CHICKEN. How About A Beer Report NEXT MEETING: Competition 6:00, Meeting 6:30 November 21, The RUBBER

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The RUBBER CHICKEN NEXT MEETING: Founders Brewing Warehouse 900 Hynes Ave SW Competition 6:00, Meeting 6:30 November 21, 2018 How About A Beer Report I have never been to San Diego.

There may be some debate on that fact. Some claim it actually is a Spanish phrase meaning Saint Diego. No one really knows.

There is a small town near San Diego. The coastal town of Solana Beach. Solana Beach has gained some notoriety in recent history.

1 The RUBBER CHICKEN NEXT MEETING: Founders Brewing Warehouse 900 Hynes Ave SW Competition 6:00, Meeting 6:30 November 21, 2018 How About A Beer Report I have never been to San Diego. I hear it is the greatest city in the world. It was discovered by the Germans in AD They named it San Diego, which in German translates to a whale s vagina. There may be some debate on that fact. Some claim it actually is a Spanish phrase meaning Saint Diego. No one really knows. Scholars maintain that the actual translation was lost hundreds of years ago. I guess for now, we will just have agree to disagree on what San Diego actually means. There is a small town near San Diego. The coastal town of Solana Beach. Solana Beach has gained some notoriety in recent history. In 2003, they were the first city in the Continental US to ban smoking on its beaches. On April 25, 2008, Solana Beach was again in the news for a rare Great White Shark attack. A retired resident was enjoying a swim about 150 yards off shore when he was fatally attacked by a hungry shark. What he should have been doing was enjoying a beer at the local brewery Port Brewing Company. Port Brewing Company formed as spin-off of The Pizza Port in Solana Beach, California. The head brewer formed Port Brewing with the owners of Pizza Port as a standalone brewery in nearby San Marcos, CA when Stone Brewing sold them the location. Maybe this is a familiar story. Maybe you have heard of their beer brands. Port Brewing Company is also known for its Lost Abbey beer brands. All of their American and West Coast style beers are sold under Port Brewing Company, while they sell all of their Belgian inspired beers as The Lost Abbey. A can of Port Brewing s Mongo DIPA recently found its way into my clutches. I can sympathize with this beer. The beer, like its namesake Mongo, and I are often misjudged big guys with a latent truth and purpose. We both possess a wit and intelligence that goes much deeper than a cursory glance would reveal. The beer is a Double IPA. DIPA are more often than not aggressive, scorching, hop forward palate bombs with an alcoholic strength that makes them hard to enjoy for too long. Mongo is not like that at all. Yes it is a large hoppy beer, but the tagline on the can speaks truth. Laid Back, Hop Forward. Alright alright alright. In a stable of hoppy west coast IPAs, Mongo is a flagship from Port Brewing Co. The label proclaims the usage of Centennial, Columbus, Simcoe, and Cascade hops. So right away, I know Mongo knows where citrus choo-choo goes. I cracked the can and was immediately greeted with citrus, pine, and a candy-like malt sweetness. Beautiful. In my glass Mongo danced hazy and orange like shark infested Pacific sunset. The head was like sea foam. Not the scuzzy shit you see in a hotel hot tub, but fresh white wave lashed suds. As I brought Mongo to my lips, more of that citrus and then some tropical notes washed over me. When the flavor hit my tongue it was all malt. Big smooth sweet malt flavors with a creeping and restrained bitterness. This bitterness slowly developed into a major hop character that eclipsed the maltiness. It is a wonderful fruity hop, not the aggressive bruising hops most DIPAs slam into your mouth. It was a chorus of tropical and citrus fruits with an underlying throb of pine flavors. Just as I was readying myself for another swig, the alcohol appeared. Not like a brash blaring fart in a quiet room that makes your ears burn read with embarrassment, but more like that silent one someone let but no one is sure who, or if, there is actually a fart in the room. Soft and billowy, the mouthfeel comes on you like the relief of your own pillow after a long and tiresome business trip. Overall Mongo is beautifully complex and comfortable. So smooth and full, Mongo lulls you into a false sense of well-being while he ravages your liver. A seemingly sessionable beer that is still a west coast style double India pale ale. I would recommend everyone give it a shot, you will not be disappointed. On actual club news, the 2nd Annual bus trip was a good time. 16 of us went to Lattitude 42, One Well Brewing, Gonzo s Biggdogg Brewing, Bell s Eccentric Café, Wax Wings Brewing, and then back to 5 lakes Brewing in Dorr. We will be doing it again next year. Be thinking about where we should go next time. Coming up we have our annual Christmas Party and Charity Auction on 7:00pm December 14 at the Guest house on 634 Stocking Ave NW. In case you are unaware, this is a potluck dinner and a swag auction where at least half of the proceeds go to local charity. We go around and collect donations from our many sponsors and auction them to the highest bidder. This year, the

