NHBC Cincinnatti--CLUB NIGHT planning

[olllllo]

We've only done this last year. Search for Denver club night.

We didn't really have a theme, but we served frozen pizza with a pizza oven that I schlepped from Phoenix.

We're headed into doing the same again this year, unless we get on the stick.

Pretzels can be warmed in the pizza oven. hmmm where is that thread...

 

[EdWort]

We can buy pretzels at Sam's club or costco.

 

[olllllo]

We can buy pretzels at Sam's club or costco.

That was the plan last year. The Costco was bereft of pretzels for some reason.

 

[MrFebtober]

We've only done this last year. Search for Denver club night.

Dang, you guys had the ALTAR last year!

 

[MrFebtober]

I'm planning on brewing this weekend. I can brew something for club night. I'm willing to brew whatever you guys want me to that you think would round out the keg selection, that is if you think we need any more. I also have a molasses brown ale of my own design that I brewed a couple weeks back. I expect it to be fantastic. Another possibility would be the batch of apfelwein that's been sitting around for quite a while now.

 

[BrewWench]

What about a popcorn machine? How much do those cost to rent? Or if you have an oven - those ready-to-bake pizzas from Papa Murphy's or wherever?

 

[olllllo]

I have this.

Which is equavalent to what you might find in a Wisconsin type bar.

Since this is all volunteer, we are trying to keep expenses low. Appreciate the thoughts though... keep 'em coming.

 

[RichBrewer]

I have this.

Which is equavalent to what you might find in a Wisconsin type bar.

Since this is all volunteer, we are trying to keep expenses low. Appreciate the thoughts though... keep 'em coming.

I had one of those too until I dropped it digging it out for last year's club night. I think my knee is finally healed! :cross:

 

[MrFebtober]

I have a Costco membership and if we want to do pretzels I can go buy a bunch this weekend and keep them frozen until the event. I can also get some german spicy mustard. There's a place here that's pretty famous for it.

Do we need to take a new keg count? I'm not getting much response concerning how many I should bring, or what I should brew this weekend.

Thirdly, the only theme I've been able to think of is the 'net. I bet there are countless brewers out there that have at least stumbled upon HBT while seaking advice or searching for recipes. So, one idea I thought of would be to make each or our tap handles contain blown-up versions of some of the more memorable and unique emoticons used here, such as and , and maybe (certainly not unique to HBT, but certainly memorable). It could be as easy as foam board cut-outs fixed to the tap handles (I can take care of the construction). In addition to our banner, I can imagine passer-bys seeing the emoticons and then *click* they make the connection that we're that site where they found all that great kegging advice that one time, or whatever. Not sure if that's what you all meant by "theme", but what do you think?

 

[ohiobrewtus]

If you're ok with donating some pretzels and olllllo is committed to bringing the pizza oven, then I say go for it. The spicy german mustard may be a nice touch as well.

As for kegs, I have the same question. I'm bringing a keg of EF and can bring more if needed (Probably a Hefe or a fairly young APA) and olllllo is looking into shipping a full keg to bring. I will PM the others who have previously stated that they could bring kegs and find out if they are still able to.

 

[Yooper]

I'm bringing a keg of the DFH clone. I can bring something else, if needed. I don't have much ready, but certainly can put away one keg and save it! The cream ale and kolsch should be gone by this weekend (graduation party), though.

Don't forget, febtober, that at least a few of us ordered T-shirts from Zazzle. Homebrewtalk.com on the front, and our avatar and handle on the back. They were around $25 shipped. You and the wench could do that, so we could match. (and I mean wench with the utmost respect, of course!).

I'm a little concerned about the beer- it'll be HOT in my car on the way down and overnights in the car on my way down. I'll be leaving at 6 AM that Sunday morning, staying in motels/hotels until the conference. No way I'm lugging those kegs in my room every night! Will my beer be ruined?

By the way, LOVE the pretzels idea. That will be a winner for sure, and maybe not as labor intensive as the pizza making.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Yoop, if you're concerned about it you could make a slight detour on the way to Cincy and drop it off to me and I'll keep it chilled and bring it down. If it's going to be a few days between when you leave and when that would happen then I'm not sure that it's worth it, but the offer stands.

So we've got DFH, EF for sure. olllllo's looking into shipping a keg (I can't recall what style atm). Is 3 kegs enough or should we guide MrFebtober on a style to brew this weekend? I can also brew up a Hefe this weekend if we think we'll need more.

 

[MrFebtober]

I've thought about the t-shirt. I want one, but really feel like I need a worthy avatar first. If I don't come up with anything perhaps I'll just put a on the back, all blown up and pixelated.

I'm no expert, but aren't shifts in beer temp not that big a deal unless it's a fast change? Maybe if you just rolling the keg up in a sleeping bag or two (and keeping sun off it) will allow for such a slow increase in heat that flavor won't be affected.

Anyway, I've been eyeballing your cream ale recipe for the last week and was originally planning on brewing that this weekend prior to taking suggestions. Perhaps I'll stay the course and bring either that or the brown ale i've got going.

Alright, consider BrewWench and I committed to providing pretzels and mustard and one keg of beer (yep, finally got SWMBO to join the fun here at HBT). Any guess as to how many soft pretzels?

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Any guess as to how many soft pretzels?

There will literally be hundreds of people mulling around on Club Night. Granted, most other clubs will have something as well so we're not feeding them all, but maybe a hundred or more? This will depend on if we're still doing pizza as well.

