Newest Threads

Ebbtide · 01-28-2013, 03:30 PM

Thanks for the heads up mnielson. I'll give it some thought.

It looks like we have enough interest to have a good little beer tasting session.

rgbolton1 · 01-29-2013, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mneilson

The Hogtown Brewers are a pretty good club...lots of knowledgeable, fun, laid-back people. Little in the way of politics here, although they do appreciate it when people volunteer for events.

Speaking of events, the brew club runs the beer tents for the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, which took place this weekend and will be continuing next weekend. If you're coming to the faire, come by and say 'hi'!

Does Hogtown have members that are newer to the hobby or mainly veterans?

**MichaelBrock** · 01-29-2013, 11:33 AM

The club has been around for more than 25 years so naturally we have quite a few veterans but we have added something like 30 members just since I joined last August. We're adding new members fairly continuously and I know of at least 2 new members in just the last few weeks.

For some reason there is quite a bit of misinformation floating around about the club. I avoided joining for more than a year because I heard that they were "just a bunch of guys really into competitions". Of course we have members who are in it for the competition (the club pays your fees for competitions in Florida and ships your entries) but any given member is just as likely to be in it for the camaradarie, the events (like the currently ongoing tent at the Gainesville Medieval faire), or even the food (great food at meetings). We definitely have more casual brewers than those focused on competition.

Edited to add: And for the beer! The club is as much a beer & mead appreciation club as it is a homebrewing club.

rgbolton1 · 01-30-2013, 12:41 AM

I see on the website meetings are mostly at members homes. How is it with new members you just fill out an app and just show up or you let them contact you? Im interested in joining but am not originally from here and dont know anyone in the club.

**MichaelBrock** · 01-30-2013, 12:50 AM

No need to even fill out the application first. You are welcome to simply show up at the meetings and deal with the application afterwards if you prefer, or bring it to the meeting. Membership isn't a particularly formal process. If you do join, you'll know people in the club pretty quick! They really are a very friendly group of people. We are manning the beer booths at the Gainesville Medieval Faire this coming weekend (and last weekend) so feel free to come by and introduce yourself if you make it to the faire.

ArcaneXor · 01-30-2013, 01:09 AM

The Gainesville beer community is pretty broad, generous and welcoming - there really are no separate "cliques" of pro brewers, homebrew shop patrons, club members, and "unaffiliated" homebrewers any more. But the club provides a lot of the "glue" through their craft beer festival and involvement in the Faire.

If you are new to the area, I would encourage you to attend a club meeting and stop by the shop (they are not affiliated despite the similarity in name), and before you know it you'll recognize and be recognized by a half dozen people each time you set foot in Stubbies, the House of Beer, or Tall Paul's, for instance. And while you are there, you may be drinking a beer that was designed by a Hoggetowne Brewer, used some Hogtown ingredients, was kegged by a Hogtown patron, etc. Welcome aboard!