cheese together. Entrants are encouraged to bring an index card or some other label describing their dish so people know what it's all about. Please leave off any personally identifying information, as we'd like to keep the judging blind as to who the cooks are, similar to the brisket competition. Example, I shouldn't label my entry "Pimp Chimp's Fabulous Cheese Whiz".

Have fun with it and Good Luck!!

I have a growler of IPA I need to empty. I will be bringing that tonight.

Hey Randy, I left a brown "Peace Tree" growler at your place noticed it when I got home. Could you please secure it for me, thanks bud!

I've got the growler Jeremy.

Thanks again Randy for having us out to your spread. It was great to see we still had a good size group, and even more impressive alot of the new folks made the trip!

It was a litte tough reading by the fire for notes, but it was a fun twist for a meeting, everyone last night earned their beer drinking badge.. Good Work.

A reminder the next meeting is tentatively at Brian's house, club dues, BYO orders, and Specialty Beer Comp is also on the horizon.

If you are entering the specialty comp, please bring that to the next meeting.

Yes, good times! Thanks Randy for hosting. Drinking beer around an open fire speaks to our inner cave brewer! All we needed was hunks of meat on sticks!!!

Only 3 entries in the Beer & Cheese comp, so we might try this one again down the road. Big T was the winner with his "last minute cheese ball." Honorable mention to the other 2 entries, Randy's cream cheese & cherry beer brownies and my pimento cheese ball w/Cascade hops and Victory Malt crust.

Be thinking ahead for early 2011 for the next food event. Likely candidates are chili or soup.

Also, I believe the winners for the Brown Ale comp were:

First - Derek Doan
Second - Dave Rhinehart
Third - John Buck

Yes, those are the winners. Big congrats to Derek, Dave & JJ.

There were lots of "loser" browns being poured last night, too!