Sunday, April 22, 2007

The April Gathering

Yes, we're still active, despite few posts and comments on this blog!

This has been a busy month for most of us. Between the semester coming to a close at IUP and the onset of good weather (that means yard work and just getting outdoors!) it's been difficult to get people together for a weekday evening.

This month, just a few of us (Nate, Jon, Lacey, Karl, Eli, and newcomer Jason) met on Tuesday, April 17 for a small tasting. Jon and Lacey provided a 2005 and 2006 Stone Old Guardian, and Nate provided the 2007 for a nice little vertical tasting. Old Guardian is a very nice barley wine and it gets better with age. The 2005 was smooth and warming. Definitely one to buy and put to sleep for a few years in the cellar.

Jason brought a few Bells Oberon Ale and Nate provided a few Troegs Dream Weaver Wheat, so we sampled a few nice wheat beers. Nate also had a bomber of Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA, which was alright but not a total crowd pleaser.

Eli treated us to his first batch of homebrew, and ESB which he coined an ESC (extra special corn). Admittedly, the beer had a few flaws (Eli criticized his own work most harshly, as most of us homebrewers do), but it looked great, had a thick, rich lacing head, and was well carbonated and free from infection. It turned out better than Nate's first homebrew years back, for sure. But that's the joy and frustration of learning a new hobby. We look forward to more from Eli!

May's meeting will be on the 1st or 2nd - not sure of the location or theme yet, but we'll send information soon.

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