Frank Balero Sr., EBHC Member with over 10 years' service passed away October 4, 2021. Frank was a valued member and always hosted the club annual New Orleans trip.
He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and dear friends. Frank retired from Exxon Mobil in 2011, was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War, a member of the American Legion Post 307, and Pete Fountain’s Half-Fast Walking Club. He will be missed. Prayers and Codolences to his family. Frank will be laid to rest in St. Benard Memorial Gardens in Chalmette Louisiana, with military honors.
Despite a hiatus in 2019 EBH successfully organized the 25th Annual Emerald Coast Beerfest. Thank you to all the volunteers who made this happen including EBH members, the Knights of Columbus, and the Pensacola Area Chief Petty Officer Association.
Thanks to Terra & Tim for the Dirty Santa gifts!
View our Calendar for locations.
Winter is the perfect time to get experimental with homebrewing, whether you're brewing for a party full of thirsty friends or simply getting creative with new seasonal flavors and spices. There are quite a few old and new recipes, but these are a few that stand out.
Roggenbier - A dark German Rye beer. Flavorful yet easy drinking with that rye bite. Best for: Hanging with friends, both old and new. Tastes like: Treasure this beer. Except for California, you probably won't find this anywhere else in the USA. Pairs well with: Get as German as you can. Our recommendation includes Bratwurst and sausage, or if you are vegetarian try it out with baked tofu and veggie sausages. You can throw some latkes and potatoes in there too. Delicious all around. See recipe in Appendix.
A Winter's Ale - A spiced, malt forward winter warmer. Perfect for sipping indoors on a cold winter's night. Best for: the perfect holiday gathering. Great brew for the party you're throwing at home or at the office. Tastes like: as homemade as you can get. It's the comfort food of beers with the perfect hint of cinnamon. Pairs well with: think pie and delicious holiday pastries. A Winter's Ale is unique and versatile, finding delicious union with any of the following -- cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and those fruity notes. All in all, a huge holiday hit. See recipe in Appendix.
Divine Chocolate Porter - A roasty but refined porter with a luxurious chocolate finish. For this kind of occasion: If you find yourself cozying up by the fireplace without a beverage, this one's got you covered. Why leave your house in the freezing cold when you can party with your Divine Chocolate Porter? Tastes like: chocolate and beer striking perfect harmony. Pairs well with: ice cream! Contrary to the sweetness you might think exists in a chocolate porter, this one's pretty far from sweet. So many pairings we can think of, but you pretty much have free dessert reign here. See recipe in Appendix..
Winter Celebration - Deep red and hoppy. Enjoy it by the fire. For this kind of occasion: Sweeter than its IPA siblings but as deliciously hoppy and aromatic as its family, this one's perfect for the holiday gathering or more casually, game night on a Monday with football in the mix. Tastes like: a Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale, which is also our favorite beer of the season. Pairs well with: pretty much everything really. Winter Celebration with water? Check. Winter Celebration with a side a pasta? Double check. See recipe in Appendix.
No Way Out Stout (partial mash) - A strong Russian Imperial Stout with bourbon soaked vanilla beans. For this kind of occasion: this one's got a funny story. One of our former employees brewed a beer for his best friend's wedding. Come time to name the beer, he decided on "No Way Out," which was initially a joke and then it stuck, forever. Tastes like: a very strong Imperial Stout with bourbon and vanilla at the end. Can't go wrong there. Pairs well with: the wedding night and every night thereafter. And if you're nowhere close to getting married, drink this one for good juju. See recipe in Appendix.
Beer is way less … fussy … than wine. So you can pretty much drink any beer at any time. But the best winter beer will warm you up and loosen up the SADs. Winter beers are sometimes called winter warmers. Popular styles include imperial (Russian) stouts, imperial reds, and strong English ales. Traditionally they were heated with ginger, apples, sugar, or nutmeg.
Most homebrewers find it convenient to brew during the cold season or in cold weather. The reason for this is that they can control the conditions that lead to proper fermentation. Homebrewing requires accuracy since you have to be particular about the kind of beer style you are working with. Here is a simple guide for homebrewing in cold weather conditions.
To double the chances of you getting your brew right, go for beer styles that prevail in cold conditions such as ale and lager. Ale has the right kind of yeast component that thrives in cold weather. Lager also ferments well in cold temperatures between 45 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, the beer style should withstand possible variations in the levels of cold.
As much as there are varieties of brews that do well in cold weather, it’s important that the temperature doesn’t go lower than it should. Conditions that are too cold can cause yeast to remain inactive. To succeed in homebrewing in cold areas, you might have to select a location known to have ideal cold conditions that allow beer brewing. Another temperature control measure you can take is ensuring that the fermenter is in a position where it is likely to overcome temperature interference. You can do so by elevating it and avoid placing it on the floor. Preferably, try putting it on an insulator, such as cardboard. After completing a fermentation cycle, have a record of all the alterations you made in the fermentation space, equipment, and even ingredients. Keeping a log can guide your methods the next time you brew. And, keeping a record can help you make improvements in your next brewing adventure.
We will make several changes to SOM Comp in the hope that it will create more interest & participation. Instead of 1 gift certificate, the winner each month will get $25 for each month he or she wins. They will be given out at the 2022 Christmas party.
We would like to welcome Karen Young as the EBH Club Secretary!
Karen's Bio
Do you have a story, recipe, something to share with the club? We are looking for member contributions on all things homebrew—beer, wine, cider, mead, and OAB. Send your article and photos to the club secretary.
Have photos to share with the club? Send them in to info@ebhb.org! They may be included in the website, newsletter, Instagram page, and the Escambia Bay Homebrewers Facebook page! Don’t forget to send a short description or story to accompany the photos.