Meeting

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!

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.

The annual TRASH picnic is at hand.
What a great way to finish up the summer!

Once again, the brewing hordes will converge on Cooper's Lake Campground near Slippery Rock for a great combination of the TRASH summer picnic and the Cooper’s Lake Brew Fest. It'll be a great time with good food, brews, the Cooper's Brewer Fest, keg toss, tunes, bonfire, camping (for those interested), and more.

Festivities will begin at noon on Saturday August 27th. Try to come for the weekend (strongly encouraged and a great time!), but at least come for Saturday. If you come for just the day, consider bringing a DD with you, you will likely need it, the bountiful and beautiful home brews that will be available will sneak up on you.

TRASH picnic amenities are free for members & family, and a mere $10 for guests (what a deal!). For those who wish to attend the Cooper's Brew Fest (highly recommended) or who wish to camp on Saturday, Cooper's charges $20.

Everyone attending is encouraged to being their homebrew. If you are bringing a keg, you'll need to also bring gas & taps - - ice and tubs are provided. All TRASH picnic attendees will vote for the brew they think deserves the coveted “TRASHY” trophy. And, for the first time, attendees get to vote for their favorite griller. Rumor has it that he's vertically challenged and sports a grey mustach

Along with some homebrew, guests are asked to bring a covered dish (preferably with some tasty side dish or dessert inside!). The club will provide ice, cups, plates-utensils, condiments, soft drinks, hotdogs, hamburgers, BBQ, and prizes. And, you might want to bring along your favorite lawn chair.

So, come on out to the picnic.

You’ll enjoy the great food and homebrew and maybe make a few new friends in the process!

Directions

There is still some room on the van travelling to the 'All Saints' brewery tour and club meeting in Greensburg on the 30th, so if you are interested, drop Dick an email to arrange a reservation.   For a modest $20 per person, you can ride in style to this special club event.  What a deal! 

YOU NEED TO RESERVE TO RIDE ON THE VAN!

We've set up three pick-up points for van riders.  Times are approximate based on traffic and construction obstacles, but we'll try to leave the locations at the times listed, so be prompt. The pick-up locations and departure times are:

1. 10:45 - Northmont United Presbyterian Church,  8169 Perry Highway  (North Hills folks)
2. 11:20  - Hampton Inn Pittsburgh,  555 Trumbull Drive  (Greentree area)
3. 12:00  - Outback Steakhouse,  3000 Mosside Blvd., Monroeville  (Easterners)

For those not riding on the van, please meet the group at 'All Saints Brewing',  1602 Route 119, Greensburg at 12:30.   The club meeting will follow and is scheduled from 2:00 - 5:00 at Randy and Sarah's home at 205 Westmoreland Ave, Greensburg. 

Follow this link to a google map of pick-up and event locations.  

Reserve the Date  for Saturday, July 30th, and make your Reservations!   

Our next TRASH meeting is looking to be a very special event that you won't want to miss.
Here is the schedule and plan:

• A tour and tasting at the All Saints Brewing Company located in Hempfield, PA hosted by brewer Jeff from 12:30 to 1:30


• A club meeting at the home of Randy & Sarah Maruschock 205 Westmoreland Ave, Greensburg, PA 2- 5ish.  Stewards requested!


• Optional Tour Bus transportation from Pittsburgh to Greensburg and back (limit 14 people) The tour bus will provide snacks and ice for our beverages, and will provide DUI safe travel from Pittsburgh to the brewery, to Randy's home and back. The cost of the tour bus will be shared by the riders. (up to 14 people) the estimated cost of the bus, including tip is 22. Final cost of the bus will be determined by the actual cost of gas and the number of riders. (Actual bus cost is $175 + Gas + tolls + tip)

We request you respond with separate reservations for the Bus (first come, first served) and for the TRASH meeting at Randy's so he can plan for food. When you RSVP, please note if you will be driving independently or taking the bus.
More details will follow, (including the street address of the All Saints Brewery). and the Pittsburgh area pickup/dropoff spots and times for the tour bus. ..

Don't delay, send Dick an email to reserve today!

I mis-stated the price in the previous note. The cost is going to be $12/person if you RSVP, and $15 if you don't. But please RSVP if you plan on attending, it makes the planning and serving flow a lot more smoothly. Cheers!

Peter K.
TRASH President

The TRASH Christmas party is being held at Max's Allegheny Tavern this year on Saturday, December 11. The socializing will start around 4pm with dinner to be served at 6pm. The cost is $10 per person. If you would like to attend please RSVP to Armand Houle via telephone at 412-364-2588 and leave a message on his machine stating your name, your contact number and number of guests in your party. Please do this by December 1, 2010. If you show up to the event without RSVP'ing then the cost is $15/person. If you RSVP and do not show you are still responsible for the meeting fee. Adult friends and spouses are welcomed as well.

