Newsletter – South Australian Brewing Club

The Mash Tun October: Meetings, Xmas events and summer comp deets announced

October 10, 2024October 21, 2024 Gus K

Thanks to everyone who made it to last month’s meeting. It was a great open-flowing discussion with members and winning brewers from ABCSA and thanks to Mark for bringing along some of his best hazy.

We all learnt secrets to success but what happens at brew club, stays at brew club ‘eh!

It’s what you can learn from other members in person rather than anonymous ‘experts’ in forums is the reason we’re all in a homebrewing club. And, of course, it’s a bonus to go to the Wheaty on a school night.

This week’s meeting, Wednesday, Oct 16 is at The Wheaty from 7pm.

The theme Sam is running with this month is ‘Brew tech that is shiny but useless.’

We’ve all been there – caught up in the latest brewing gadgets, only to find they don’t quite live up to the hype. Have you bought something you thought was essential but barely used? Or regret a purchase because you got caught up in the hype or invested in expensive equipment that sits unused.

On the other hand, have you discovered a hidden gem? Share your thoughts and experiences at the meeting. Show and tell if you can bring it in (sell it off too!) Celebrate the wins and commiserate over the flops!

Bottle bingo as usual. Bring in a homebrew bottle to anonymously swap.

November meeting: Nov 20 The Wheaty. Best practice tips for packaging your beer. Perfect before Christmas. Everyone loves your beer as gifts!

Christmas case swap

We’re working hard on an exciting club day on Dec 15 so keep the date spare. Also on that day, we’re doing the Xmas case swap.

This case swap has been a great success in the past. Due to popular demand, it is back.

Everyone registered brews a batch of beer and brings 12-24 bottles and goes home with the same amount but of different beers. Like a beer advent calendar. Nick McAuley is running it. Any questions ask at the meeting or in the FB group. The event is here to join.

How many ppl: 15 to 20ppl, but more would be fantastic

What: 6pack, 12, or 24 bottle/can swap
When: Sunday 15 December. (daytime)
Venue and time TBC

SABC Summer Competition – focus on wheat

The annual club summer competition is just around the corner in brewing terms, and in 2025 we are challenging you to showcase the best of wheat as the main ingredient. Our CD, Gerard Flynn, has selected eight BJCP categories featuring wheat as the star ingredient. The website’s competition page has been updated so you can find it there later.

Competition details at a glance:

Date: Sunday, 9th February 2025
Time: 11:00 AM
Venue: East Torrent Kensington Gardens Tennis Club
Cost: $5 per entry

Details are in the club calendar. Add it to yours via the subscription links.

Categories:

This competition will feature the following BJCP styles:

American Wheat (1D)
Weisse Beer (10A)
Dunkelweisse (10B)
Witbier (24A)
Saison (25B)
Berliner Weisse (23A)
Gose (23G)
Wheat Wine (22D)

Important Dates:

Portal Opens: Thursday, January 9th
Portal Closes: Friday, February 8th
Drop-off Locations: SA Brewing Supplies, Thebarton to COB Friday or at the venue on the day from 10am.

We encourage everyone to nominate to judge or steward.

Stay tuned for updates. We encourage all members to add this event to their calendars and slot in a wheat beer to your schedule.

Calendar Dates Summary

Oct 16: Club meeting, The Wheaty. ‘Best brewing kit and stuff you don’t need’
Nov 16: Club meeting, The Wheaty. Bottle and filling from kegs and pressure transfers
Dec 15: Christmas bottle swap and brew day!
Dec 18: End of year drinks and pizzas
Jan 15: At the Wheaty where we’ll be A/B tasting a certain beer.
Feb 9: Summer Comp
Feb 19: A side-by-side comparison of R1 filters and how RO works.
Mar 19: Frankenchillers!

The Mash Tun August: The Suburban Brew next week, ABCSA and more

August 9, 2024August 12, 2024 Gus K

Hello brewers, Here’s what happening next week, soon and beyond.

ABCSA is on like Donkey Kong

The ABCSA Home Brewing Championship for 2024 is open for entry! Formerly known as SABSOSA*, this esteemed event has been celebrating home brewing for over 20 years.

