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VOLUME 57, NUMBER 3 - SUMMER 1997
President's Column
Call for Nominations for ASBC Awards
Board of Directors' Profile
Highlights of the ASBC Board of Directors Meetings
1997 Annual Meeting Committee Reports
Local Section Officers--1997-1998
Winners of the Eric Kneen Award Announced
Past-President's Thank You Note
Heard at the Board Meeting:
Highlights of the Business Meeting
Annual Meeting Highlights and Highjinks in Palm Springs
Tribute to Lydia Marinelli
Local Section News
ASBC Editors Start New Terms
"Malt Specifications--What Do Brewers Need?"
Active ASBC Corporate Members
New Active Members
EBC Elects Two New Vice-Presidents
WBC 2000
President's Column
There were three Daves into the West,
Three Daves both great and high;
And they have sworn a solemn oath,
John Barleycorn should die.
That's the first and last time I'll use this column to paraphrase the Scottish poet, Robert Burns (read him yourself!), and mention the three Daves who are in succession currently as your president (Thomas), president-elect (Hysert), and vice-president (Ryder). I think those of you that attended the Annual Meeting in Palm Springs in June got sick of hearing about "the three Daves". I'm sure, however, that it was the only thing you might have gotten sick of at that meeting. Congratulations and many thanks to program committee chair, Nona Mundy; technical committee chair, Rena Crumplen; poster coordinator, Margaret Morrison; editor of MOA, Lydia Marinelli; and Newsletter editor Jenette Poschwatta (formerly Wheeler), who have all just completed years of service in these roles. I'm sure that Dirk Bendiak, Greg Casey, Nona Mundy, Margaret Morrison, and Karen DeVries will fill their shoes wonderfully in these new roles for (many) years to come! Kudos to my predecessor, Bruce Sebree (now an official curmudgeon, aka ASBC past-president), and also to the individual paper and poster presenters, exhibitors, subcommittee members and chairs, St. Paul staff, and the 323 of you in attendance at Palm Springs. You are responsible for maintaining ASBC as one of the world's premier scientific societies. Inside this issue of the Newsletter, you will find other important recognitions, industry news, and the official (and not-so-official) Annual Meeting reports.
In my presidential acceptance speech in Palm Springs, I spoke about the 3 Ps, Passion, Perspective, and Possibilities, that each of you bring to your lives, your "day jobs", and your vital, cooperative efforts for the industry through the ASBC. We all witnessed the 3 Ps at work many times during this year and at the Palm Springs meeting. Current issues that need your 3 Ps are: the ICE-1 hop standard (a top priority), the soon-to-be-published Laboratory Methods for Craft Brewers, voting on the proposed by-law changes to allow a student section (passed, organized, and currently seeking officers), modifying local section membership requirements (passed), voting on the proposed ASBC logo change (general support to update the logo, but we ain't there yet), the Palm Springs round-table discussion "Malt Specifications--What do Brewers Need?" (summarized inside and to be continued), the fully subscribed postconvention Taste Training Session, ASBCNet, WBC-2000, the recent request by the EBC Analysis Committee to jointly update international beer flavor nomenclature and methods, the 13 collaborative studies conducted by many of you this year, including the redoubtable "Review of beta-Glucan in Wort by Fluorescence" (good luck to the BCOJ who will undertake this monumental collaborative effort this year), new and continuing collaborative studies this year, and the countless one-on-one and group scientific discussions that will continue to require your Passion, Perspective, and Possibilities. I extend your Society's grateful acknowledgment for your Participation. (Hey! Another P.) I have heard that some managers periodically (and rightfully) scrutinize ASBC participation by their employees and question the time spent. I would say to them "Where else can your employee easily, and affordably, make cross-functional contact with as many as 926 different professionals (our latest and greatest membership count) doing related research, development, and quality control work, while networking with current or future business contacts, honing their technical skills, fulfilling yearly personal development goals, conducting industry benchmarking and competitive analysis, polishing presentation and teamwork skills, generating new laboratory and project ideas and keeping up with the latest technology?" If these daily objectives are important to the success of your business, then time involved in ASBC work and meetings is time well spent.
Conferring, conversing, and otherwise hobnobbing with fellow ASBC wizards can take many forms, including attendance at local section meetings and Annual Meetings at venues that are carefully chosen by ASBC staff and Board members, and in the not-so-distant future, at virtual meetings, symposia, roundtables, and paperless reviews of original research (in as little as 4 hours!) on ASBCNet (www.scisoc.org/asbc).