We will again do the mystery beer exchange. In order to participate please wrap any homebrewed (preferably labeled with brewer's name and beer style/name) or craft beer in wrapping paper and bring it to the party. We will have a table where all the beers will be placed. 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. Any questions, email me at the presidential email or call me at 412-952-9474. This system will replace the raffle style format that was used in previous years in an attempt to simplify the event.

Hope everyone can make it.

Cheers!

Peter K.
TRASH President

T.R.A.S.H. PICNIC

August 22 @ Coopers Lake Campground

Starts at noon, 6PM-Keg Toss, Group Photo, Dinner.

$5 Members, $5 Guest, $8/person to Camp

Text Box: Three Rivers Alliance of Serious Homebrewers is please to be part of Coopers Lake Brewfest while having our annual picnic. New location, same great Homebrew and smorgasbord of great salads desserts and bar-be-que. Lots of activities for the entire family including outdoor beer brewing, live bands, bonfire, keg tossing, raffles, awarding of the TRASHY and of course eating and drinking expertly prepared delights.

Camping strongly encouraged!

Please bring: covered dish to share, salad or dessert *homebrew-have taps and gas for kegs*Chair*Raffle donations*Follow Camp ground rules at all times*Pets allowed, must be on leash at all times.*Staying after dark=camping.TRASH provides: Ice, Cups, plates-utensils, condiments, soft drinks, Hotdogs/Hamburgers, BBQ, Corn, Turkey, Prizes, Gift for all members

Cooper's Lake Campground-205 Currie Rd, Slippery Rock, PA 16057 (724) 368-8710. www.cooperslake.com 40 Miles north of Pittsburgh on I-79 just of exit 99- New Castle/Butler route 422. Go West on 422 ½ mile, turn right on Currie road, go 1 Mile, to campground on right. Family Owned & Operated Camp Store Large Sites - mostly shaded & pull-through Full Hook-up Sites Water & Electric Sites Primitive Sites Large open areas Clean Restrooms & Hot Showers Recreation Building (small barn) Activity Building (big barn) Indoor Basketball Video Games Ping Pong Table Stage 10 Acre Lake Playground Laundromat Picnic Tables Fire-Rings.

The March meeting will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 2:00 pm at the Pittsburgh Bottle Shop. 3000 Washington Pike, 15017
Please plan on attending!

The February meeting is going to be held Sunday, February 22. 2009 at 2pm at Piper's Pub in the South Side of Pittsburgh. Plan on attending. There will be tours of the British Cask Ale Cellar. Meeting fees are the standard $15.

Chris Dilla welcomed us to Bocktown in Robinson for a great day out on the deck for TRASH’s October meeting.

TRASH host Mark Benson welcomed all of to Bocktown. Also serving as steward, Mark brought along his dark lager featuring a specially obtained yeast. Mike Task (our November meeting host) brought along an American IPA. Jeff Bearer brought his American Bitter. Jim Bluemle brought several years’ worth of ciders to taste and many other bottled homebrews were shared.

Nominations for officers were taken at this meeting as per our club’s bylaws. All active members are asked to vote and either send in their ballot or bring it to the November meeting at The Sharp Edge Creekhouse on November 4th.

The annual TRASH homebrew competition is looking for a new venue due to the demise of the Hereford and Hops. Anyone who has any ideas are asked to contact competition chairman Mike Ameel.

The TRASH web site will soon have a new look. Member Jeff Bearer will be taking the helm. Thanks to Jeff for volunteering and a special thanks to Ralph Colaizzi who has been our webmaster since the TRASH web site’s inception!

Tony Knipling reported that the Bulk Buy Boys will be doing an extract buy soon. Orders will be taken in November with delivery coming in December or January. Keep posted for details. Tony is also looking for a themostat controller to convert his chest freezer into a beer cooler. Please contact Tony if you can help him out.

The TRASH holiday party is rumored to be at Vivo. More Details to come.

The October Meeting will be at Bocktown Beer and Grill. We still need stewards if you are interested please volunteer.

Mark your calendars for the annual TRASH Picnic at Bennet Acres Camp Ground in Burgetstown, just down the road from Post-Gazette Pavilion.

Picnic Chairman Peter Kozlowski gave us a quick rundown at the July meeting. More information will be available at the August meeting and next month’s TRASH Can.