Key Details:

Entry Fee: $8 per entry
Entries close online: Thursday, August 29

ENTER NOW and don’t leave it to the last minute when your printer is busted. You need a new account in the portal even if you have entered previously.

If you can judge or steward – get involved! Register your interest in the entry portal.

For full competition details, including bottle drop venue and deadlines, visit the website at ABCSA.org.au

Good luck!

*seriously, this is the last time SABSOSA will ever be uttered.

Next Wednesday’s club meeting

Next Wednesday’s monthly club meeting on (August 21) is at The Suburban Brew at 26-30 Provident Avenue, Glynde (not Goodwood!). The owner and brewer, Tony will give us a tour of this brewhouse and give us the secrets to producing the Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards Gold Medal-winning Sunday Session Ale.

A night not to miss. Parking is available on site or bus 174, 176, or H33 from the city.

Xmas case swap – get brewing

We did it last year and it’s on again. Members brew a batch of beer, bottle it and swap the lot for a random selection of other beers. Put 20L in, and get back 20L of Christmas beers bathed in sunshine and good cheer. Put this in your brewing schedule and we’ll get back with more info soon. Swap venue TBC.

SABC members Blessed with good beer in Laura, SA

A bunch of members had a road trip to see the newly minted Little Blessing Brewing in the old church in the small mid-north town of Laura. Completely built from the shell of the deconsecrated church hall, club member Craig Blessing and his partner have done an incredible job building their brewery. All reports are the beers are great and the atmosphere excellent.

Events and meetings

Club dates are below and in our online calendar. After next Wednesday’s The Suburban Brew meetup, we know the September meeting (18/09) we will hear from the club’s best brewers who scored great results at winter comp and ABCSA. Get the low down on their secrets to success and try their beers.

October meeting (16/10) is looking at all the brewing tools, tech, and gadgets you need, you never knew you needed and the garbage ones you wish you kept the receipt for (curse you Temu!).

Beers offered for presentation and member tasting are always welcome, drop us a line and as always, bottle bingo is always on. Bring a bottle, and leave with a bottle. Anonymous or not, it’s up to you.

Calendar Dates Summary

Aug 21: Club meeting at The Suburban Brew
Aug 31/ Sept 1: ABCSA Bottle drop closes
Sept 7 & 8: ABCSA judging
Sept 14: ABCSA Awards presentation at the Wheaty
Sept 18: Club meeting, The Wheaty. ‘Best brewers reveal their secrets’
Oct 16: Club meeting, The Wheaty. ‘Best brewing kit and stuff you don’t need’
Nov 16: Club meeting, The Wheaty. ‘3V vs Brewzilla system wars, can you tell the difference?’ Beers to taste.

View the updated calendar on the website and subscribe to your Google Calendar or Outlook 365 and don’t miss an event.

Membership lapsed? To renew, head to the SABC Shop and pay to keep access to club events, meetings, competitions and knowledgebase.

Cheers team SABC: Lachlan, Sam, Leon, Gus, Nick, Chris, Julien, Gerard, Gary

Winter comp winners, new committee & August Meeting at The Suburban Brew

July 20, 2024July 22, 2024 Gus K

Greetings brewers. We hope you are enjoying the ‘dark beers’ season. The club met last week for some housekeeping, awards announcements and upcoming events. We also tasted an excellent barleywine that was the result of a member-led barrel project. Delish.

Here’s a big summary of what’s happening below. Get your spex out and read on.

Winter Competition: ‘The Euros’ Results

Congratulations to Russell Saint for winning the Belgian class and Best of Show with his Belgian Single. Other class winners include: German: Kieren Vercoe (German Leichtbier), English: Nat Warnock (English Porter), Scottish: Ben Key (Scottish Export), Irish: Brenton George (Irish Stout).

See the full results on the competition’s page. The judges’s score sheets are available to download. And of course, Spain won the football.

Upcoming ABCSA State Competition

The entry portal and website will update in early August. Key dates to remember:

Bottle Drop: closes at drop-off locations, COB August 31 or by 12pm Saturday at The Irish Club.
Judging: Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8 at The Irish Club, Carrington Street

The portal will also invite judge and steward registrations. We need help to run the competition, so any time you can give is appreciated. There’s still time to brew a comp-winning beer. Good luck!