2 Charity we have chosen is the Hops Against Hunger project through Feeding America: West Michigan. Google it. For those of you that have volunteered to contact sponsors, please be sure to let an officer know what it is you have collected, and if possible, get it to an officer before the party. Thank you for your efforts. --DT management. He was always the go to guy in the kitchen to get things from the top shelves. Eventually, he tired of the long hours and kitchen politics and decided on a change. He quit his job as a chef and walked into a position on the grounds maintenance crew at a local golf course. That was 26 years ago. Since then, his job is also a hobby. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Chez Gretz, you will be impressed by the grounds. When Rich isn t at work, he works in his yard. When he is stressed out, he plays in the dirt or cracks a beer and wanders the property. Sometimes he dreams of having the super power to be able to control the weather. October Recap Trial balance: $ Active members: 46 The club s annual Christmas auction is quickly approaching, slated for Friday, December 14 - mark your calendars if you haven t already. Reminder that this fundraiser is the primary source of operating funds for PrimeTime the entire year the more generous you are, the more the club can give back. You will also be able to renew your PrimeTime member-ship for next year, starting at the Christmas auction. See me for sign -ups. Treasurer Moss BETWEEN TWO BEERS BY DICK THUNDER The quiet one There is flying under the radar, and then there is Rich Gretz. The first reluctant participant. How many people know much about Rich? Not many I would bet. He prefers to lurk in the shadows. Born and raised in Grandville, Michigan. Rich has travelled a bit but likes West Michigan. In his travels he has spread the gospel of beer. He has a beer on tap in Arizona. Gentle Ben s Brewery in Tucson has their Copperhead Pale Ale. Rich was in the area and took a liking to their beers. One evening, while in the tap room, he was chatting with the brewer. The brewer wanted to develop a new beer and asked Rich to come back in the morning and help out. Rich gave some ideas and together they dreamed up Copperhead Pale Ale. If anyone finds themselves in Tucson, get a growler and bring to a meeting please. Reach, as he is also known, used to be a chef. He has an associate degree in culinary arts and a baccalaureate degree in Hospitality Weatherman started brewing when he joined the club. He has always been a craft beer fan. Gretz is an original mugclub member at the BOB. In the fall of 2000, he was chatting with Dennis Holland, head brewer at the BOB, when creepy Jeff Carlson eavesdropped on his conversation. Jeff overheard him asking about brewing and invited him to come to the upcoming Learn to Brew Day. The rest, is history. Since then he has brewed many different ales and meads. He prefers to drink IPAs and Pale Ales. Barleywines mystify him. He is usually his harshest critic but has never been satisfied with any of his attempts at the style. His brew setup is pretty humble. A pot and burner and a room with a constant temperature. Other than gardening and brewing, Rich has volunteered every year that the GLINTCAP has been around. The Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition is the largest cider competition in the world. It is hosted and judged right here in West Michigan. Legend has it that the GLINTCAP grew out of the G.L.O.W. Cider Competition (Great Lakes Olde World) started and operated by the premiere amateur craft beverage club, Primetime Brewers. Rich is always a steward and helps organize the sorting and cellaring of the entries at GLINTCAP every year. If Rich could, he would buy a ranch in Montana or nearby New Mexico to retire to. He likes the outdoors and the quiet. The most beautiful place he has ever visited was Hawaii. The islands, the mountains, the jungles, and the beaches are awe inspiring. However, the humidity is a deal breaker. I m with Rich on that one. You can often find Reach at Brewery Vivant. This his favorite local spot, but he gets around to many others as well. If by chance he had to choose one beer to drink for the rest of his life, it would be Sam Adams Boston Lager. It is good, and it is readily accessible. But then if he could never drink beer again, it would be Bourbon. Specifically Buffalo Trace. Even though he may not be very vocal at meetings, he is usually there, trying not to be noticed. You will need to find him and chat him up. He is the long armed, tall beard hiding in the back. Thanks Rich for putting yourself out there! -DT

