[IBU] Wet Hop

[Mike Gauthier]

Hi everybody!

OK, so the powers the be here (read the people who sign the checks) have decided that the official party for the beer is going to happen on November 6.  Don't ask me, I've beat my head agianst the wall long enough with them over this.  I have class that night, so I'll only be there briefly, but I will hook up the footage we shot during the brew.  There won't be any audio, due to my foul mouth.  If you're interested in seeing the video (f bombs and all) let me know, and I'll try to find a meeting I can get to in the next few months.  Again, the powers that be have also decided that we'll sell the beer for $4, but in 14 oz. goblets.  Suffice to say, I'm tired of fighting with them over money, so I probably won't make one of these beers again, unless someone has enough land, time and comitment to get a hopyard going here in Iowa.  Another heads up to you all, as the shortages that affect us, will affect you; hops and barley supplies are in desperate shape this year.  I'm sure most of you knew this already, but the news keeps getting worse.  I personally, am looking at approximately 20 - 35% increase in malt prices across the board.  I've contracted on my hops to lock in supply. more than price, but if there is a hop you like to work with, buy as much as you can in early November.  I've heard that several varieties (Centenial being the most notable) were sold out before harvest.  I just heard from Eric over at Rock Bottom, that Ralph at Hopunion doesn't expect things to straighten out until 2010.  So any of you planning on a starting a brewery, may want to wait, because there really isn't enough out there for those of us who are already open.  Sorry to drop bad news on you all, but I thought you'd like to know why you'll be paying 2 - 3 times what you did for ingredients in the past.  Good news is, wet hop is online and being served, so get it while you can.

Cheers,
Mike Gauthier
Head Brewer
Court Avenue Brewing Co.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.iowabrewersunion.org/pipermail/ibu/attachments/20071030/fa73c72c/attachment.html