Speaking of the future, just today, as I was putting the finishing touches on my first President's column, the exploratory probe Pathfinder landed (more like bounced) on Mars. How's that for Perspective? Imagine the Possibilities!
-Dave Thomas
President
Call for Nominations for ASBC Awards
The ASBC Awards Committee requests nominations from Society members for the following Society awards.
Award of Distinction
The criteria for this award is to acknowledge exceptional lifetime achievement, contribution, and service to brewing science and the brewing industry.
Honorary Life Membership
This award is reserved for retired members who have exhibited exceptional long-term service to the Society within elected or appointed positions. Past-presidents of the Society automatically qualify.
The Society wishes to acknowledge outstanding contributions by individual members and appreciates your consideration of this call for nominations. Your suggestions for the establishment of additional awards honors are welcome.
Please address your nominations and comments by September 1, 1997, to one of the ASBC Awards Committee members:
David Ryder, Chair
Bruce Sebree
Rob McCaig
Jim Munroe
Sherman Chan
Peter Gales
American Society of Brewing Chemists, Inc., 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097.
Past Recipients of Awards
Award of Distinction
D. B. West (1981)
E. Kneen (1982)
W. J. Olsen (1988)
Honorary Life Membership
Robert I. Tenny
Carroll A. Dayharsh
Kurt Becker
George E. Bredt
John B. Bockelmann
Dwight B. West
Harold H. Geller
Ronald A. Latimer
Philip E. Dakin
J. Robert Piening
Roger A. Carroll
William A. Hardwick, Jr.
James McDougall
G. Calvin Dyson
Vincent S. Bavisotto
Earl L. Van Engel
Harold E. Weissler
N. Margaret Morrison
Sam Likens
Philip D. Israel
Arthur J. Rehberger
F. Lloyd Rigby
Alfred Haunold
Eric Kneen Memorial Award Winners
1997 M. Uchida, S. Suga, and M. Ono. Improvement for Oxidative Flavor Stability of Beer--Rapid Prediction Method for Beer Flavor Stability by Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy. JASBC Vol. 54, No. 4:205.
1996 L. Lusk, H. Goldstein, and D. Ryder. Independent Role of Beer Proteins, Melanoidins and Polysaccharides in Foam Formation. JASBC Vol. 53, No. 3:93.
1995 H. Kaneda, N. Kobayashi, Y. Tsuchiya, M. Munekata, and S. Koshino. Some Applications of Chemiluminescence Analysis to Brewing. JASBC Vol. 52, No. 4:163.
1994 S. Gares, M. Whiting, M. Ingledew, and B. Ziola. Detection and Identification of Pentinatus cerevisiiphilus Using Surface-Reactive Monoclonal Antibodies in a Membrane Filter-Based Fluoroimmunoassay. JASBC Vol. 51, No. 4:158.
1993 I. McMurrough, R. Kelly, J. Byrne, and M. O'Brien. Effect of the Removal of Sensitive Proteins and Proanthocyanidins on the Colloidal Stability of Lager Beer. JASBC Vol. 50, No. 2:67.
1992 A. J. Irwin, R. L. Barker, and P. Pipasts. The Role of Copper, Oxygen, and Polyphenols in Beer Flavor Instability. JASBC Vol. 49, No. 3:140.
1991 B. W. Drost, R. van den Berg, F. J. M. Freijee, E. G. van der Velde, and M. Hollemans. Flavor Stability. JASBC Vol. 48, No. 4:124.
1990 B. J. Clarke, R. D. Jones, and T. E. Kavanagh. Determination of Carbaryl Residues in Malt and Beer and Their Impact on Beer Quality. JASBC Vol. 46, No. 2:43.
Board of Directors' Profile
Dave Thomas, new ASBC president, is director of Brewing Research and Development for Coors Brewing Co. in Golden, CO, where he has worked in R&D, Quality Assurance, Production, and Quality Control since 1975. He received a BS in molecular biology from the University of Colorado and an MSc in brewing from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Thomas, his wife Amy, and their children Bess and Andy, live in the foothills of Colorado in a log home they built themselves in 1979. He is a member of the ASBC, MBAA, IoB, AACC, IBS, HWUFBSA and Sigma Xi and served four years on the technical committee of the ASBC, two years as treasurer, and is now president.
David W. Hysert remains on the Board, now as president-elect. He received his PhD degree from the University of Toronto in bioorganic chemistry in 1971. After two years of postdoctoral research, he joined Molson Breweries, where he held various positions in an 18-year career in research and quality control, including director of technical services from 1981 to 1985, and vice-president of research and quality assurance from 1985 to 1992. In 1992, he joined John I. Haas, Inc., in Yakima, WA, as vice-president and technical director, his current position.