3 Brewers Association Board Proposes New Craft Brewer Definition, Intends to Form Political Action Committee The Brewers Association board of directors today informed members of proposed changes to its bylaws that would significantly alter the trade organization s official craft brewer definition, and create a new voting member class, Brewbound has learned. But perhaps more importantly, the proposed change would also allow the BA to continue counting its largest voting member, Boston Beer Company, as a craft brewer. In 2017, Boston Beer which produces the Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard, Twisted Tea, and Truly Spiked & Sparkling product lines made 2 million barrels of beer, according to BA data. At the time, traditional beer was a majority of its total alcoholic beverage output, since the company shipped about 3.8 million barrels of product. The board also intends to form a political action committee that is aimed at more aggressively lobbying for permanent federal excise tax cuts that currently save craft brewers upwards of $80 million annually. In an to BA members, Left Hand Brewing founder Eric Wallace, who also serves as the chair of the BA board, said the organization is considering dropping the traditional requirement from the group s three-pronged definition. According to the BA s current definition, which has changed three times since 2007, a craft brewer must be small (less than 6 million barrels), independent (less than 25 percent owned by a non-craft brewer), and traditional (a majority of its total volume must be derived from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients). It s the last pillar, traditional, that is under review, in part because an increasing number of craft brewers are already experimenting with non-traditional beer offerings such as flavored malt beverages and hard seltzers. A growing number of BA members have also expressed interest in creating beverages infused with THC and CBD, Wallace wrote. After reviewing the results of a recent survey that polled 1,000 BA members and was aimed at understanding the types of products they are producing and would consider making in the future, Wallace said it was clear the definition needed updating. What we learned from this survey is that nearly half of the membership is already brewing and more than half would consider making in the future products that fall outside the existing Brewers Association traditional tier, such as cider or mead or other products taxed as beer (hard seltzers/flavored sugar beverages/ sake/alcoholic kombucha, etc.), he wrote. Nearly half surveyed said they would consider producing beers containing CBD or THC should the regulatory structure change federally around those potential products. In his note, Wallace argued that as long as a craft brewer meets the criteria of being small and independent, altering the definition is logical in order to account for unforeseen innovation. By adjusting the definition, we are being more inclusive of the needs of our voting members, he wrote. The traditional component of the definition was last altered in Wallace acknowledged that past changes to the definition have drawn criticism from BA members, the media and other industry stakeholders, but he believes the spirit of the definition has not changed. He also argued that the definition is a living document that would continue to evolve when innovation, legislative conditions, or unforeseen circumstances necessitate change. This year, however, Boston Beer Company s traditional beer sales are slowing, and almost all of its current growth is being fueled by hard seltzer, cider, and alcoholic tea. At its current growth rate, the company would no longer be considered a BAdefined craft brewer because a majority of its volume is now coming from non-beer offerings. If the definition is not altered, and a majority of Boston Beer s 2018 volume does not come from beer, the BA will be forced to strip the company of its craft brewer designation and, in the process, not be able to count nearly 8 percent of total craft beer volume in its annual industry report. Nevertheless, the BA board, in an FAQ that followed Wallace s note, stressed that the move to drop the traditional pillar from the definition was not being proposed because Boston Beer was at risk of being excluded from the craft brewer data set. This move was not made because of Boston Beer, but the timing of evaluating and revising the definition is related to Boston Beer, the board wrote. Other companies will also be facing a similar circumstance in the coming years and it s natural that the largest of the smallest would get there first. The board also argued that changing the definition to include Boston Beer benefits the entire craft brewing industry. Including our largest member, Boston Beer Company, which brings much to the table in terms of greater craft market share, bolsters the association s arguments for shelf space, government affairs capability, and technical program contributions, it wrote. Meanwhile, the BA also announced plans to form a political action committee in order to make permanent the tax credits in the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA), which will sunset at the end of President Donald Trump signed the legislation into law in December 2017 as part of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The time is now to continue our outreach and lobbying to make CBMTRA permanent and not just a two-year excise tax reprieve, Wallace wrote. Our fear is that returning to the higher tax regimen in 2020 could possibly cause a surge of brewery failures amongst those already on the brink. CBMTRA reduced the federal excise tax from $7 to $3.50 per barrel on the first 60,000 barrels for domestic brewers producing fewer than 2 million barrels annually. The legislation also cut the federal excise tax to $16 per barrel on the first 6 million barrels for all other brewers and beer importers while maintaining the $18 per barrel excise tax for brewers producing more than 6 million barrels.

