Iron Kettle 2019

Meetings & Events

Iron Kettle 2019 – June 15th

Traditionally the Iron Kettle competition is centered around a special, secret ingredient that must be utilized in the beer.  It will be slightly different this year, but we’ll get to that in a bit after going through some of the general logistics.

Brewers will need to arrive and be setup before a the 9 am start, at which time kits will be distributed and recipe formulation can begin.  If you are brewing as a team and planning on doing a 10 gallon batch, be sure to let us know so we can have two kits on hand for you and your brew partner.

Each brewer or brew team will need to submit a recipe sheet to the organizers, with target style, ingredients, hopping schedule, and any additional notes.  If you plan to split the batch and use different yeast, or do different dry hopping (using only the hops provided), make sure to make note of that, or so submit separate sheets to reflect this.  If changes to your recipe need to be made while brewing, see the organizers to update your sheet.  You will have approximately 30 minutes to review ingredients, have a good long think about it, and wrote out and submit a complete recipe that you’ll be brewing.
This is a fun event to brew as a team with another club member or a friend who has been interested in seeing what this brewing thing is all about.  Ingredient kits will be provided for all participating current club members, so if you’re brewing with a non-club member and requesting an additional kit for them, that cost will be covered by them (or you, if you want to be really nice). If you happen to have a system that can handle larger batches, you can even do a 10 gallon batch so you each end up with a full fermentor (or 15… 20… 25… depending on your portable system and number of friends).

Beers brewed will be judged at the Summer Picnic in August, for bragging rights.

Kits

The all grain kits (no extract) will be provided at no cost to participants, and will contain more than enough malt and hops to design and brew a recipe.

Yeast

Please bring 2 yeast strains for each kit you’re brewing.  If you and a partner are brewing, you’ll receive two kits, and can each bring 2 strains.  Should you choose to split the batch, each could be fermented with a different strain.  You do not need to pitch on site, but you’ll need to declare your yeast strains on your recipe sheet prior to the kits being distributed, and be honest about what strains you’re using.

Water

You will all use the same water.  Don’t bring your own.  If you do, we’ll use it to water Dave and  Becky’s yard.

What You Bring

Whatever you use as your all-grain brewing set up. The gear you need may include but isn’t limited to:

  • Burner
  • Kettle
  • Mash Tun
  • Propane Tank
  • Fermentation Vessel (Carboy/Bucket)
  • Cleaner and sanitizer
  • Aquarium Pump/Oxygen Stone/Oxygen
  • Chiller
  • Grain mill

What is Provided

  • Each brewer will receive a kit for a 5 gallon all grain batch, including malt and hops.
  • The club will provide a simple grilled lunch around midday.

What you cannot bring

  • Your own water.  We’ll all use the same water.
  • Any ingredients or additives, including fining agents or water adjustments.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR!

 
If you’ve read this far, you are probably considering taking part in the Iron Kettle.  Great!  I did say that the secret ingredient part was going to be a bit different this year, and you’re probably wondering what that cryptic bit meant.
This may be one of the more challenging Iron Kettles, and will happen with a pretty significant twist, enough so that we decided that if you are thinking about doing it, that you deserve a heads up.
The secret “ingredient” this year will not be what you MUST use, but instead, what you CANNOT use… Information.
All recipe formulation and brewing at this year’s Iron Kettle must take place without use of any of the following measuring and calculating devices: Scales, refractometers, hydrometers, thermometers, calculators, or brewing software.
The extent of your access to measuring and calculating devices will be: Volume measurements and a timekeeping device.

Wait… I have questions:

 
So… no measuring devices?
Other than volume measures and a way to keep track of time, nope.
Well… how will I know when my water’s hot enough?
Good question.  How did brewer’s know if the water was hot enough before they had thermometers?  Practice at home with your thumb and some 150F water next time you make pasta.
But… but I can’t brew without running it through Beer Smith, etc.!
Well, that’s not really a question, but sure you can!  You get some water hot, throw some crushed grain in there, wait a while, drain it off, bring that to a boil and throw some hops at it!  Cool it off, and put some yeast in.  Wait a few weeks… BEER!