Hysert is a member of many professional societies besides ASBC, such as the IoB and MBAA. He was president of the Hop Research Council in 1992 and 1993. He has served the ASBC in several capacities, including member of the Editorial Committee (1981-1982), member of the Technical Committee (1982-1984), and chair of the International Methods subcommittee (1984-1992). He served the ASBC Board of Directors as chair of the Publications Committee from 1994 to 1996.
David S. Ryder is vice-president of Brewing, Research, and Quality for the Miller Brewing Company. He has served in this position since August 1995. Previously, Ryder was director of research and quality for Miller, since February 1995, and director of research, since June 1992.
Ryder began his brewing career in England at Associated British Maltsters. He then joined the South African Breweries Beer Division and was later named director of research and development for that group's brewing and malting concerns at the Delta Corporation, Ltd. Ryder was subsequently international technical consultant with Artois Breweries in Belgium.
Prior to joining Miller Brewing Company, he was vice-president of technical services at J. E. Siebel Sons' Co., Inc., in Chicago. He was also director of education for the Siebel Institute of Technology.
Ryder acquired a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and the University of Brussels, Belgium. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Brewing and a member of the Royal Society in London.
Ryder is past chair of the Program Committee (1988-1992) and the Publications Committee (1992-1994) of ASBC. He is a Fellow of the IoB and a member of the MBAA, and the Brewing Science Group of the EBC. He currently chairs a subgroup of the EBC for studying emerging fermentation systems. Ryder has published widely in the brewing literature including the ASBC Journal, the MBAA Technical Quarterly, Brewer's Digest, Bebidas, Beverages, and the Proceedings of the European Brewery Convention.
Suzanne Thompson remains on the board as ASBC secretary. She is currently sensory manager at Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee, WI. She has 17 years of sensory experience in the brewing industry. At Miller, she is responsible for establishing and administering company-wide sensory programs that include descriptive panels, quality assurance panels, and consumer panels. Thompson received a BS degree in food science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a professional member of IFT, member of Wisconsin section of IFT, ASBC, and the Milwaukee-Chicago section of ASBC. She has also served on the sensory subcommittee for ASBC.
Robert Jensen remains on the Board as treasurer. As a Mensing scholar, Jensen worked for Minnesota Malting Company during his college years, and upon receiving his degrees, accepted a job as research director for the company. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1977 with BS degrees in biochemistry and microbiology and continued his education through the University's food science extension program. He has worked for Minnesota Malting Company for 20 years and was recently promoted to the position of vice-president of quality and operations. His job responsibilities include corporate quality control, production management, research and development, and information systems.
Jensen has been active in ASBC, serving as president of the local section, as a member of the Technical Committee, and chair of the New and Alternate Methods subcommittee. He has been Minnesota Malting Company's technical representative to AMBA for the past 11 years.
Bruce Sebree remains on the Board as past-president. He received his BS degree in food engineering in 1978 from Kansas State University. After working a short time in industry as a practicing engineer, he returned to the University to pursue advanced degrees at the Department of Grain Science and Industry.
Upon completion of his MS and PhD degrees in cereal science in 1983, Sebree was hired by Kurth Malting Company as technical director. In 1986, the company merged with Fleischmann Malting Company to form the Fleischmann-Kurth Malting Company, first headquartered in Milwaukee, later in Minneapolis, and finally in Decatur, IL, as the ADM Malting Division. Sebree remained with the merged company as vice-president in charge of research and quality control, the position he currently occupies.
Sebree is active in the ASBC, MBAA, IoB, AACC, IFT, the AMBA Technical Committee, and several other organizations. Positions held with ASBC include vice-president, president-elect, president, program chair, and chair of the Soluble Starch Advisory Committee, as well as membership in several subcommittees.
Dirk S. Bendiak received his BSc in genetics from the University of Alberta (1975) and his PhD in molecular biology from York University (1980). After a year of postdoctoral work at the University of Alberta in yeast mutational research, he began to work at Molson Breweries Canada Ltd., in 1981, as senior microbiologist.
He has worked in the quality assurance and research areas. This work has included numerous projects in microbial physiology, yeast physiology, yeast identification, and yeast-handling concerns. In 1995, he began his present position of corporate operations specialist for Molson Breweries.
He is an active member of ASBC, MBAA, American Society of Microbiologists, and Canadian Genetics Society.
