P A G E 2
25 Beers ago —
B O R D E R B A T C H B R E W I N G S
A b la s t f r o m t h e B o r d e r B a tch P a s t b y j a y m a r t i n
Welcome to 25 Beers Ago . Just what the heck is this column about , you may ask ? Well , a few years ago in one of my drunken stupers , a dim bulb came on and I thought it would be cool to look back at past newsletters and reprint some of more interesting things about this chapter . With the chapter approaching 30 years old , I suppose we may have to change the title . I will be covering the newsletters from the years of 1983 and 1984 . So , kick back and take a walk down memory lane with me .
Janurary 1983 : After attending Guzzle & Twirl and noticing the attendance , there are a few points to ponder . 1 . We are a dying breed , not really dying , but settling down to our core or basic members . Our huge growth of a few years ago has reversed and we are slowly shedding dead wood and tired wood . 2 . Times are tough , to drop bucks every month traveling to sessions just isn ’ t in the cards for a lot of us . 3 . Maybe we have all burned out just a little . Bob Vierkant .
March 1983 : Next issue Frank Kraft will be your new President , he will be succeding me , Bob Vierkant . A nominating commitee met after the New Ulm session at Lapper Luecks and Rich Lueck will be Vice President and Kevin Savick will be Sec ./ Treas . Your board menbers will be Matt Connor , Butz Palmer , and Steve Hartong . Dues are $ 3.00 , same as last year . Bob Vierkant .
July 1983 : I ( Frank Kraft ) just returned from the 1st annual “ Veekend at Veldas ” in Eau Claire . Lucky for Steve Miner that I was there or he would probably be on the road with the Omaha “ Three ” instead of home with Sue . I don ’ t know if anybody else has noticed but , I think the interest in cans is going down . Glasses seem to be real hot right now , along with trays and just general advertising items . Steve Miner .
October 1983 : Our 5th annual Daly Park session is past and now our attention turns to a new venture . A buy / sell / trade session in Sheffield , Iowa . There should be plenty of traders back from Canvention in Houston . Let ’ s have a good turnout in Hawkeye land . November 11th and 12th is the 10th annual Guzzle & Twirl , Friday night party , poolside at the Ramada Inn . Frank Kraft
Janurary 1984 : We are fast approaching the 5th annual BBBS . This year the entire event will be held at the Albert Lea Best Western Inn . Friday night is the hospitality room , pool side , including “ piles ” of food , buckets of beer , 3rd annual toasting contest , and Joe Kowal at the piano . Saturday the buy / sell / trade session . Saturday night , banquet , dance and the now very infamous Margarita contest . Bob Vierkant
April 1984 : Feburary 12th was the annual session at Schells taproom . As usual the session was well attended , especially when there is free Schells to sample . As is the trend , beer glasses seemed to be the hot item . Yours truly ( Steve Miner ) picked up a sham Kato glass for my Minnesota collection . Our Prez Frank Kraft , was seen stowing away a nice Grain Belt reverse on glass sign . After the show we were treated to tour Butz Palmer ’ s collection . If you want any tips on how to use every concievable space in your basement , see Butz . Steve Miner .
July 1984 : Bet you were all wondering who won the Margarita trophy this year ? Well after 5 years I ( Sue Miner ) finally won . Don ’ t think I ’ ll be going after it next year though , I woke up feeling $%&$#@*&% on Sunday morning !! We have already sent in our reservations for Canvention to stay at Stouffers Five Seasons , if you want any sleep , stay away from our room . ( Steve Miner ) Traveled to Lyle , MN for a large auction . Included in the auction was many beer glasses , mostly Hamms , signs , foam scrapers , playing cards , tip trays , etc . Highlights were a mini bottle collection , I would guess there were over 200 and a large beer can collection , numbering around 1000 . Frank Kraft and I ( Steve Miner ) cleaned up , getting everything we bid on .
October 1984 : Another Canvention has come and gone . It was nice to see so many of you in Cedar Rapids . I was called on to accept an award to Schells Brewery in gratitude for its cooperation in the production of their own BCCA Celebration Beer . I know they feel very good about that . I don ’ t want to see the Border Batch drift down to a handfull of collecters . I think we have one of the more popular chapters there is , so people must be doing there jobs . Richard Lueck .
Don ’ t worry Lapper Lueck , the chapter is alive and doing fine and in good hands !! Jay Martin # 16605