Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week

Submitted by mikebeattie on Mon, 04/23/2012 - 20:31
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As I'm sure most of you have already heard, plans for Pittsburgh's first ever Craft Beer Week have been in the works for the past several months. Beer week events are currently taking place all over the city, and a number of local bars are even carrying one or more of the three collaborative brews prepared by local brewers to celebrate the week of events. The fun lasts through Saturday, April 28, so be sure to head out and support the local beer community before the week ends.

In particular, there are a few events related to the club, so I'll spend some time pointing out opportunities to support homebrew in the area.

Tuesday, 4/24: Homebrew Tasting at Bocktown (free!)

Bocktown Beer and Grill is sponsoring a homebrew tasting an process overview at the Bocktown location in Monaca. Bocktown has contacted some of the brewers who submitted ranking entries in this year's homebrew competition and given those brewers an opportunity to brew another batch and pass out samples. In addition to being featured on Tuesday's tasting event, each location will be carrying a different keg of homebrew each day and passing out free samples to customers.

Wednesday, 4/25: East End Session Ale Tapping (free!)

East End is hosting a tapping party for their rendition of the Cream Ale that won this year's East End Session Ale award. This is a great opportunity to meet the award-winning homebrewer (Brody Nasse), sample the winning beer, and show support for the club's annual competition. You'll even have a chance to buy one of the first growler fills of a tasty session ale.

Thursday, 4/26: PGHTEE w/ Commonwealth Press (free!)

The Commonwealth Press is organizing a t-shirt-centered art show and mini beer fest at their warehouse in the South Side. They'll be using their warehouse space to show off a wide range of designs and serve samples from a number of craft brewers (through a local distributor) -- including some homebrew from a few different members of TRUB.

All week long: Events All Over

Looking for more events? There are plenty of other things going on over the course of the week. Stop by the calendar of events on the PCBW site to find a full list, and you'll be sure to find a few opportunities for good beer and a good fun on just about every night of the week.

2012 Dues!

Submitted by jrozborski on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 06:48
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If you haven't paid yet, now is the time!

To continue to be an active TRASH member please remember to pay your dues to Treasurer,John Rozborski. Dues this year are $15.00 for singles, $25.00 for couples. You can either pay at one of the meetings or by sending a check (payable to the 'John Rozborski Retirement Fund') to :

John Rozborski
8490 Remington Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Don't forget, dues were needed by March 31, 2012 to continue active status in the club.
Don’t delay.
Send in your dues today!!

New TRASH 22 award & 'Club Only' competition series info

Submitted by jrozborski on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 10:46
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Announcing a new TRASH 22 award, TRASH participation In the AHA Club Only Competition series and information about the First round of Nationals.

The officers of TRASH have decided that we should participate as a club in the AHA Club Only Competition series. (COC)

From the AHA website:

"Think your homebrew club makes some pretty good beer? Have you ever wondered how it stacks up against other clubs’ beer?

The Club-Only Competition (COC) program offers AHA-registered homebrew clubs an opportunity to compete with other AHA-registered homebrew clubs. Each competition concentrates attention on a specific style of beer or mead, giving your club the opportunity to educate club members in these styles by focusing on them at club meetings or tasting events.

interested?  read on . ..

TRASH 22 Awards Banquet: Sign up now!

Submitted by mikebeattie on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 08:34
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First, if you haven't signed up and dropped off your bottles, it's time to get moving. The deadline is a week away.

TRASH 22 Homebrew Competition
http://www.trashhomebrewers.org/competition

Second, I'm sure many of you remember the post-competition awards banquet from last year. For the first time ever, that event gave you a chance to pick up completed score sheets and prizes less than 24 hours after the competition — we even threw in a chance to sample from among the unopened entries and a couple of kegs from our members. As you might have guessed, the event was a tremendous success.

This year, we're pushing that model even further. In addition to early score sheet access and homebrew samples, we're adding live music and inviting the the general public. For $25, you get early access to the competition results and prizes, dinner from Rock Bottom, a commemorative sampling glass, homebrew samples, live music, and a chance to hang out with the core of Pittsburgh's homebrew community. Whether you show up in time to hear the results or roll in just in time for dinner, you're sure to have a good time. Either way, you can buy tickets here!

TRASH XXII - Homebrew Competition

Submitted by mikebeattie on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 17:35
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TRASH 22 is just around the corner!

The TRASH 22 Homebrew, Cider, and Mead competition has been scheduled, and it's already quickly approaching. This year's event will take place on March 10th with the post-competition banquet the following day. Based on the recent growth in the number of entries, we have decided to move both events to a larger venue: the Rock Bottom Brewery in the Waterfront shopping area. That relatively early date means the deadline for entries is Saturday, February 25th! If you were planning on brewing any more entries, then you better get on it.

For anyone who hasn't participated in a competition in the past, the club's competition is a great opportunity to give it a try. In exchange for a few dollars and two bottles of homebrew, you get detailed feedback from experienced judges. Entries that score particularly well even have a chance to take home prizes and medals for their achievement. The very best entries even have chance to have their beer brewed by a local brewer!

For complete details, stop by the competition web site: http://trashhomebrewers.org/competition

2012 Annual TRASH Picnic & Campout

Submitted by jrozborski on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 16:15
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Our TRASH annual campout/picnic has been scheduled for Friday June 15 thru Sunday June 17. For those of you who don’t know, or are new to TRASH, this is a flagship event for our group and this year we are doing it big and right! You certainly will not want to miss this weekend. We have reserved The Trillium Lodge, which is a private lodge on 40 acres in OhioPyle!   Want more details?  Read on ... 

Christmas 'Beer Buy' Update!

