BYOB

I am now a brand new subscriber to BYO magazine.  Brew Your Own.  I’m not a homebrewer, yet, but since I’m getting this whole “hops growing club” going here in Helena, I decided that it’s only a matter of time before I want to start brewing my own beer.  Thus, I’ve subscribed to BYO magazine as a first step of learning more about how to make beer at home.

If anyone is interested in “joining” the hops growers club, you don’t have to live in Helena to be a member.  We’ve got a member in Kalispell, three members in Billings, one in Bozeman and if our friends out in Brainerd end up having some success with their hops, our disorganized organization will have members from out of state!  Kind of cool.

There are four requirements to join the hops club.

1. Buy some hops rhizomes or plants, preferably Cascade or Centennial hops, since they make great beer.

2. Have a space where they can grow vertically, get lots of sunshine and water.

3. Be willing to donate your flowers to the Lewis & Clark Brewery for use in their 2009 “Neighborhood IPA.”  Or just give them to a homebrewer.

4.  Speak English (optional).

The first ever “Hop Heads” meeting will be at the Lewis & Clark Brewery Tap Room on Monday, April 27th at 6pm.  We’ll be distributing rhizomes (cost is 3 bucks per rhizome), talking about proper planting techniques, and we’ll be sampling different brews to taste the subtle differences in how they affect your taste buds (translation: we’ll drink beer).  Details can be found at local hop heads (www.localhopheads.com).  See y’all in the Tap Room on the 27th!