Brewings Vol 36 Issue 3 June 2014 | Page 2

My last newsletter I left off at the Port of Potosi show in March. I mention that I didn't buy anything but the real reason is that there was one item I wanted to buy but did not have room for it. I thought that item was later sold and I would never see it again. The next show I attended was the Lacrosse show at the Moose Club. If you haven't been to this show you should make it point to go, because this show is getting bigger and better each year. Well the first thing I spotted at this show was that one item I did not have room for last March, that item is a 1/4 wood keg from the Duluth Brg & Malting Co. The owner of this keg is Jim M. from Dubuque and the reason he ended up with it was quite interesting. The short of it was because he may have had too many drinks and thought the keg was from Dubuque. I just knew that this piece had to come back home to Minnesota. As I was counting out the bills to pay for this item, Larry B. from Platteville, WI was giving me some advice on wood kegs. He said I should submerse the keg in water and let it soak for 2 to 3 days so that the keg can swell and tighten up the metal rings. What I used for soaking was a heavy plastic two piece keg holder for aluminum kegs. It worked just great, because I didn't have to weigh it down and beside the bung hole was open so the water was able to soak from the inside also. I let that keg soak for a whole week and when I open it up you should have witness the aroma that came from it. The wife said what is that smell and I said that stale beer smell was from my Duluth keg. As I was empting the water from the keg holder into a 5 gal. pail the dark brown liquid was foaming up like a fresh pour of beer. I had thought of putting some of it in a clear beer bottle and bringing it to our antique beer tasting in December. It would have been for looks and smelling and definitely not for tasting. Even I would not try drinking from that slop bucket. Oh shoot, I should mention our show in April at the Schell's Brewery. I believe those who attend with the weather forecast as it was had a good time. One brave soul tried to setup outside in the parking lot but he finally realize that it would be better in the tap room where maybe 5 others had setup. To me it look like a lot of items changed hands that day which is a good thing. I know one gentleman (J.M.) sold cases of cans. There was plenty of food and if you did not try a pulled pork sandwich from Spam Town you really did miss a taste of Austin. We had a nice table of raffle prizes of which many were lighted signs. Even with the rain and being inside for the show the day went by too fast. Next I would like to talk about the ABA Annual Meeting Convention in Dubuque, Iowa. Here is a brief day-by-day summary. Tues. - went to two open houses - great breweriana and food went to the Potosi Brewery for beers back to the Dubuque hotel for Presidents buffet hosted by Larry & Shirley Bowden Wed. - Sue and I went to Galena, IL for a day of shopping. Wine for us and gifts for the great nieces 4:00 pm the Galena Brewery opens - beer and gifts for ME Thurs - bus trip to Potosi Brewery - more good beer & food Fri. - Luncheon river cruise Micro night with Port of Potosi cheese Silent auction ends with me winning two items Sat. - Trade show - I bought way too much Drove to the Twin Cities for a graduation party Back home to rest. The next show is in Cloquet, MN on July 12th and if you are up there midweek and happen to hookup with Jay, he will have you traveling the great North for their beery sites. It is like his own mini convention. Hope to see a lot of our members soon, maybe at the chapter meeting on August 16th at our house in Austin or at Subiefest in Sept. Until then, drink only good local beer like Schells Mur Brewings is the official Brewsletter of the Schell s Border Batch, Chapter #83 of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America. Published quarterly for chapter members to keep up with chapter events and news. All materials in Border Batch Brewings are written by members of the Schell s Border Batch Chapter, unless otherwise credited. No reimbursement is made for submissions. This publication is not copyrighted and material may be reprinted, provided credit is given to the author. The Schell s Border Batch Chapter cannot be responsible for any errors which may occur. If you have anything you would like to contribute please send your newsletter article to: Schell s Border Batch Tom Terwilliger 1501 180th Street LuVerne, Iowa 50560 Or send it e-mail to [email protected] Any and all newsletter articles will be considered for publication in the Border Batch Brewings. Chapter Officers President - Murray Srock # 9678 Vice President - Dan Stueber #34421 Vice President Elect Treasurer - Tom Terwilliger #28855 Secretary - Judy Terwilliger #F32049 Chaplin - Father Furray Srock #9678 Artist - Barry Travis #30938 Sgt At Arms - Mark Stueber Supply Sergeant - Lori Johnson Newsletter Editor - Tom Terwilliger #28855 Webmaster - Tom Terwilliger #28855 Past President - Stevan Miner #12803 Dues are $10 per year or $15 for couples and due on Dec, 31 each year. Dues can be sent to Tom Terwilliger, 1501 180th Street, LuVerne, IA 50560 Page 2