Well… I’d still rather do some calculations, just to make sure I have things right…

Well, I suppose  you could write down formulas if you’re able to do them with a pencil and paper (or in your head).
How about iodine to check starch conversion?
Very tricky of you.  I’m going to say no.
What about when I get it home?
If you have a tricked out fermentation chamber, or even just a stick on thermometer on the side of your fermentor, we’ll say temperature regulation measures are allowed.  Probably in our best interests come time for the Summer Party if the Iron Kettle beers weren’t all fermented at 95F.
Can I bring my own water?

No.

This all sounds fun, but I’ve never brewed all-grain/don’t have a portable system.  Can I still take part?
Yes!  It will likely mean teaming up with someone else to be able to do the mash and/or boil.
Sounds good, how do I sign up?

Email me, Ryan Bell at spiderwrangler@gmail.com.  If you are brewing with a partner, make sure to let me know the total number of kits you’ll need (1 kit per brewer).  If you want to brew, but will need to team up with someone, let me know, and if you have the ability to brew a 10 gallon or larger batch, and are willing to have someone team up with you, please let me know.

When do I need to let you know by?

Iron Kettle will take place on June 15th, so we’re setting the signup deadline to be by midnight June 8th.  That will give me a chance to make sure that I can order in all of the necessary ingredients in time.

May 2019 Meeting

Club Only Competition, Meetings & Events, Monthly Meetings

What

SODZ Monthly Meeting

When

Monday, May 20th 2019
7pm

Where

Elevator Brewing – 13th Floor Taproom
165 N. 4th St.
Columbus, OH 43215

Agenda

  • Officer Report
  • Talk TBD from new Elevator Brewers
  • Social Hour

Club Competition

Fizzy Yellow Beers
Light Lagers, Pilsners and Light Hybrids.

Next Month’s Competition: None! This is our last regular meeting of the year.

Winner will get a $25 gift card from a local homebrew store.

Bring your entries to the meeting and give to Gautam.

Big Brew Day 2019 @ Columbus Brewing Company

Events, Meetings & Events

What

This years Big Brew is back at Columbus Brewing Company.  This event is not restricted to SODZ members and I encourage you to invite people who may be interested in the hobby.

When

Saturday May 4th, 2019
Wort will be available from 9am – 11am.
This is a hard deadline anyone who comes after 11am will not get wort, and we’ve been running out early in recent years, so please arrive early if you want wort.

Where

Columbus Brewing Company Production Facility
2555 Harrison Rd,
Columbus, OH

 

What We Provide

    1. Wort – CBC will be brewing free wort based on the NEIPA recipe provided by the AHA (which can be found here). They are not going to be addign the lactose to the mash, but will have it available for those who want to add it during boil. You’ll need to provide your own hops, and any specialty malts that you’d like to add/steep, as well as your own hops and yeast.
    2. Water for chilling.

What You Provide

You will need to bring everything else. This includes but is not limited to:

    1. Hops
    2. Kettle
    3. Burner
    4. Propane Tank, if you use a burner
    5. Extension cords, if you use electric
    6. Wort Chiller
    7. Hoses – We should have some but having extras is always better
    8. Hose Splitters – We should have some but having extras is always better.
    9. Folding Chair(s)
    10. Pop Up Tent – If it rains you have two options:
      1. Get your wort and take it home to boil.
      2. Have a pop up tent and brew underneath.
    11. Sanitizer
    12. Food
    13. Etc, etc

Anything you need to brew at home you will need to bring with the exception of equipment used to create your wort.