Rob Maruyama remains on the Board as chair of the Publications Committee. He graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1979 with a BA degree in molecular cellular developmental biology and received an MS degree in environmental science and engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1993. He joined Coors in 1980. During his tenure at Coors, he was responsible for analytical methods development using gas chromatography and HPLC, development of laboratory automation applications, and analytical project management. In 1994, he was named laboratory supervisor, responsible for the organic laboratory operations that support environmental control and container manufacturing. He was promoted to research and quality assurance laboratory manager in 1995 and is responsible for managing the analytical laboratory that supports brewing research and development, packaging and container R&D, and quality assurance.
Maruyama is a member of ASBC and ACS and has made presentations and posters to ASBC and AOAC International. He has served ASBC as an active subcommittee participant and has chaired a number of technical subcommittees, most recently Coordination of New and Alternate Methods of Analysis.
Gregory Casey joins the board as chair of the Technical Committee. He graduated from the University of Guelph in 1979 with a BSc degree in microbiology and went on to obtain a PhD in applied microbiology at the University of Saskatchewan in 1984. (His thesis title was "Fermentation of High Gravity Worts by Saccharomyces uvarum Brewers' Yeasts".) After two years as a NATO postdoctoral scientist at Carlsberg Laboratories in Copenhagen, studying molecular yeast genetics and yeast karyotyping, he briefly returned to the University of Saskatchewan as an assistant professor in the Food Biotechnology program. Since then, he has worked as a senior research scientist with Anheuser-Busch and as a senior project leader in charge of the Strain Development Laboratory at Red Star Yeast and Products. Presently, he is the director of the Corporate Laboratories for the Stroh Brewery Company in Detroit, responsible for the Flavor Evaluation, Pilot Brewery, Research and Development and Analytical Laboratory departments. Since 1981, he has published 30 articles in the areas of yeast genetics, yeast physiology, high gravity fermentations, and brewing quality control.
Highlights of the ASBC Board of Directors Meetings
June 21, 1997
The ASBC Board of Directors met Saturday, June 21, 1997 at the Hyatt Grand Champions, in Palm Springs, CA. President Bruce Sebree called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Reports were presented from the president, president-elect, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. The Declaration of Partnership between the EBC and the ASBC was signed at the EBC. Bruce Sebree, Mr. Yanagi, president of the BCOJ, and Mr. Sakuma, chair of Analysis Committee of the BCOJ, will discuss the proposed cooperative agreement between the ASBC and the BCOJ during the ASBC Annual Meeting. Three short courses were held since the last annual meeting: Hop Technology, Barley Malt Quality Evaluation, and Applications of Statistics and Statistical Quality Control. A second offering of Hop Technology will be held September 3-5, 1997, in Yakima, WA.
Greg Casey read the Technical Committee Report prepared by chair Rena Crumplen. Thirteen collaborative studies were conducted during the past year. Five are recommended for approval by the Board with subsequent inclusion in Methods of Analysis, seven will be continued, and one will be discharged. Those recommended for approval are Fermentable Carbohydrates in Syrup and Wort by HPLC; Simultaneous Determination of Germination Energy, Water Sensitivity and Germination Capacity in Barley; Diastatic Power in Malt by Automated Flow Analysis; Determination of Yeast % Solids by a Rapid Spin Method; and Crown and Closure Resistance to Pasteurization. The subcommittee on Review of beta-Glucan in Wort by Fluorescence will be discharged without method inclusion. Three new sub-committees will be added in the coming year: Beer Decarbonation by a Rotary Shaker Method; Determination of Iso-alpha-Acids, alpha-Acids and beta-Acids in Hops and Isomerized Hop Extracts by HPLC; and Determination of Tetrahydroiso-alpha-Acids in Beer by HPLC. Just hours before the Board meeting, the birth of Rena's son was announced. Congratulations to the Crumplen family.
Reports were presented from the Publication Committee, Program Committee, ASBC staff, local sections, Constitutions and By-Laws, Society Procedures, and the liaison officers. Executive officer Steve Nelson reported that the site of the 1999 Annual Meeting has been finalized. The meeting will be held at the Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, AZ, June 19-23, 1999. An update on the WBC 2000 was given by Jim Munroe. The first press release was issued, announcing that the WBC 2000 will be held in Orlando, FL, at the Disney Coronado Springs, June 23-27, 2000.