AGM / Committee Update

The Annual General Meeting was held at the club meeting as required by its constitution. The minutes including treasurer’s and president’s reports will be available soon.

Lachlan Johnson was elected as president. He’s supported by:

VP: Sam Beard, Treasurer: Leon van der Linden, Secretary: Gus Kingston. The General committee members are: Chief Steward: Nick McCauley, General Officer: Chris Kerr, IT: Julien Gibson, Competition Director: Gerrard Flynn, Head Judge: Gary Waters

The committee meets bi-monthly and welcomes the contribution of ideas and feedback.

August Meeting Venue Change

The August club meeting on August 21 (3rd Wednesday of the month) will be at The Suburban Brew Glynde. Owner and brewer, Tony, a former club member, will give us a tour of his one-year-old facility. This brewhouse produces excellent beers, including the award-winning Sunday Session Ale, which recently won a gold medal at the Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards.

Address: 26-30 Provident Avenue, Glynde (not Goodwood!).
Transport: Buses 174, 176, or H33 from the city and plenty of on-site parking is available.

Beer tour to Little Blessings Brewing, Laura

The date is getting close, August 3! Join SABC members for a road trip to Laura in the mid-north on the first weekend in August to enjoy beers crafted by our member Craig Blesing at his brand new (old church) brewery!

Limited spots are available, so please RSVP (or email) if you’re certain you’ll attend. Also, let us know if you’re planning a day trip (about 2 hours drive) or staying overnight. Depending on numbers, we may need separate sessions.

For overnight stays, check out the Laura Caravan Park directly across from the brewery. Everyone gets scones on arrival. It’s a delightful place. When we know more, we can coordinate shared accommodation or rides with fellow members.

Membership Renewals

Many of you might not realise your annual club membership has expired. To renew, head to the SABC Shop and pay to keep access to club events, meetings, competitions, discounts and extras, online group and member brains trust. If you’re unsure of your current status, find out how to check it here. The annual subscription of $60 hasn’t changed in many years and will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. The club aims to give members the best value for money it can, all for the price of a batch of beer.

What’s in planning: another Southern Vales brewery bus trip!

Sling us a line if you need help or want to get in touch.

Calendar Dates Summary

Aug 3/4: Little Blessing Brewery ‘Road Trip’
Aug 6: Committee meeting
Aug 21: Club meeting at The Suburban Brew
Aug 31/ Sept 1: ABCSA Bottle drop closes
Sept 7 & 8: ABCSA judging
Sept 14: ABCSA Awards presentation at the Wheaty (TBC)
Sept 18: Club meeting, The Wheaty
Oct 16: Club meeting, The Wheaty

View the updated calendar on the website and subscribe to your Google Calendar or Outlook 365 and don’t miss an event.

Kveik — Aha, it’s just Norwegian for yeast

October 14, 2019October 14, 2019 Gus K

How good is brewing beer? Even better with friends. Fifteen or so SABC members and a few onlookers shared a great day brewing at Left Barrel Brewing, Balhannah on Saturday. We brewed 280L of American Amber with CTZ and Chinook that came out at 1.066 / 56IBUs. All the brewers took home 20L to ferment as they want. We’ll taste the results of their cold-side decisions at our December/ Christmas meeting.

Thanks as always to Brad at Left Barrel for hosting us again.

This week is our regular monthly meeting at the Wheaty. The main theme of the night is kveik — the new-old rockstar Norwegian farmhouse yeast that’s spinning heads with its clean fermentation profile at high temperatures. Clinton has brewed a beer for us using White Lab’s commercial strain and, along with SABC’s own Professor of Kveik, Mark Pirate, they’ll present the background of the yeast, pros and cons and experiences using it.

Could this be a go-to Adelaide summer yeast? Get your questions ready to hit ’em with. We’ve also got a beer from Kieren (always a wild ride) and other stuff going on.

Don’t forget to bring a bottle for ‘beer bingo’. It’s hard to share a beer with all members so bring one or two to swap. Put your name on it if you’d like some feedback.

Do you have an idea for a club night theme, topic or want to put on a presentation around a style or comparison experiment? Let us know. We can help line things up or supply some ingredients.

In other club upcoming news and events, we’re working on an event for the end of the year. News to come.