4 Wallace wrote that having a BA PAC to support legislators on both sides of the aisle could make a difference in establishing permanent tax reform for brewers. He added that more information is expected to come in early While a political action committee seems divergent from our grassroots and bootstraps nature, our efforts in Washington have become larger and louder, the board wrote in the FAQ. Our absence on donor lists does not allow us to optimize potential access to members of Congress and their staffs. We can still operate as local constituents, and political action committee donations are a secondary method of demonstrating our relevance. Finally, the BA is in the process of reviewing a bylaw change to create a new voting member class for taproom breweries. A taproom brewer is defined as a brewery that sells more than 25 percent of its beer on site, does not offer significant food services and produces less than six million barrels annually. It is crucial to remaining relevant that we have strong voices for taproom breweries in our governance, Wallace wrote. The proposed changes will be discussed further and amended during the BA s next board meeting on November 29. Prior to that meeting, BA members have been invited to provide input as part of an official member comment period, which will remain open until November 12, In an to Brewbound, Bob Pease, the CEO of the BA, said the trade group communicated the proposed changes to its members as a matter of transparency, and noted that nothing has been finalized. We are in a process phase of communicating with voting members and accepting their input, he wrote. Jolly Pumpkin releasing first non-sour beer at all locations jolly_pumpkin_releasing_first.html#incart_river_index DEXTER, MI -- Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales will release its first non-sour beer at its pub locations, the Dexter-based brewery announced. Pure Speculation is triple hopped with a blend of Michigan Cascade and Chinook, as well as Amarillo, Mosaic, and Galaxy hops. The beer, which has an 8.2 percent alcohol by volume and aromas of ripe peach, pineapple and mango, will be available on Saturday. "I don't know the best way to categorize it," said Ron Jeffries, Jolly Pumpkin founder and brewer. "I could say it's a Monkish Style or Anchorage Brewing Style but that's not really right. We've done some amazing IPA collaborations with these breweries in the past but always aged them in oak because that's just what we do." "It's a crazy full circle kind of thing, because these brewers that we inspired are now making beers so phenomenal, they're inspiring me to brew better and create even more interesting and exciting beers." Four-packs of 16-ounce cans will be available for $ The beer release will begin at 10 a.m. for all Jolly Pumpkin Mug Club Members and open to the public at 11 a.m. All locations, which includes Traverse City, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Royal Oak, and Hyde Park in Chicago, will also have Pure Speculation available on tap during this release. October Meeting Notes: Thank you to for hosting & allowing us to crash your old place! Thank you to the great President Emeritus & professional barback Eric Fouch for educating us on the proper way to judge beer. The competition schedule for next year will be decided at the November meeting. The Christmas party is on a Friday this year! Once again at the Guest House in GR. At the meeting, we assigned people to pick up swag from most sponsors, but there are still a few left to collect from. If you re interested in helping out, please let me know. zomerlcp@gmail.com Send PayPal payments to: primetimebrewersmi@gmail.com Last chance for the opportunity to be in next years Pro Am is the upcoming Kent County Club Competition. Deadline for entries is Nov 16.

PRIMETIME BREWERS COMPETITION PAGE 2018 Competition Schedule January: Oatmeal Stout (16B) February: Best of Cellar Beer (1-34) March: New England IPA April: Best of Cellar Cider (All) May: Wee Heavy