June 26, 1997
The Thursday, June 26, Board meeting was presided over by the newly elected president, Dave Thomas. The first order of business was critiquing the 63rd Annual Meeting. Steve Nelson reported that 323 were in attendance. The meeting was a big success with many positive comments received on the technical papers and posters, interspersing the posters with exhibitors, the recognition luncheon, the mid-day subcommittee meetings and, of course, the great location. Much praise was received for the two Wednesday workshops: the taste training session and the malt session. A computerized presentation medium will be investigated for use at the Boston meeting.
Dave Thomas reported on the past-presidents meeting at which eight past-presidents were in attendance, and on the local section officers meeting. The poll on changing the ASBC logo was discussed. The membership favored a change in the ASBC logo. However, the two alternatives presented at the meeting were not well-liked. New alternatives will be designed and a revote will take place at the Boston meeting.
During the Annual Meeting, the students met and were excited about forming a student section. A committee composed of Matt Musial, North Dakota State University, Karen Churchill, University of Minnesota, Jessica Just, OSU, and Laurie Brown, OSU, will head the formation of a student section. A newsletter will be put out to inform the current student ASBC members on their intent of forming a student section. They will be accepting nominations for chair, chair-elect, secretary, and also for a section advisor to serve a three-year term. Nominations will be accepted through September 1997, with election of officers by the end of October 1997.
Much discussion was held concerning the ICE-1 Hop Standard and the issue raised by the EBC regarding the deterioration of the standard. A high priority has been given by the ASBC on reviewing ICE-1. The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m. with the fall meeting scheduled for September 6-7, 1997, in St. Paul, MN.
-Suzanne Y. Thompson
Secretary
1997 Annual Meeting Committee Reports
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Your Society experienced another extremely productive year. The ASBC continues to exhibit membership growth and strong finances. Membership in the Society showed a 16% gain over last year, our third straight year of such growth. Total membership at the end of FY97 stood at 896, as compared to 772 for 1996. As of now, the membership stands at 926! The major growth category was in individual members, although we also gained nine student members.
On the financial front, we experienced our second most profitable year in the history of the Society. Membership equity increased for the fifth year in a row, from $236,000 last year to almost $274,000 at the end of the most recent fiscal year. Performing well above budget were the Methods of Analysis, short courses, and check services. Fine tuning of the investment policy by the Finance Committee over the past year should provide the Society with a strong, safe interest income for many years to come. All members of this committee should be congratulated for their hard work.
The Technical Committee, chaired by Rena Crumplen, has had another super successful year. But I find it amazing the lengths some people will go to get out of a commitment early! Rena's capable replacement as Technical Committee chair, Greg Casey, delivered Rena's report, because Rena delivered her second child, an 8 lb. 8 oz baby boy, 21" long. No name yet, but we can only hope it will not be Dave! In any event, we thank Rena for her past three years of guidance of the committee and welcome Greg on board for the next three years. Joining the committee this year will be Dirk Bendiak, a fine addition to the group. Over the past year, the Tech Committee ran 13 collaborative studies, with five being approved for inclusion into the MOA.
The Program Committee, under the guidance of Nona Mundy, has once again put together a tremendous program for our Annual Meeting. The final count shows 27 oral and 26 poster presentations, from speakers representing nine countries. Although slightly less than last year, we have added two mini-symposiums on sensory evaluation and malt analysis. Nona's tenure as Program Committee chair ends with this meeting. Although we will miss her fine work on the Board, her replacement Dirk "call me glutton for punishment" Bendiak will perform admirably in this capacity as well as on the Technical Committee.
Publications have continued without skipping a beat under the direction of first year chair Rob Maruyama. Thanks go out to Jenette Poschwatta (formerly Wheeler) editor of the Newsletter and to Lydia Marinelli, editor of Methods of Analysis, who will both be stepping down after many years of fine service. Staying on will be ASBC Journal editor Peter Freeman. Replacing Jenette and Lydia will be Karen DeVries on the Newsletter and the ever-energetic Margaret Morrison as MOA editor.
Over the past year, we have continued to strengthen our ties to our international sister organizations. As you will recall, we signed a cooperative agreement with the MBAA at last year's Annual Meeting. Recently, an agreement was signed between ourselves and the EBC at their Congress in Maastricht. This year, your Board is meeting with representatives of the Brewery Convention of Japan to finalize a cooperative agreement between our two organizations. To refresh your memory, these cooperative agreements simply put in words the relationship we currently enjoy with these organizations and the direction we might like to proceed for the future. Nothing more should be read into these cooperative agreements. We currently liaison with the IoB and ALAFACE and are working on a similar official relationship with COBRACEM, the Brazilian brewing technical organization. As we look to the year 2000 and the World Brewing Congress, this international cooperation bodes very well for our industry. I would like to thank everyone from all of the organizations who were involved in these negotiations.
