What do your Homebrew Clubs do?

[crusader1612]

Hi All,

here in Christchurch New Zealand, we have just officially started a Homebrew club/association.

I wanted to knowwhat you americans etc. do at your meets and what ideas you have for your memebers to stay engaged, and excited about paying a membership fee each year.

Our launch was at a local brewery in the city, where they brewed 800 Litres of Wort to take away. (Nice Simple Pale Ale)

Our next event is a Fault tasting session with a beer judge.

what other ideas have you got?

Cheers.
Rob:fro::fro::fro::fro:

 

[Dynachrome]

We have an event like your "launch" that we refer to as "The Big Brew". ...about the same volume. We have our own equipment I believe. 250 gallons capacity. I haven't made it to one of these yet. We also host a competition which is state-wide entries from Wisconsin and I believe some from Minnesota and Illinois. We call it The Golden Growler.

https://byo.com/photos/gallery/60

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=9936.0

We also attend charity events and donate samples of our homebrew to advance their causes. I donated recently for the "Rythym and Brews" event to support Alzheimers awareness and research.

http://wdez.com/events/event/station/5111/12th-annual-rhythm-brews/


We have monthly meeting ans beer tasting and discussions. Occasionally one of our members will pick a topic like lagering or such and put together a presentation on it for the club.

We also hold a Christmas party and a summer party for our membership.

 

[crusader1612]

We have an event like your "launch" that we refer to as "The Big Brew". ...about the same volume. We have our own equipment I believe. 250 gallons capacity. I haven't made it to one of these yet. We also host a competition which is state-wide entries from Wisconsin and I believe some from Minnesota and Illinois. We call it The Golden Growler.

https://byo.com/photos/gallery/60

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=9936.0

We also attend charity events and donate samples of our homebrew to advance their causes. I donated recently for the "Rythym and Brews" event to support Alzheimers awareness and research.

http://wdez.com/events/event/station/5111/12th-annual-rhythm-brews/


We have monthly meeting ans beer tasting and discussions. Occasionally one of our members will pick a topic like lagering or such and put together a presentation on it for the club.

We also hold a Christmas party and a summer party for our membership.

That's awesome information man.
Thanks so much!

 

[Homercidal]

Usually each month we discuss business of the club, such as:

Upcoming events, like recently each of us brewed an Imperial Stout and the club bought the barrel and we filled it with the beer.
We sometimes host competitions to raise funds and give feedback and prizes to homebrewers in the area.
We host Big Brew Day and Learn to Homebrew Day through the AHA.
We get together and brew outside of those events and share food and beer while brewing.
4 times a year we brew a style and hold a Club competition. Points are earned and the winner at the end of the year gets bragging rights.
W attend beer events together.

After each meeting something different happens. One of us might give a brief talk on a subject of brewing, like water chemistry, hops, malt, temperature control, yeast, starter making, etc.

We usually share a few homebrews and discuss what we taste. It gives feedback to the brewers.

Our club mission is a combination of having fun and educating people.

 

[douglasbarbin]

My club mostly just drinks beer....but then again, there are no club dues or fees.

 

[brick_haus]

Our "Grand Hydrometer" (Drew Beechum) gives a style presentation and provides several liquid examples.
Willing participants bring samples of their homebrew to share and discuss
Drew puts on a troubleshooting clinic where he will try your beer and discuss ways to improve it.
"Brew with a Falcon" events where someone invites a few members to their house for brew day.
Monthly "shop brew" on our 1bbl system.
Annual homebrew competition
bjcp classes
camp outs
the list goes on!

 

[BrewmasterBrad]

Our club, Brewcommune, has regular meetings in odd months and club brew days in even months. The club meetings consist of a style presentation, general discussion and sharing of homebrew for feedback. We usually meet at various breweries or homebrew shops. Club brew days are held at a member's house and is usually accompanied by sharing of homebrew and rare commercial beers as well as copious amounts of food.

Membership dues help pay for commercial beer examples presented during the style presentations, upkeep of the club equipment (portable bar, jockey boxes), web site fees, and prizes awarded at our annual holiday party.

Keeping members engaged (sort of like herding cats) is the most difficult party of running a club. Regular meetings that contain useful information is a huge key for us.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

Keeping members engaged (sort of like herding cats) is the most difficult party of running a club. Regular meetings that contain useful information is a huge key for us.

So true though it depends on the audience. I was president of our club for 3 years before stepping down to VP. For a while each meeting I tried implementing a 20-30min "tech session" after discussing club business but eventually gave it up. A few enjoyed it but the majority of the club is there to socialize about stuff other than beer. Theres nothing wrong with that but I realized putting together monthly discussion topics and laying out info for people who really aren't that into it was a waste of my time.