5 PRIMETIME BREWERS COMPETITION PAGE 2018 Competition Schedule January: Oatmeal Stout (16B) February: Best of Cellar Beer (1-34) March: New England IPA April: Best of Cellar Cider (All) May: Wee Heavy (17C) June: Beer and Food Pairing Dinner July: Standard American Beer (1A-D) August: Best of Cellar Mead (M1-4) September: Pilsner Extract Beer any style, no barley products but the extract. Corn, Rice, or Rye adjuncts allowed. October: Marzen, Vienna Lager, and Festbier (6A, 7A, and 4B) November: SMASH Beer any style December: Christmas Party Non-PTB Competitions can be found at: Brewer of the Year Results Tom Malkewitz 44 John Applegarth 40 Matt Moss 40 Ian Purvis 32 Chad Zomerlei 32 Jessie Colclasure 28 Jeff Carlson 20 Paul Curran 12 George Lawlor 12 Jeremy Gavin 8 Kathy Troxell 8 Greg Sanial First Thursday Destinations Jan City Built Feb Founders Mar The Mitten Apr Railtown May Osgood Jun Cellar Jul Thornapple Aug Gravel Bottom Sep Two Guys Oct New Union Nov Pike 51 Dec Brewery Vivant SAVE THE DATE(S) Club Officers President: Jeremy Gavin V. P.: Ric Brown Treasurer: Matt Moss Sec & RC Editor: Chad Zomerlei (jabrews@gmail.com) (ricbrown67@gmail.com) (mossford11@gmail.com) (zomerlcp@gmail.com) SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS THEY SUPPORT US!! November 16 Kent County Club Comp Deadline December 14 Christmas Party & auction Other events at: October Marzen, Vienna Lager or Festbier Club Competition Results: 1st Ian Purvis 2nd Chad Zomerlei 3rd Matt Moss

BIER DISTILLERY 5295 West River Drive Suite 100 Comstock Park

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6 BIER DISTILLERY 5295 West River Drive Suite 100 Comstock Park (616) FARMHAUS CIDER 5025 Stanton St Hudsonville (616) B.O.B. S BREWERY 20 Monroe NW (616) FOUNDERS BREWING CO 235 Grandville Ave SW (616) BREWERY VIVANT 925 Cherry SE (616) GAVIN LEGAL PLLC (616) CEDAR SPRINGS 95 N Main, Cedar Springs (616) GRAND RAPIDS 1 Ionia SW (616) CELLAR BREWING COMPANY 500 E Division, Sparta (616) GRAVEL BOTTOM Craft Brewery & Supply 418 Ada Dr Ada (206) HARMONY BC 1551 Lake Drive SE CITY BUILT BREWING COMPANY 820 Monroe Ave NW COLDBREAK 81 N Main St NE Cedar Springs (616) (616) And HARMONY HALL 401 Stocking Ave NW (616) HIDEOUT BREWING CO 3113 Plaza Dr NE (616)

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7 HOPCAT 25 Ionia SW (616) And lots of other locations PERRIN BREWING CO 5910 Comstock Park Dr Comstock Park (616) JADEN JAMES BREW- ERY 4665 Broadmoor Ave SE (616) PIKE Chicago Dr Hudsonville (616) MICHIGAN HOP ALLIANCE PO Box 1843 Traverse City RAILTOWN BREWING Co th St SE Dutton (616) MITTEN BREWING CO 527 Leonard NW (616) NEW HOLLAND BREWING 66 E 8th St (616) & THE KNICKERBOCKER 417 Bridge St NW RISHI S INTERNATIONAL BEVERAGE th St SE (616) and 6859 Cascade Rd SE ROCKFORD BREWING COMPANY 12 E Bridge St Rockford (616) O CONNOR S HOME BREW SUPPLY 619 Lyon St NE (616) SCHMOHZ BREWERY 2600 Patterson SE (616) OSGOOD BREWING 4051 Chicago Dr SW Grandville (616) SICILIANO S MARKET 2840 Lake Michigan Dr (616)

8 SPECIATION ARTISAN ALES 3721 Laramie Dr NE, Comstock Park THORNAPPLE BREWING th St Cascade TRAIL POINT BREWING COMPANY 6035 Lake Michigan Dr Allendale (616) TWOGUYS BREWING 2356 Porter St SW, Wyoming UNCLE JOHN S CIDER MILL 8614 North US 127 St Johns (989) VANDER MILL Cleveland St Spring Lake (616) & 505 Ball Ave NE Grand Rapids (616) WHITE FLAME th Ave Hudsonville (616)

BREWERS ASSOCIATION CRAFT BREWER DEFINITION UPDATE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. December 18, 2018

BREWERS ASSOCIATION CRAFT BREWER DEFINITION UPDATE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS December 18, 2018 What is the new definition? An American craft brewer is a small and independent brewer. Small: Annual production