Plus you have to account for mass consumption by the staff working the HBT booth.

 

[Yooper]

There will literally be hundreds of people mulling around on Club Night. Granted, most other clubs will have something as well so we're not feeding them all, but maybe a hundred or more? This will depend on if we're still doing pizza as well.

Plus you have to account for mass consumption by the staff working the HBT booth.

I think it was Richbrewer or Dude who said last year that literally every single thing they put out was scarfed down immediately.

The cream ale really should be cold conditioned some, and isn't really good when it's green. Since it's only 4 weeks away, we probably would need something "faster". I will have a keg of Dead Guy clone that should be ready by then- my husband will kill me if I take it away from him (he said he needs me to leave him some good beer here at home!), but I can do that. It's going into secondary this weekend, and I can keg it in in a couple of weeks, no problem. Let me know if we want/need it.

Cincy is actually my LAST stop on my trip down, at least for that week, so the beer will be in my car with me until then. I'll be in Cincy by Tuesday, though, since I'm doing that Bourbon distillery tour on Wednesday. So, thanks for the offer, Brewtus, but I won't be able to take you up on it. My beer is seeing all of Michigan and parts of Indiana and Ohio before being consumed! I'll try to keep the temperature stable, but it won't be easy!

 

[EdWort]

I'm still working on getting my keg of 13 month old Apfelwein there. I think there are some guys from Austin driving, so it may be able to hitch a ride with them. If not, then I will fill some 3 liter PET bottles with carbo caps on them and ship it.

 

[MrFebtober]

I think it was Richbrewer or Dude who said last year that literally every single thing they put out was scarfed down immediately.

The cream ale really should be cold conditioned some, and isn't really good when it's green. Since it's only 4 weeks away, we probably would need something "faster". I will have a keg of Dead Guy clone that should be ready by then- my husband will kill me if I take it away from him (he said he needs me to leave him some good beer here at home!), but I can do that. It's going into secondary this weekend, and I can keg it in in a couple of weeks, no problem. Let me know if we want/need it.

So, no amount of pretzels will be enough. gotcha.

Okay, the cream ale is out (though i may brew it this weekend anyway) but my molasses brown ale should be in prime condition for the event.

Ed, let me know if you need a place to ship your brew. I can also rack it to a keg if need be.

 

[EdWort]

Sam's Club sells these for $7.48 a box (or 38 cents per pretzel).

If we all kick in for a box or two, we'll have enough for the first 30 minutes based on how long they take to heat up. It will be memorable at least and easier to deal with than pizza.

 

[RichBrewer]

I think it was Richbrewer or Dude who said last year that literally every single thing they put out was scarfed down immediately.

Very true. We couldn't heat the pizzas fast enough! It seemed to be that people were hungry and just wanted to eat. They loved what we had!

I wish I could do more but I'll be happy to chip in money and any labor that is needed. I'm very limited on what I can bring since I'm flying in.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

So who's up for a lunch at Hofbrauhaus in Newport, KY on Saturday? I may be able to talk SWMBO into driving and depending on which car we take we'll be able to fit either 8 (cramped) in the Honda Pilot or 8 comfortably in the Ford Excursion... possibly more if people are willing to 'sit' in the back behind the 3rd row seats.

The lunch time is still up in the air, as I'm going to see if I can get a free tour of the SA brewery in Cincy for us around that time as well.

 

[MrFebtober]

I'm up for the Hof for lunch, though I'll be coming from Kentucky and not Sharonville so I won't be able to offer a ride.

Another brewery worth checking out might be the barrelhouse. I heard they're providing the official beer of the conference, so maybe they already have something set up.

 

[RichBrewer]

Hey MrFebtober! I just saw your SWMBOs introduction thread. I'm looking forward to meeting you both at the conference!
Have you registered yet?

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Hey MrFebtober! I just saw your SWMBOs introduction thread. I'm looking forward to meeting you both at the conference!
Have you registered yet?

I'm pretty sure that they're already registered. If they aren't they might be out of luck. Isn't most of the of conference full?

 

[RichBrewer]

I'm pretty sure that they're already registered. If they aren't they might be out of luck. Isn't most of the of conference full?

I saw on their web site last night that they still have Pro Brewer's Night and Club Night available but I think everything else is sold out.
We can also hook up for some nonconference things too.

 

[MrFebtober]

I'm very much looking forward to meeting you all, too. And, yeah, we're registered for club night, though as ohiobrewtus mentioned, meeting at hofbrauhaus at some point during the weekend would be a lot of fun. Great beer and a great biergarten, too.

 

[RichBrewer]

I'm very much looking forward to meeting you all, too. And, yeah, we're registered for club night, though as ohiobrewtus mentioned, meeting at hofbrauhaus at some point during the weekend would be a lot of fun. Great beer and a great biergarten, too.

This is sounding pretty good to me!

 

[EdWort]

Hofbrauhaus siet gut aus!

Count me in. I'll bring my German hat.

 

[BrewWench]

I love HofBrau's Hefe... I wonder what seasonal they'll have then? Their Schwarzbier last month was incredible.

 

[Bearcat Brewmeister]

I was just at Hofbrau last Monday and they had a nice Maibock.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Any updates?

olllllo - were you able to confirm the booth?

EdWort - has anyone else given you contact information? I won't be arriving until Friday at about noon and I'll need a way to find some folks once we get there.