MBAA District Northwest
2006 Spring Meeting
May 12-13, 2006

The 151st meeting of the District Northwest was enjoyed in Hood River, Oregon on May 12th and 13th. The gathering was called to order by president Bill Pengelly with the 96 MBAA members treated to local tours, technical discussions, and plenty of hospitality.

A large group took advantage of the opportunity to visit the world class facility at Wyeast Laboratories in Odell, OR about 10 miles south of Hood River at the base of Mt. Hood.

The team at Wyeast hosted lunch on Friday, offering some special project beers, and a rare chance to tour and meet the knowledgeable staff that provides the multitude of yeast strains used by many of the craft brewing attendees. After Wyeast, Full Sail Brewing Co. in Hood River hosted an open house overlooking the Columbia river at their 200 bbl production brewery and tasting room. After tours and tastings, members were off to the first session of technical presentations and business meetings that spanned the next two days.

An exceptional gathering of presenters were scheduled. Jaime Jurado discussed "An engineering approach to optimal draft dispense", Ian Ward explained "The chemistry of clarifying agents in beer", David Kapral exposed "The phenomena of stratification in fermenting tanks", and Karl Ockert offered a behind the scenes look at the sophisticated draft system of the new Bridgeport Brewing restaurant and the methods behind serving their naturally conditioned beers. All the presenters were well received, being equally engaging and informative.

The meeting offered a chance for friends and colleagues to socialize too, with hosts Terminal Gravity Brewing of Enterprise, Oregon providing much hospitality, golfing at Indian Creek in Hood River, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner for attendees.

The District Northwest's diverse and vibrant membership welcomed 6 new members during this Spring meeting and plans were made for the Fall meeting October 13th and 14th in Seattle, co-hosted by Scuttlebutt Brewing and Elliot Bay Brewing Co. See you then!