Due to analysis of the membership survey conducted last year, we have started a few initiatives. The Laboratory Methods for Craft Brewers handbook, formerly called the "Small Brewers Handbook" is nearing completion. A draft of the handbook should be available shortly after this meeting. We have already had people trying to order the book, so we expect it to be a huge success. By the way, we had to change the name of the handbook due to an inability to establish height requirements that everyone would agree with! Further to the survey, the Training and Education Committee conducted three short courses since the last Annual Meeting, two of which are new to the ASBC. New courses include Barley Malt Quality Evaluation, in conjunction with the Northern Crops Institute, and Hop Technology. The Application of Statistics and Statistical Quality Control to the Beverage Industry course was also run again this year, while a fourth course, On-Line Process Monitoring Instruments for the Beverage Industry had to be postponed due to an illness of the course director. All short courses were well attended and were given rave reviews.
The Internet Committee, under the able leadership of John Grigsby, has come a long way in just a year since its formation. The committee now boasts six on-line members. With no specific assignments from the Board, the committee has suggested several changes to the web page and presented a three-page report filled with suggestions for the Board meeting. This group affords any member the opportunity to provide their ideas and input on the future of the ASBC.
In closing, I would like to thank everyone who contributed in making this such a successful year. As my predecessors have often stated, the list is very long. It includes the Board of Directors, the Technical Committee, subcommittee chairs, collaborators, local section officers, and the many members of the plethora of committees that keep the organization running like a well-oiled machine. Special thanks go to the St. Paul staff for the guidance and insightfullness that help keep this organization on an even keel.
-Bruce Sebree
TREASURER'S REPORT
As of March 31, 1997, the unaudited balance sheet for Q4 of FY97 shows total assets of $440,580.50 and liabilities of $173,468.71. The net operating loss for the quarter was ($20,350). Contributing to the loss were higher than budgeted Internet expenses ($8,000) and administrative expenses ($16,017). Administrative expenses included $9,000 for check service start-up expenses. Membership equity ended the year at $267,111.79, an increase of $30,156.42 for the year.
In compliance with the newly adopted investment policies, in particular, the asset allocation ranges, the Finance Committee moved $75,000 from cash to equities. This was accomplished by opening accounts with Vanguard and investing $40,000 in the S&P 500 Index Fund, $15,000 in a small cap index fund, $10,000 in a global index fund, and $10,000 in a REIT index fund.
The operating reserve funds are currently invested as follows:
Stocks 25.0%
Bonds 21.6%
Cash 26.7%
Fixed Income 26.7%
-Robert A. Jensen
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT
Methods of Analysis
On the behalf of the Publications Committee and the Society, I would like to thank Lydia Marinelli for her excellent work, dedication, and support as the editor of the Methods of Analysis. As editor of the MOA, Lydia completed the publication of the recent Supplement to the MOA. Margaret Morrison has agreed to replace Lydia as the editor of the MOA. Like Lydia, Margaret has tremendous expertise in analytical methodologies and has been an active participant in the ASBC for many years. Margaret will provide editorial expertise, focus, and direction for future modifications of the MOA.
ASBC Journal
Peter Freeman, editor-in-chief of ASBC Journal has done a tremendous job in maintaining the high standards of the Society with regard to its technical publications. Peter and I would like to thank the St. Paul office, members of the Editorial Board, and ASBC members who have reviewed manuscripts. The publication process is built on a strong foundation laid by the authors and reviewers during the editorial process. Thank you for the help and support.
Issue 54(4) of ASBC Journal contained eight papers, Technical Reports, and the Annual Index. Issue 55(l) contained six papers and the Instructions to Authors. Issue 55(2) contained 10 papers, while Issue 55(3), in the final stages of preparation is expected to contain eight papers. A further 12 papers are at various stages of the review and revision process. However, several of these have been outstanding for more than a year and their resubmission is doubtful.
Meeting the publication deadlines has been an on-going effort. Thank you Peter and the St. Paul staff for your flexibility and support during this transition year. The Journal must maintain its interest to a wide spectrum of technical professionals and continue to publish high-caliber material.
ASBC Newsletter
Jenette Poschwatta (formerly Wheeler) completes her term as editor of the Newsletter this year. Her technical expertise, personal commitment, and attention to details have made the publication of the Newsletter look easy. Thank you. Since the last Annual Meeting, four issues of the Newsletter have been published: Vol. 56, No. 3 and 4, and Vol. 57, No. 1 and 2. As usual, the assistance of the St. Paul office has been excellent and we have been able to maintain the schedule for publications.