Food

This year like in years past you are on your own for food. If people have portable grills that are used at tailgating events you are welcome to bring them

March Meeting

Club Only Competition, Meetings & Events, Monthly Meetings

What

SODZ Monthly Meeting

When

Monday, March 18th 2019
7pm

Where

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
401 N Front St #120
Columbus, OH 43215

Agenda

  • Officer Report
  • Officer Elections
  • Style Talk: Maibock
  • Social Hour

Club Competition

Sessionable
This is a wide open category where the only criteria is that you make a beer 4% ABV or less.

Winner will get a $25 gift card from a local homebrew store.

Bring your entries to the meeting and give to Gautam.

British Beerfest 2019

Competitions, Events, Meetings & Events

What

This is your British Beerfest Reminder! The competition is coming up this April, so if you plan to brew, the time is now!

When

Judging will take place Saturday, April 27th 2019
Entries are due Saturday, April 14th 2019

Why

Because beer! But also because prizes!
Seventh Son will be choosing an Organizer’s Choice beer to be brewed on their system and released in their taproom.
You can see more info on the competition, including the accepted styles, deadlines and shipping locations for entries, and registration links and info at The BBF Competition Website. You can also use the competition website to register as a judge or steward. This is a BJCP sanctioned competition, so you will receive points toward your BJCP rank.

February Meeting

Club Only Competition, Meetings & Events, Monthly Meetings

What

SODZ Monthly Meeting

When

Monday, February 18th 2019
7pm

Where

Barleys Brewing Company
467 N. High Street
Columbus, OH 43215

We are meeting in the basement, take the stairs down from the High Street Entrance. Meter parking should be free for Presidents’ Day

Agenda

  • Officer Report
  • Officer Nominations
  • Book discussion and signing with Curtis Schieber, author of “Columbus Beer: Recent Brewing & Deep Roots”
  • Social Hour

Club Competition

British Invasion
In preparation for BBF this will be all styles British. This includes English Pale Ale, Scottish and Irish Ale, English Brown Ale, Porter, Stout (Everything but American Stout) and English IPA.

Winner will get a $25 gift card from a local homebrew store.

Bring your entries to the meeting and give to Gautam.

January 2019 Meeting

Meetings & Events

What

SODZ Monthly Meeting

When

Monday, January 21st 2019
7pm

Where

Zaftig Brewing Company
7020A Huntley Rd
Columbus, OH 43229

Agenda

  • Officer Report
  • Zaftig Talk and tours
  • Social Hour

Club Competition

Beermageddon
Beers 8% ABV and bigger. This again is a wide open category where the only criteria is that your beer needs to be 8% ABV or more.

Next Month’s Competition: British Invasion – This includes English Pale Ale, Scottish and Irish Ale, English Brown Ale, Porter, Stout (Everything but American Stout) and English IPA.

Winner will get a $25 gift card from a local homebrew store.

Bring your entries to the meeting and give to Gautam.

2018 SODZ Christmas Party

Club Only Competition, Events, Meetings & Events, Monthly Meetings

When

Monday, December 10th 2018
7:00 pm

Where

Lineage Brewing Company
2971 N High St
Columbus, OH 43202

What

There is no formal agenda. This meeting is a potluck where the club provides the main course and members provide a side or desert. Because the club is providing the main course this meeting is limited to those members in good standing and their +1.

Lineage, is closed to the public on Mondays, they’ll be open just for the club event.

Please remember:

  1. Everyone must be 21, no exceptions.
  2. Drinking and driving is a serious and deadly felony. Make appropriate travel arrangements.

Dirty Santa

Dirty Santa is a gift exchange where you bring a large format (750ml or 22oz bomber) bottle of commercial beer and put it inside a gift bag. One person starts by taking a bag off the table that’s not theirs and this continues until everyone has a gift. Basically it’s a white elephant gift exchange but instead of gifting junk you are giving delicious craft beer. The only requirements for this are that you buy a quality beer and bring it concealed in a gift bag.

Club Competition

‘Tis the Season – Christmas/Winter Speciality (21B), Belgian Specialty (16E), Wood Aged (22C), Speciality (23, convince us it’s Christmas).

Next Month: Beermageddon – Beers 8% ABV and bigger.