Let’s Go Clubbing

Beer is a social beverage. We drink at parties, gatherings and meals with friends. Brewing should be social as well. Yet our partners gaze at our homebrewing hobby with weary bemusement (even if they bought us the kit); and the boundless enthusiasm of our friends fades like a cheap photo. While some brewers live in the middle of no-club land—virtual solitary confinement for brewers—those of us who live near civilization can fall back on homebrew clubs to vigorously support our obsession.

I am a big club booster. I love, and blame the depths of my depravity on, the members of my club. When I bought my first brew kit in 1999, I learned of my local brew group, the Maltose Falcons. At that time, my head was swimming with tantalizing visions of Drew brew that pushed out any thought of running with a beer club. Still, after a few months of brewing with a vanishing brew buddy, or brewing solo, I needed more information and experience than I could glean from books.

Joining a club is a simple matter of dropping a little cash and signing on the dotted line. The good news is that, for your first visits, your experience is typically free. Eventually, the homebrewer’s natural disposition for frugality may lay a roadblock to paying dues. This is penny wise and pound foolish! To start with, most clubs offer a discount at a local shop or brewpub and a newsletter with details on events and specials. Once you factor all the free beer to sample, access to bulk grain purchases and more, you’ll rush to un-pinch those pennies and reap the rewards.

Still, the real reason to join is the wealth of knowledge your fellow club members have to offer. Some brewers have over 20 years of experience. Someone somewhere in the group has made every goof you can conceive of, and they can help you pinpoint flawed techniques or ideas. Additionally, there may be certified BJCP beer judges who can help you identify the strong and weak aspects in your brewing. Take advantage of their experience; ask them about all your crazy beer ideas.

The core of my experience with brew clubs is the monthly member meeting. Ranging from the highly organized to the loose and shambling, they’re a time for sharing beer, evaluation and bragging. Whether held at a member’s house, a brewpub or a shop, you’re welcome to hang out, share beer and enjoy beer talk with the obsessed. Remember what you learned in elementary school, and carry enough with you to share with everyone. A six-pack or growler should suffice. Bring your recipe notes to help answer questions and inspire new ideas. Many meetings include a “style of the month” tasting, and presentations of commercial and homebrewed beers. Some groups vote for a homebrew of the month. The winner receives a small token and points for a “Brewer of the Year” award.

The ultimate way to bond and learn is over a shared brew kettle. The Falcons hold monthly brews at our sponsor shop on a homemade one-barrel (31-gallon) system. The goal of the brew day is to teach and to experiment with fun recipes. Participants chip in for ingredients and receive 5 gallons of fresh wort at a discount. Sharing beer throughout the day provides further “education” for our palates. Other clubs hold joint brew days where members meet at a common site with their systems to brew multiple batches on different equipment. In one place, you can soak up a flood of disparate brewing philosophies and techniques. These sessions prove that brewing is a fantastic team sport.

What would a beer club be without a bash to celebrate homebrewed beer? Club festivals can range from small gatherings at people’s homes to raucous outdoor affairs with pigs on spits, bands, games, camping and more. The zenith of homebrew celebrations are those like the Southern California Homebrewers Festival, with 23 homebrew clubs and 1,300 homebrewers pouring and enjoying beer. Whatever the size, a club party is a chance to relax and watch people pull out the stops and present their favorite efforts.

Now that you’re brimming with the benefits of club living, finding your homebrew tribe is a piece of cake. Ask your local shop if they sponsor a group. If no one sponsors a club, check the American Homebrewer’s Association website (homebrewersassociation.org). Not only do they have a listing of registered brew clubs in every state, but they also offer tips for starting your own.

If you live in a club-rich area, shop around and try attending club meetings. Some clubs are competition-oriented, some are geared more toward drinking and partying, and some barely exist at all. Finding the right blend of personality and activities is vital to maximizing your club experience. Be patient, befriend the members, lend a hand, and you’ll find an embarrassment of beer riches. ■