Submitted by Dontomino1 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 07:16
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Good news for those participating in the 'Christmas Beer Buy'!

The first 12 cases of the Christmas beers have been filled. There are three cases remaining to be sold for the second 12 cases to be filled. It's first come first served on these last three so don't delay!

The case price for this year's beer by will be emailed out to each of the buyers this coming week.  The Christmas beer pickup will be on December 17 from 11 am to 2 pm at the Tomino residence in Pleasant HIlls.

If you would like to reserve one of the last 3 cases available or have any questions, please contact Don or Pam at pamtomino@aol.com.

Christmas Beer Buy

Submitted by Dontomino1 on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 06:36
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Christmas time is here again and so are the TRASH Christmas variety cases of beer! For those of you who are unfamiliar with this very popular tradition, each year the club buys 12 different cases of Christmas beers, then makes 12 variety cases. Each case contains 2 bottles of every beer.

The first 12 members to email their requests will be on the list to purchase a variety case. Cases must be sold in multiplies of 12. Last year we sold 24 cases. The price range will be between $50.00 and $60.00 depending on how many Belgium beers are included.

If you would like to participate, please do so by emailing your name, phone number, number of cases requested, and any special beer you would to see in the case to Don Tomino at pamtomino@aol.com by December 1st.

In the past few years, the cases have gone very fast!

Don't wait...order now!

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

TRASH Christmas Party!

Submitted by DickSmith on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 09:55
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For those who have been in the club for a while, you know the drill. For those of you who are new, or haven't attended this yearly event, the annual holiday party is your chance to join fellow club members and their families for good beer, good German food, and a full evening of holiday cheer.

For the past several years, we've held the event at Max's Allegheny Tavern. Given the growth of the club, we'll be moving this year's event just up the street to Penn Brewery. The new location will offer an expanded space but still gives us a private room (the 'Eisenhalle') and a chance to bring along our own homebrew. The 'Iron Hall' features great views of the city and is ours for the evening. So, mark your calendars for Saturday, December 10th. Socializing begins at 4 pm with appetizers and libation. A 3-entree buffet will be served at 6pm. Since this is a commercial establishment, we'll only be able to drink hombrew and beers purchased on site.

The cost this year is $15 per member, $25 for guests of members, and $12.50 for shorties (children under 12). If you plan on attending, please RSVP via the Eventbrite site Mike Beattie has set up for us at 'http://trash-holiday-party.eventbrite.com/'. You may also reserve by contacting Armand Houle via telephone at 412-364-2588. Leave a message on his machine stating your name, contact number and number of guests in your party. If you don't RSVP but decide to attend, the fee is $30 regardless of club membership. Important note - the club owes Penn for all reservations, so if you RSVP and do not show you are still responsible for the event fee.

Please make sure to RSVP by November 25th as Penn requires a final number by the 26th!

We'll be doing the popular 'Mystery Beer Exchange' again this year. To participate, please package your homebrew (or craft beer) in holiday paper and bring it to the event. Make sure to label your beverage with brewer name and style! We'll have a table set up for the exchange beers. At the end of the night everyone goes to the table and simply takes the same number of beers that they brought not knowing what they are going to get. They then take these beers home to enjoy over the holiday season.

Don't forget: RSVP by November 25th!

Ciderfest - 2011

Submitted by Tim M on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 06:42
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One of TRASH’s annual events is our Ciderfest. Trash members and friends gather at Sally’s Cider Press in Zelionople for a custom press of some of finest apples available. While it’s more than OK to take some home to enjoy right away, most of this freshly pressed nectar is fermented into a delicious beverage with a history as long as our nation itself.

What makes TRASH Ciderfest cider so special? We select our apples from one of the finest orchards in the area, Soergel’s in Wexford. By having them custom pressed at Sally’s we can be assured that our cider is all natural. Most store bought ciders have been heat pasteurized and have potassium sorbate added to resist fermentation. They also tend to be more to the sweet side and sometimes that imbalance affects a finished hard cider.

Never made cider? No problem!. Cider is one of the easiest of fermented beverages to produce. One can simply get a measure of fresh juice and let the natural yeasts already present on the apple skins to ferment their cider. Others use a store bought yeast culture to bring out characteristics from the yeast that they would like to taste in a cider. A champagne yeast will yield a drier, more alcoholic cider while an ale yeast might bring more of the fruit flavor to the front. Basically if a yeast would make a good beer, wine, or mead it will make a very drinkable cider.

This year’s CiderFest will be held on Saturday October 22nd. If you would like to participate, please come to the September 'Oktoberfest' meeting at the Houle's and sign up. I’ll need your contact information and how many gallons of juice you would like to order. As in years past we are charging $4.00 per gallon of juice. Earlybirds and helpers can meet me for breakfast at King’s in Wexford around 8:00 AM for some eggs and cider talk. Those ordering juice can assemble at Sally’s cider Press in Zelionople at 10:00 AM. As always I really need the help of TRASH members or friends of TRASH with trucks and/or trailers to help me transport the apples from the orchard to Sally’s. Please let me know as soon as possible if you can help.

CiderFest directions:
For breakfast take I-79 North to the Wexford Exit. Make a right and King’s will be on your left. We usually sit in the back and our vehicles will be conspicuously filled with apples!

For Sally’s Cider Press take I-79 to Exit 87 (Zelionople). At the end of the ramp turn left onto PA-68. Travel approximately one mile and turn right onto US-19. Travel approximately 3.2 miles north and Sally’s will be on the right.

Please contact me at tim.mihalek@gmail.com or by phone at 724-579-9369 by Saturday October 15th with your cider order.

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