Also (but TBC), next month we’ll probably do another off flavours education tasting session (always happy to have a dud beer donated for examination – don’t be shy) and December will be pizzas and the Left Barrel amber ales.

Summer competition

As you’d know the theme is all things Belgian. We’ll be judging on a weekend in mid-late February. So heads up, you might want to get brewing now and also be aware that sometimes the ingredient you need could be hard to get in January. It’s a good opportunity to brew something you might not usually tackle and put you out of your comfort zones.

Also, the Uraidla Show is on November 3 and is back to judging beer and wine. Entry details here [PDF]

Membership renewals and joining are online on our website.

Keep up to date with happenings and social posts on our Facebook Group for members.

It was a dark and roasty night

August 5, 2019August 5, 2019 Gus K

Mid-winter is good in some ways. Dark beers take on a uniqueness that’s better enjoyed (and add some cheese!) but chilling wort is much quicker with cold groundwater.

Here’s a quickfire what’s on.

August meeting – Wednesday 21 at The Wheaty

We are going to be joined by three local brewers who ‘went pro’. The theme is upscaling and lessons learnt — Suburban, Shapeshifter and SK Beverages.

They perfected a beer on a homebrew scale that they believed in. What does a brewer need to think about when making a commercial batch of the same beer and what were some of the surprising lessons learnt?

SABSOSA – share your entry

Also, with SABSOSA entries open, we’re asking everyone to bring a bottle or two of their entries to share one-on-one or two with some of our club members who judge. It might be too late to brew again but it’s not too late to make sure the beer is entered in the right category.

One of the areas some of the best beers fall short is where it’s a great beer but wrongly entered. An IPA where maybe it could have done better as an Americal pale ale, a wild ale that’s a winning saison or an America porter that’s better categorised as a black IPA etc.

Bring your entries to share and talk about. Take a good look at the SABSOSA guidelines too.

We’re also advising on packaging. Please be aware that SABSOSA is not accepting 330-375ml stubby bottles. It was announced last year that it was going to be the last year for stubbies. Read all of the entry FAQs.

The entry portal is now open. You need to create a new account. As you’d all be aware, SABC is running the competition and we do need help. Please sign in and enter your expression of interest to judge or steward that way. It makes allocating judges and stewards to flights easier for Gary.

We also are on the lookout for bottle drop locations. If you can think of any that would work, especially in the southern suburbs, please let us know. Preferably as the venue on our behalf too. That saves us a job. Bottles are dropped off in the last week of August.

Win a 75L stainless kettle.

Every financial member of SABC is in the running to win a brand new 75L stainless steel kettle generously donated by Kieren. We’ll draw the winning entry from the kettle at the August 21 meeting.

If your membership is about to expire, needs renewing or you have a friend that is interested in joining but needs some incentive, get on it before Aug 21. Renew or check membership online here.

All in to win a 75L kettle

July 21, 2019July 22, 2019 Gus K

Thanks to everyone who came to our AGM/ Cheese pairing night — everyone thought it was a great night. We got through the business end efficiently, presented winter comp prizes and moved on to SABC treating everyone with wonderful Wheaty French cheese platters to pair with WBC Yeast Coast IPA, Shiploads Porter along with a beer brewed by Leon with the leftover grain from the club brewday.

Competition time – win a 75L 304 steel kettle

We’ve got a great prize to give away and SABC members need to do nothing to be in the running to win except make sure your membership is up to date. All members are in the draw to win when we pull names from the kettle at the August club meeting on Aug 21.

If your membership has lapsed, or you’re reading this and have been thinking about joining SABC or you’ve got a friend you’ve encouraged to join, as long as you’re paid up by 12pm August 21, then you’re in to win. Checking the status of your membership is easy on our website. Find out how here.

Prize value $300. Kettle offered as-is with no accessories or warranty. Cannot be exchanged for cash. SABC is not liable for any issues or damages caused by its use. Winner will be drawn at the SABC meeting, Aug 21. Prize must be collected in 14 days or it will be offered to second place.

Gawler Show homebrewing competition

Entries for the Gawler Show close on August 9. It’s a good hitout for SABSOSA to test your beers — or enter your winter competition beer. https://gawlershow.org.au/shop/home-brewed-beer/. Enquiries to Rachel Edwards who has taken over the competition this year.

