A group of members from BAM traveled up St. Arnold’s on Sunday, February 15^th to participate in the AHA Membership Rally held there.  It was a cool and cloudy morning that promised to clear off and warm up as the day progressed.  SWMBO and I were joined by Mongoose for the trip up to the old brewery a bit before noon.  We got there well before the 1 PM starting.  That gave us time to set up a table of goodies, proudly display the LSC trophy and post our club banner on a shinny fermentation tank right behind us.

We were joined by our colleagues from the KGB and the Foam Rangers, all proudly displaying their colors, paraphernalia, and clothing.  Our trophy was bigger.  We had an excellent post directly in front of a 120 barrel fermenting tank and directly across from the taps in the tasting area.  It was a very short trip to refill those empty glasses.  Up toward the front and across from the Foamies was the big table from DeFalco’s.  Scott Birdwell was there to answer any questions and it was full of wonderful toys from Brinkman and others.  The KGB grill was out front of the loading dock.  It was fired up and large quantities of hot dogs and sausages were merrily grilling away.  That was keeping the Czar and Commissar busy stoking their coals while burning their weenies and checking them for doneness.  They were also laying out a spread of buns, condiments and chips.  All in anticipation of the free lunch that was going to be served after the rally started. 

As we talked with folks both known and new, we made sure to keep an eye on the LSC trophy proudly displayed front and center on our table.  We had to politely decline the attempted efforts at “hands-on” caring for the trophy by several members of both the KGB and the Foam Rangers as we tried to sell glasses to anybody slowing down by our table to look at stuff.  Shortly after we go well set up and all displayed, we greeted the Phun Couple as they came by.   Mongoose grabbed Guthrie and started peppering him with questions about Brutus.  The man is most definitely coming back into brewing, big time.  Last I saw, he was building a Franken-Brutus for himself.  Of course, when he wasn’t talking to Guthrie, he was over at the DeFalco’s table seeing what was going with Scott Birdwell and what new gadgets and toys were available.   We said hello to Skirtboy as he ambled about taking photos like the beer making paparazzo he is.   Who knows what beer soaked publication will accept them.

In the middle of all the excitement and people strolling by, who should appear but the good folks from B&S.  Sgt. Rock (with two really cute chicks in tow), The Professor and Mary Ann joined our merry band for some conversation and to eyeball what one of these here AHA Membership Rally things was all about.  By that time the tasting area was full of people and the crowd was overflowing into the corridor leading to the ramp entrance and the AHA sign-up table being run by the good folks of St. Arnold’s.  We even saw one of our newer members; Li’l Buddy came out to show his support for BAM and the AHA.

There was quite a turnout of folks coming to see what was going on and if we had waited for the line to die down to fill out our AHA renewals; we might have still been there Sunday night.  Fortunately, SWMBO was able to retrieve a form or two and bring it all back to our bench where they got filled out in a modicum of piece and quiet.  And quickly, too.  Mongoose was happy to pass on the effort.  He was already signed up through 2010.

Finally the Comisars declared the food line open and the feeding frenzy began!  It was well run between periods of no dogs. Fortunately,  there was plenty of beer to enjoy the remaining chips, hotdog buns and chili.  The KGB cooking crew seemed to have a problem meeting the demand for their weenies.  That would never happen with BAM.  As for the beverages furnished by St. Arnold, the Spring Bock was quite tasty and just for the occasion a small keg of cask conditioned of IPA was tapped for the crowd to enjoy.  We most certainly did. 

I must complement all our members for their excellent tastes in apparel.  The natty black BAM shirts with our club logo proudly displayed over our left pocket and our Mashtronicks emblazoned over the right pocket certainly stood out in a crowd of scruffy tee-shirts and wind breakers.  Some of whom also wore jackets. We all got an opportunity to say hello to Brock as he strolled about the crowd.  We reminded him of Lunar Rendezbrew this year and encouraged him to take the time to come out and enjoy our party. 

Finally the main event of the day was kicked off.  The big AHA Membership Rally Raffle!!!  After we all were greeted by Brock, a very random drawing of the tickets we got when we signed in at the start of the event (more or less) for fabulous prizes dear to the heart of any homebrewer was begun.  Books, brew kits, glasses, tee-shirts, club glasses, more tee-shirts, books, some brewing gear and yet some more tee-shirts were won and happily displayed.  Shortly after that the event began ramping down.  The taps were once again closed.  We packed away our goods and carried them back to our van for the trip back to home.

And so we left the old brewery of St. Arnold’s.  Fed, watered and well rallied for the AHA.