CBC Oktoberfest Family Picnic & Homebrew Competition 

You and your family are invited to the 2018 CBC Oktoberfest Family Picnic & Homebrew Competition. Dogs are welcome, but must be leashed and current on their vaccinations. Registration for the picnic is required by Wednesday, Oct. 17 so we know how many beverages, condiments, brats, hot dogs, and buns to buy. We will provide beer (2 maximum per person age 21+), soft drinks, and water. Please bring a dish to share (enough for 6+ people), make a monetary donation (see Olivia in OC 210 or Ellie in BSW 270), or volunteer to help with setup/cleanup. More information about setting up, the game schedule, and the Homebrew Competition is available below. A street map of Reid Park is at the bottom of this page.

More Information

The games will begin at 3 pm (see schedule below). The brats, hotdogs, and veggie burgrs should be ready between 3:30-4:00 pm, so please arrive with your dish and serving utensil (if needed) by then. DIsposible dishes/utensils are best, but if you want yours back, please put your name on them. NO GLASS IS ALLOWED IN THE PARK. Please put your food items into a plastic container. If you are bringing a dish that must be kept cold, please bring it in a cooler with ice.

Not sure what dish to bring? Here are a few suggestions:

• veggie hot dogs
• hummus & pita bread
• fruit tray
• veggie tray
• veggie sandwiches
• lentil salad
• Greek salad
• macaroni salad
• cole slaw
• three bean salad
• olives and pickles
• vegetarian main dish
• vegetarian side dish
• BBQ ribs
• Buffalo or BBQ wings
• baked/fried chicken pieces
• cupcakes
• desserts

Still can't decide what to bring? Monetary donations are always welcome! See Olivia in OC 210 or Ellie in BSW 270.

Game Schedule

• Hot Potato! (children) - 3:00 pm
• Sack Race (children) - 3:30 pm
• Rubber Chicken Throwing (adults) - 3:30 pm
• Egg Race (children) - 4:00 pm
• BINGO! (adults) - 4:00 pm
• Ring Toss (children) - 4:30 pm
• Pinata (children) - 5:00 pm
• Get the Chicken in the Coop (children) - 5:30 pm

Other games will be available to play if you wish:

• Badminton
• Bocce
• Cornhole

Brewfest - CBC's Annual Homebrew Competition

Beer is based on chemistry and biochemistry (you need live yeast!). In fact, much scientific and technological advancement stem from beer-brewing, from modern refrigeration to the study of the yeast genome. It makes sense then that our department makes its own contribution to the fermentation sciences. Presenting the Fourth Annual CBC Homebrew Competition!

We’re going to have a friendly battle of brews this year at the CBC Oktoberfest Family Picnic to be held at Reid Park at Ramada #22 on Friday, October 19, 2018. The Brewfest will begin at 4 pm, and attendees will vote for the brews they like the best. Winners will be announced by 5:30 pm. This homebrew competition will have three categories: Hoppy (IPAs and Pales), Malty (Stouts, Porters, Malt-forward styles), and AOB (All Other Brews: Hefes, Saisons, Lambics, or anything that doesn’t quite fit the other two). We’ll even have prizes for the category winners! Throw your name into the ring! Official sign-ups come later, but now is a good time to start planning.

New to Brew? Don’t Despair! Homebrewer? Lend a Hand!

We at CBC understand if you want to ferment but either don’t have the equipment or know-how. To fix this, we are looking for experienced brewers to work with you on designing a new batch or lending out big kettles, burners, etc. Beta Tau Chapter will even be organizing a brew-out day where we can get more than a few gallons going as a way to learn and share tips. We’re sending out a special invitation to the incoming first-year graduate students to join a homebrew team as an easy and enjoyable way to join the CBC@UA family. Come to the 2018 brew-out day over Labor Day Weekend at Amy and Scott’s house – Saturday, Sept 1, from 11 am to 5 pm. Please let Amy know if you will be there.

Another resource is the ACS webinar "Cloudiness in Beer: Considerations and Chemistry" . Learn what makes beer cloudy, how the raw materials and processes influence the clarity of beer, and what the technological approach is to ensuring the desired clarify every time. If you are an ACS member, you can view this webinar at your convenience. Other on-demand webinars ACS members might find helpful include:

• Color Chemistry: Red and White Beer for St. George's Day
• Getting Ahead Through Chemistry: Great Beer and Frothy Foam
• Advanced Chemistry of Beer and Brewing
• More Advanced Beer and Brewing Tips
• Tapping into the Chemistry of Beer and Brewing

If you would like to participate in the Homebrew Competition, or if you just would like more info, please contact Amy Graham. Sign up if you want to help others, or if you would like some help. It's an informal thing, but we'll do our best to match masters with newbies and those in need with equipment. Consider it an open forum.

Details to consider when planning your homebrew for the Oktoberfest Homebrew Competition:

• Two gallons is probably the minimum volume you will need to bring, based on last year's numbers.
• Homebrew contestants may enter as many beers as they see fit and is reasonable.
• You are responsible for bringing your homebrew beer ready to pour in whatever manner is suitable.

For more information, please contact Amy Graham.