I had a good time, it was a bit intimidating being the new guy, there were 30 or so other home brewers there and it was a pretty casual atmosphere.  When I walked in, there was a large table covered with beer in bottles and growlers that the members each made and brought in.  Tasting glasses were available and you could sample and talk about the beer at will.

It was really fun tasting all the beer, and talking about the styles and how they brewed it.  I probably spent more time than I should have standing in the background trying to break into the conversation but that is what happens when you are the new guy and you don’t know anyone there.

They seemed like a really knowledgeable group and they liked the ESB I brought but had some good feedback on how I could improve it.  Most of the negative things they mentioned as far as taste, were things that I knew going into it and appreciated the different ideas on how I might be able to improve upon it next time.

The club meets once a month and has other activities that they do throughout the year.  The real question is not whether I had a great time but whether I will be going to the next meeting.  Sadly, even though it was fun, I won’t be going back.  York is an hour and fifteen minutes away and I no longer have it in me to drink a lot and then drive all that way home on a work day (on any day for that matter).   They drank a lot of beer that night and it was hard to show restraint.  I would love to attend a regular meeting like that but I am just going to have to wait and try to find something closer to home.

Fortunately, I really liked two of the home brew stores I visited, Mr. Steves in York, PA and Keystone Home Brew in Bethlehem, PA.   What’s more, both of them have home brew clubs.  I am half way through my year of beer and have never been to a home brew club meeting.   None of my friends are interested in home brewing, they enjoy the beer I have been making but have no interest in doing it themselves.  My wife is the only one that really puts up with my endless talking about beer and home brew and what I have learned but she has her limits.  I have brew friends that I have met digitally but none that I have met in person.

Hopefully, that will all change tomorrow.  After work tomorrow, I am driving out to York, PA and attending my first home brew club meeting.  I don’t know what to expect but since there will be beer involved, it should be pretty fun.  I am taking 6 bottles of my ESB with me for them to try.  I liked the ESB that I brewed but didn’t love it.  Hopefully I can get some good tips.