The SABC committee for 2019/20

President: Gus Kingston, Vice President: Luke Moran, Treasurer: Edward Shorne Holden, Secretary: Clinton Fisher, Comms and Social Media: Samantha Wallwork, Competitions Director: Gary Waters, Website Manager: Julien Gibson, Events Co-ordinator: Lachlan Johnson, General committee members: Glen Phillis, Leon van der Linden, Mark ‘Pirates’.

AGM minutes available on request.

Water water everywhere… March meeting and club brew day

March 17, 2019March 18, 2019 Gus K

In this update: March meeting, Collab brew day, SABSOSA help! Wheaty Wildflower enduro event.

This month’s meeting is a return to a more normal format back at home ground — the Wheaty, this Wednesday from 7 pm.

The subject might seem dull but as water makes up 95 per cent of beer it’s an important ingredient and often overlooked one. Club ‘water guys’ Leon and Luke are going to lead a discussion in understanding what’s in our water by demystifying SA Water reports (so check out yours in advance here) and how to treat it depending on the beer you’re brewing.

Of course, there will be beer too with a tasting of the Dean Smith’s summer comp winning milk stout. Bring a bottle for bottle swap bingo. More to come on the event on Facebook.

Casual Collaborative Brew Day – April 6

In the lead up the annual club BeerBQ, we’re going to put on a casual brew day on Saturday, April 6th. Members are invited to bring their brewing rigs along and brew anything of their choosing either solo or in a team. Join the discussion in the Facebook group.

The club will fund grain bills and provide wood-fired pizza. We would love to see at least 5 breweries in action and we encourage members to team up if their get isn’t portable.

Members don’t have to brew to attend. Bringing a longneck or two to share is also encouraged and have some pizza. It’ll be a fun way to spend the last day of daylight saving. Join in.

General guidelines based on 5 brews ~1.050, for each brew the club will fund each brewing team
5kgs Gladfield Ale Malt
200g Gladfield Toffee
200g Gladfield light crystal or Gladiator (dextrin) up for debate
20g Magnum hops for bittering

Any other ingredients will need to be brought along on the day. Why not brew a freezer cleaner and use up some old hops or grains? Hit the supermarkets and bring some rolled oats or boost your ABV with some table sugar, honey or molasses. The grain can be milled on the day.

We hope some of the beers will be ready for the BeerBQ on May 4th – so consider fermentation and conditioning time. Split batches amongst your team for creative cold side decisions.

There will be a sign-up sheet at the March meeting so we can lock in interest. If you can’t make the meeting, then email info@sabrew.com and tell us if you want to brew, join a team or just attend. The event will be held at a private premise in Enfield, details will be provided to attendees closer to the event.

State Amateur Brewing Show, SA (SABSOSA)

As you know, this year we are running the state’s peak brewing competition. Last year there were 365 entries and we expect more this year — we need your help. The dates are in, sponsors sorted and the venue is booked. If you’re interested in judging or stewarding get in touch now with Gary, chief competition director. We’ve got a sweet deal for you (includes free beer). If you can help in any other way let us know now too — bottle sorters, pick up entry drivers, luggers, organisers, computer people — jump in, please. Judging is September 7-8. (Practice brewing now! We want to win too).

Wheaty Wildflower Enduro free beer offer for SABC

Go deeper into the Wild with Co-Founder, bug wrangler and barrel whisperer extraordinaire Topher Boehm of Wildflower Brewing & Blending in an epic three-hour tasting this Tuesday 18th. Watch our post of FB to add your name for a free fancy if you’re going. Tickets etc… here.

Forward dates

April 17: Everything you need to know about kegging and then some…

May 4: BeerBQ at Reade Park Bowling Club (Colonel Light Gardens)

May 22: Pirate Life Brewery tour (TBC- might be April)

June 19: AGM and winter comp.

Christmas meeting this week

December 17, 2018December 20, 2018 Gus K

Another year is done and dusted and again it’s time for our final meeting of the year. As is tradition, it’s a casual catch-up at The Wheaty on Wednesday from 7 pm. The club will put on pizzas from 7.30. We’ve also got an InkBird digital temperature controller up for raffle thanks to InkBird Australia. If you think you’re not the winning kind, you can buy one from their eBay shop and use SABC for a discount.