Karen DeVries is assuming the duties of editor after the Annual Meeting in Palm Springs. Welcome aboard.
Eric Kneen Papers
A total of 34 papers from Volume 54 were eligible for the Eric Kneen Award.
Editorial Board
We would like to thank David Ryder for his contributions. His term on the Editorial Board ends in 1997.
Internet Committee
"Mr. Internet" John Grigsby has ably pursued the interests of the ASBC with regard to Internet technology. In forming a committee, Grigsby solicited the expertise of the following members: Ken Berg, Donn Hawthorne, Graham Stewart, Alex Speers, and Jenette Poschwatta.
The committee has begun discussions regarding access to ASBC publications, Methods of Analysis, additional sites of interest for ASBC members, bulletin boards, peer review and author revisions, applications for the Technical Committee and New and Alternate Methods chair.
Amy Hope and Steve Nelson provided the Publications Committee with an electronic walkthrough of the homepages of other societies at the Committee Luncheon. Reviewing the services of other societies will provide the Committee an opportunity to help focus ASBC endeavors.
-Rob Maruyama
LOCAL SECTIONS REPORT
Local Section 1--New York. The New York section is struggling with membership recruitment and retention. Plans for joint meetings with MBAA and cooperation with local universities presentation of brewing classes, as well as promoting the new ASBC Laboratory Methods for Craft Brewers when it's published should help. They are in support of the proposed local section membership change to the By-Laws. Officers for 1997-98 are Dennis Lenahan, chair; Mark Thompson, vice-chair; James Kopec, secretary; and Jeffrey Strand, treasurer.
Local Section 2--St. Louis. The St. Louis section reports very good attendance at recent meetings. The results of elections for the 1997-98 year were: Greg Kreder, chair; Judy Logsdon, vice-chair; Shannon Gilbert, treasurer; and Al Kazelis, secretary. They also agree with the proposed By-Laws change concerning membership. Section 2 donated to the Student Travel Fund and they have already planned a summer golf outing, winery tour, and Christmas party.
Local Section 3--North Central. This section has held three meetings to-date. Officers continuing from the 1996-97 slate are: Bob Jensen, chair; Willis Swenson, vice-chair; Geri Kustelski, secretary-treasurer. Donations have been made to the ASBC Student Travel Fund for the past two years.
Local Section 4--Milwaukee/Chicago. Membership is very strong at 74. Four meetings were held this year, including a joint meeting with the Institute of Brewing Travel Study group. A donation was made to the Student Travel Fund. New officers elected in April are: Cindy McLinn, chair; Mary Jane Maurice, program chair; Frank Tanzer, secretary; Thomas Volke, treasurer.
Local Section 6--Canada. The ASBC's largest section, geographically, continues to schedule two meetings each year. The Canada section supports the proposed formation of a student section of ASBC. Officers for 1997-98 are: Steve Wright, chair; and Luc Bordeleau, vice-chair.
Local Section 7--Northwest. Two meetings have been held since the Chicago Annual Meeting, with another meeting planned in conjunction with the Oregon Brewer's Festival, July 25-27, 1997, and an MBAA joint meeting in the spring of 1998. Membership is good at 55, with 20 attendees at recent meetings. An excellent opportunity for ASBC would be to publish the Laboratory Methods Manual for Craft Brewers before the Oregon Brewer's Festival in late July. Section 7 is also requesting attendance at the Festival by a member of the board (a Dave would be good!). Officers are: John Cuti, chair; Jim Murphey, vice-chair; Bob Smith, secretary; and Kathy Nelson, treasurer.
Local Section 8--Wild West. The newest ASBC local section has had five meetings since they were formed, including a three-way meeting with the Rocky Mountain district MBAA and the IoB Travel Study group. A donation was made to the Student Travel Fund. Consensus on the By-Law changes for local sections and student section membership and the need to update the logo is a favorable yes to both. Officers elected in May are: Mike Joyce, chair; Scott Vos, vice-chair; Erik Pilmanis, secretary; and Keith Villa, treasurer.
Possible Formation of Local Section 9--New England. There has been considerable interest in the formation of a new local section in the Boston area. I am working with Tony Vierra of Brew Moon in Boston to assess interest and feasibility before the 1998 Annual Meeting in Boston.
