Good afternoon, MASH. We made it to September — or rather, we made it through six of the most challenging months any of us have ever been through. Looking back, I am proud of how MASH showed up, hosting fun and informative virtual monthly meetings with amazing speakers like The Alchemist’s John Kimmich and expanding to topics like making sourdough, launching new sensory analysis tastings to more deeply explore beer styles and refine our palates, showing up for laughs and to peek inside each other’s home breweries through our weekly happy hours, and raising more than $2,250 to support workers in need in the MASH Friends Relief Fund. A few of us even met in person to share some homebrew.
I am grateful to each and every one of MASH’s 59 members and those who have joined us in this time for bringing your truth, passions, curiosities, and willingness to share in community.
As we look forward toward fall, I wanted to share some highlights of what to expect from MASH.
Monthly Meetings: Third Tuesdays
Join us this fall for our virtual Monthly Meetings at 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesdays, when we will welcome guest speakers and continue to turn to our community to share their homebrewing knowledge, tips, and adventures.
This month, we are excited to welcome Liz and Nina from Imperial Yeast on Sept. 15. Coming up, we’ll welcome Laszlo from the new Seven Tribesman Brewery on Oct. 20.
Sensory Analysis Tastings: Fourth Thursdays
Continue to taste different beer styles and support local breweries, when we can, through our Sensory Analysis Tastings at 8 p.m. on the fourth Thursdays, hosted by MASH’s Education Committee. Note: Check our calendar for our November and December tastings.
This month, we are featuring Oktoberfest beers, so go out now to find Spaten’s Oktoberfestbier Ur-Marzen, Jack’s Abby Copper Legend, and Ramstein’s Oktoberfest so you can join us Sept. 24.
Simplified Virtual Meeting Links
Use this link to join MASH through Zoom or call in +16465588656,,87377549363#,,,,,,0#,,032252# for every virtual meeting.
Need to find it in a pinch? Check the pinned messages in our #meetings channel in our MASH Slack, or our MASH Google calendar.
Club Only Competition
We had our first in-person event since February — with MASH members safely hosting a Club Only Competition in Karl’s backyard. Jared won with his Irish Red and Karl’s New England IPA took second. Other beers tasted included a saison with blood orange, a strong Scottish, and pilsner.
We’ll continue to explore safe options to meet in person. Let us know your ideas to do this by sharing in our MASH Slack.
Motown MASH
After SCUBA proved clubs can host safe and smooth homebrew competitions virtually, we’re kicking off plans for a virtual Motown MASH.
While the dates and plans are subject to change, here’s our rough plan for timing: Entry registration will be Oct. 3 to 31; Drop off will be Oct. 25 to 31; Bottle sort will be Nov. 1; Judge box pick-up will be Nov. 7; Remote judging will take place Nov. 7 to 19; and Best of Show and the Awards ceremony will be Nov. 21.
Homebrewer/Club of the Year
With online judging back, we’re excited to continue the Homebrewer/Club of the Year competition.
Please join us in congratulating Chris Laspada, Jim Dorward, Jeff Hardgrove for taking First Place Best of Show for their Specialty wood-aged beer, Tony Romano for taking Third Place Best of Show for his Gose, and Eric Blaine for an Honorable Mention Best of Show for his Wild specialty beer at SCUBA’s Homebrew Competition.
All other MASH winners in the SCUBA competition and an updated look at our HBOTY standings are below.
MASH COVID Brew
We are calling all MASH brewers to brew the same beer to have on hand for when we are back together in person. Check out and schedule this recipe for the MASH A Night to End All Dawns Clone, one of our first club barrel beers.
What’s Coming Up: MASH CALENDAR
September 1 at 7:30 pm: MASH Board Meeting/Members Only Meeting
September 15 at 7:30 pm: September MASH Monthly Meeting: Imperial Yeast
September 24 at 8 pm: MASH Sensory Tasting: Oktoberfest Beers
October 6 at 7:30 pm: MASH Board Meeting
October 10: MASH Demo/Panel at Highlands Brewfest
October 20 at 7:30 pm: October Monthly Meeting: Seven Tribesman Brewing
October 29: MASH Sensory Tasting
SCUBA Homebrew Competition Results
MASH Winning Brewers
SCUBA Homebrew Comp Best of Show (23 tables)
1st Place: Chris Laspada, Jim Dorward, Jeff Hardgrove, Specialty Wood-Aged Beer
3rd Place: Tony Romano, Gose
HM: Eric Blaine, Wild Specialty Beer
SCUBA Homebrew Comp Category Winners
Light Hybrids: 3rd Place, Luke Pernotto, Cream Ale (6 entries)
German Beers: 2nd Place, Tony Romano, Kolsch (13 entries)
English Ales: 2nd Place, Chris Laspada, British Brown Ale (8 entries)
New England IPAs: 3rd Place, Tony Romano (12 entries)
Sours: 1st Place, Tony Romano, Gose (13 entries)
Wild Sours: 1st Place, Eric Blaine, Wild Specialty Beer (Mixed fermentation Saison with Mango and Pineapple), (2 entries)
Amber and Brown Ales: 3rd Place, Jared and Amey Dougherty, Irish Red Ale (7 entries)
Smoke and Wood-Aged Beer (7 entries): 1st Place, Chris Laspada, Jim Dorward, Jeff Hardgrove, Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (Rye Stout aged in Rye Whiskey barrel); HM, Eric Blaine, Wood-Aged Beer (Old Ale aged in neutral American Oak barrel)
Specialty Beers: 1st Place, Luke Pernotto, Mixed-Style Beer (75 % International Amber Lager/25 % Imperial Stout), 3 entries
Dark Ales: 1st Place, Jared Dougherty, Scottish Light (8 entries)
HBOTY STANDINGS
MASH Homebrewer of the Year
Antonio Romano (18 points)
Chris LaSpada (17)
Jeff Mauriello (14)
Luke Pernotto (11)
Jared Dougherty (11)
Eric Blaine (5)
Ned Gardner (3)
Brandon Shaughnessy (1)
Drew Rodgers (1)