Like last year, we’re also doing a secret Santa beer gift. Please bring a bottle to drop and wrap it so no one can see what it is. Ideally, we’d like it to be your homebrew but if you’re stuck, please bring a bottle of something commercial you’ve enjoyed this year.

It’s been another big year for the club; our membership has grown and we’ve got great members making a fantastic contribution to the club and community. We did really well in competitions like SABSOSA where John Van der Zalm won best beer and Kieren best brewer and nationally at AABC where Greg and Kieren both won joint runner-up. The club hosted another excellent BeerBQ in May and members who brewed at Left Barrel Brewing in October got a lot out of the experience and some free beer! Our tour of West End was also an eye-opener as was Sweet Amber and Little Burra at the other end of the scale. Finally, our monthly meetings have been really well attended with over 35 regularly attending to hear about faults, yeast, malt and from guests like Stephen Nelsen from TAFE Regency Park a highlight for many.

If you can’t be with us on Wednesday, on behalf of the committee, have a happy, fun, relaxing and safe Christmas and New Year.

~ Gus

Future Dates

January 16: January Bridge Road head brewer at The Wheaty (TBC)

February 2: Southern Vales breweries bus tour – tickets on sale soon. Limited numbers. More to come.

February 20: Monthly meeting (at Little Bang TBC)/ Summer comp close and judging. Competition details here.

March 20: Water chemistry.

Christmas drinks and a sour beer masterclass with Wildflower

December 2, 2018December 3, 2018 Gus K

Crashing towards the end of the year, we hope your Christmas beers are in the keg or fermentors for the holidays. This newsletter only has celebration content too.

December meeting, Christmas drinks

We made the decision to cancel the end of year event at Flinders Tavern and make our regular meeting on December 19 a casual catchup but still stacked with some cool raffle prizes (and InkBird temp controller). We’ll also order in some pizzas. Also as we did last year, we are doing another secret Santa bottle swap. Everyone brings a bottle in a brown paper bag and leaves with another. While we expect it would be homebrew, if you’re stuck you can buy something commercial so everyone gets something. Stick your name on the bottle so the recipient knows whose it was. We’ll be there from 7 pm as usual and probably roll on until closing.

Club casual meetup: Wildflower sours masterclass Topher Boehm

We are jumping onto this Wheaty event this Wednesday, December 6 as a social gathering. Join SABC members for a sour beer masterclass at the Wheaty with Wildflower head brewer Topher Boehm. Topher recently presented at the Australian National Homebrew Conference and we can assure you he is a wealth of knowledge in sour brewing and blending. If you missed the conference, this was one of the standout presentations and you’re getting an opportunity to experience it on home soil.

As a bonus, The Wheaty is offering a free Fancy of choice to current SABC financial members who attend the tasting. You need to indicate in this event that you are ‘going’ so we can generate a list on our group Facebook event. If you’re not on Facebook, email us. Currently, there are 14 members going.

This is a Wheaty seated event like Good Beer Wheaty so bookings ($20+bf ) are essential through OZTIX here. Find out heaps more on their website.

Final reminder: Please take five to fill out our member survey. We’ll close it on Wednesday night. It’s mostly tick-a-box style responses with a few places to write a broader answer. It’s also anonymous. Click here to start the survey

Summer competition

The categories for our summer competition, judged at our February meeting, are:

Saison BJCP 25b: A great style for summer competition brewing because it ferments we’ll in warmer temperatures, so those who do not have temp control can experiment with the yeast.

Milk Stout: Based on 16a sweet stout. Emphasis is on a milky creamy mouthfeel with lactose the main source of the sweetness.

Milkshake stout will also be allowed. They should be higher in mouthfeel. Roastiness and hoppyness should be increased to balance the extra mouthfeel and sweetness. Any additions like chocolate strawberries vanilla etc should be noted in the entry.

NEIPA: From a stylistic standpoint, NEIPA is itself a bit of a conundrum. Opaque, cloudy and occasionally turbid in appearance. NEIPA is most often characterised by restrained bitterness, intense aromatics and “juicy” hop character.

Future dates

January 16: January catchup at Little Bang’s new digs.

February 20: Monthly meeting/ Summer comp close and judging.

March 20: Water chemistry (TBC)