MBAA District Michigan Minutes

General Meeting Minutes
January 5, 2006
MBAA District Michigan and Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Technical Conference Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI

Board Meeting called to order at 4:30 pm by Alec Mull

In attendance were:
Board Members:
BOGR Jan Muuse, President Alec Mull, Vice President Chad McDaniels, Secretary Rex Halfpenny, Treasurer Marty Rapnicki, Past President John Mallett, Technical Chair John Haggerty. District Members:
Wayne Burns, Mike Eme, Forest Knapp, Todd Parker, Andy Rathus, David Shaw, Bill Wamby. Guests:
David Bayes, Todd Chwatun, Mary Halfpenny, Jaime Jurado, Damian McConn, Geoffrey Towne.

Note: Many more district members were present at the conference but were attending the Michigan Brewers Guild annual voting meeting being held in the adjacent room.

We usually begin our meeting with a technical presentation. Today’s technical presentations took place from 9:00 am to 3:45 pm and included five presentations. A brief summary is recorded here for the district record.

Jaime Jurado, President, Master Brewers Association and Brewing Operations Director for The Gambrinus Company opened the conference with a presentation titled “An engineering Approach to Optimal Draught Dispense.” Jaime opened with interesting numbers revealing total draft output by country: UK 67%, Germany 22%, Italy 12% Japan 10%, the USA 8.5%. But he noted that for craft brewers the number is higher. Using his (Gambrinus) work for Trumer Pils as a model, Jaime talked us through draft dispense from chilling kegs through cleaning tap lines. Sprinkled throughout was also a lot of important safety information.

Damian McConn, Production and Project Brewer for Summit Brewing gave a presentation titled “Cask Beer.” Damian drew on his background in the UK and experience in the USA with cask ale to present a very traditional approach to cask conditioned real ale. Throughout his presentation he noted that US breweries may have to make concessions and decisions that will deviate from strict tradition, but he insisted that regardless, one should never serve dodgy beer. If its not right don’t serve it.

Dr. Gary Spedding, Brewing and Distilling Analytical Services conducted a Sensory Evaluation exercise. Gary challenged the attendees to sampling six pours of Budweiser. The first was the unadulterated control sample and the following five were adulterated in increasing degrees. The purpose of the exercise was to discover one’s threshold to the chemical. The chemical was revealed after discussion about thresholds to be DMS, ranging from a low of 35 ppm to a high of 140 ppm.

Dave Radzanowski, Radzan Associates gave a presentation titled “Practical Water Applications.” Dave began with basic information that we all know but may never think about, like the fact that pure water does not exist naturally in nature. He talked about various sources and the fact that you can make beer with any water, the question gets down to how much are you willing to spend to do it. His talk included information on classic brewing waters, yeast nutrients and additives to alter pH. He cautioned use of lactic acid especially for high alcohol fermentations.

Todd Ashman, Sales coordinator/Staff Brewmaster for Brewers Supply Group gave a presentation titled Wood Aged Beers.” Todd was instrumental in establishing the Wood and Barrel Aged-Style Category in the GABF. Last year it was the second largest category entered. Todd provided a very basic overview of aging beer in wood. He began with wild fermentations noting that this was not his area of expertise, so deferred everyone to Jeff Sparrows book, wildBREWS. Todd touched on wine barrel use but he concentrated on providing information on aging beer in whiskey and bourbon barrels. He loaned the district a book 1997 International Barrel Symposium published by Independent Stave Company (www.independentstavecompany.com). When buying barrels he urged purchasing top quality “#1 Select.”

The first order of business for the general meeting was Board Member Reports.

District Treasurer Marty Rapnicki presented the treasurer’s report saying the district has $1,538.00 in checking and $9,175.84 in a CD maturing this year. Questions from the floor revealed that the treasury includes $1000.00 from the 2004 Peter Blum Memorial Scholarship, $500.00 due Sam Sherwood and $500.00 due Brett Kuhnhenn. It was decided to allow these two awards to be used to pay the MBAA dues for these members. It was also decided to make the scholarship payable only for the intended purpose, attending the Annual MBAA conference during the year of the award or the money will forfeit back to the District. Another question revealed that as of this meeting the district had not received funds pledged by four vendor sponsors for the 2005 summer social.

District Secretary Rex Halfpenny gave the secretary’s report. Rex stated that the minutes of the last meeting was posted on the MBAA District Website and asked if we could simply accept those minutes as posted. It was so agreed.

BOG Jan Muuse was called to present the BOG report. Jan turned the floor over to our distinguished guest, MBAA President Jaime Jurado. Jaime gave us a power point presentation explaining the financial position of the MBAA, explaining the reserve fund, the financial difficulties of recent experience, measure implemented to prevent reoccurrence of past mistakes, the desire to do more for the membership, and a motion to request District Michigan to allow our BOG rep Jan Muuse to vote in favor of changing the By-Laws from a fixed reserve amount ($2 Million) to a flexible reserve amount to allow the board to implement more programs to the benefit of the membership. After a brief discussion, the motion was made, seconded and passed.

John Haggerty asked Jaime what his thinking was on cooperative events between the BA and the MBAA such along the model of conference we were all attending where the Guild and the MBAA coordinated efforts to hold a single event. Jaime responded saying the two entities had a memorandum of cooperation and non-compete of event dates. The two organizations will help each other promote each other’s program.

The next order of business of Old Business. Scott Isham was anticipated to present his report on a district lending library. Scott was a no show, presumed attending the guild meeting next door. The subject was shelved to next meeting.

No other Old business moved us t the New Business.

John Haggerty, Technical chair called to technical subject or persons membership would welcome.

Alec opened a discussion on this year’s Summer Social. Karl Glarner has secured camping. Chad McDaniels will act as volunteer coordinator. More volunteers were called for. Rex suggested we develop specific duties before we ask for help. John Mallett inquired about the legal ramifications of our event. Rex pointed out that the problem lies in the state’s definition of giving away beer at an event that sells tickets. Rex suggested two options, keep the event small, like a company or family picnic, or pull a not-for-profit license. John Mallett suggested that perhaps the solution was as simple as making the event BYOB. John Haggerty offered running the idea by his breweries lawyer.

Alec remained everyone of the ACS conference coming this year to Frankenmuth in May and the fact that the conference will have a daylong brewing chemistry track.

Alec then mentioned a few closing items.
Micromatic will be holding a draft dispense course at the CBC in Seattle.
The MBAA has three new books out, MBAA Practical Handbook for the Specialty Brewer and highly recommended them.
The MBAA is seeking technical posters and papers, that we all have something to contribute and to please make an effort to do so.

The next meeting dates were confirmed:
March 23, Etoufee in Southfield, hosted by Marty Rapnicki. 11:00 am Board, Noon General and Technical. 248-750-0700.
August 5, Summer Social, Fitzgerald Park, Grand Ledge, noon.
October 19, Bells Plant in Galesburg, hosted by Larry Bell. 11:00 am Board, Noon General and Technical.

It was suggested that an emphasis be made on the scholarship, reminding everyone that attendance increases chances of wining the scholarship. Alec suggested a second place award for the runner up, the next year’s dues paid by the district.

Meeting adjourned at 6:00 pm.