Check Service Subscriptions--There have been eight laboratories that have dropped and six laboratories that have signed up for ASBC Check Service subscriptions this past year. Reasons for the dropped subscriptions are being investigated.
Declaration of Partnership Between EBC and ASBC--While representing ASBC at the EBC convention, we had an official signing session in the beer garden (where else?) with Paul van Eerde and Marjolein van Wijngaarden.
Annual Meeting Coffee fund and beer donations--Letters requesting donations from corporate members were sent out in February, May, and June. Many companies have very graciously responded, and we have commitments for a total of $5,850 from malt, hops, and equipment supplier companies, and over 245 cases of beer from breweries for this meeting.
-Dave Thomas
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
Article 14, Local Sections, of the Constitution was rewritten at the request of the Board to allow for greater flexibility in the operation of the Local Sections and also to permit the formation of Student Sections. The proposed changes were published in Spring 1997 Issue (Vol. 57, No. 2) of the Newsletter and voted upon at the 1997 Annual Meeting in Palm Springs.
-Rob McCaig
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT
Two positions were filled this year: vice-president and treasurer. The Nominating Committee, consisting of Ric Bernt, Jim Munroe, Dick Pyler, Art Rehberger, and Rob McCaig, announced as candidates for those positions: Dave Ryder, vice-president; Bob Jensen, treasurer. Dave Hysert will assume the duties of president-elect.
-Rob McCaig
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
The Technical Committee and the subcommittee chairs conducted 13 collaborative studies during the past year. As a result, five are recommended for approval by the Board, with subsequent inclusion in Methods of Analysis. These are: Fermentable Carbohydrates in Wort and Syrups by Cation Exchange High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, chaired by Steve McCarthy; Simultaneous Determination of Germination Energy, Water Sensitivity, and Germination Capacity in Barley, chaired by Holley Kuester; Diastatic Power in Malt by Automated Flow Analysis, chaired by Gorden Laycock; Determination of Yeast % Solids by a Rapid Spin Method, chaired by Dirk Bendiak; and Crown and Closure Resistance to Pasteurization, chaired by Tom Fetters.
Other collaborative programs will be continuing for another year. These include: alpha-Amylase in Malt by Automated Flow Analyzer, chaired by Gordon Laycock; Dimethyl Sulfide Precursor in Malt by Headspace Gas Chromatography, chaired by Cheryl Bartnett; Beer Volatiles by Headspace Gas Chromatography, chaired by Dave Hastings; Protein and Moisture in Whole Grain Barley by Near-Infrared Reflectance, chaired by Jenette Poschwatta (formerly Wheeler); Closure Method Review, chaired by Tom Fetters; Sulfur Dioxide in Beer by Headspace Gas Chromatography, chaired by Lauren Stenroos; CLEN Medium for the Detection of Wild Yeast, chaired by Cindy-Lou Dull; SMMP-A Medium for the Selective Isolation of Megasphaera and Pectinatus, chaired by Alan Foster; and Acetohydroxy Precursors of Vicina Diketones in Beer by Headspace Gas Chromatography, chaired by Cynthia McLinn.
One subcommittee will be discharged without method inclusion: Review of beta-Glucan by Fluorescence, chaired by Tom Clark.
-Rena Crumplen
AACC LIAISON REPORT
The AACC continues to maintain a strong membership, in part due to a growing number of international members. The number of members from outside North America has increased from 13% in 1990 to 18% in 1996. AACC continues to garner input from the membership through surveys and interviews so that it can remain responsive to old and new members needs and desires. The Board of Directors is undertaking an update of the Strategic Plan and AACC by-laws.
A strategy group for Cereal Chemistry (AACC's scientific journal) has been appointed to study how the journal is perceived by the membership, its value to science and industry, and how its value could be enhanced. The physical characteristics are also to be reviewed. In 1996, 142 articles were published in the journal.
I was able to attend the Annual Meeting in Baltimore and can report that an excellent technical program was organized by program chair Jan Delcour. The meeting was the first to be held in Baltimore's new convention center and everything ran smoothly. Over 1,750 individuals attended the meeting to hear 306 technical presentations and partake in 20 technical committee meetings. The Student Travel Grant Program awarded from $100-150 to 77 students who attended the meeting.
Approved Methods Committee (AMC) chair, John MacDonald reported that no new first approval methods were submitted to his committee this year. A subcommittee of the AMC was formed to develop guidelines to assist laboratories with validation of proprietary test kits. This was deemed important in light of the fact that the AOAC International Research Institute has temporarily suspended evaluation of new test kits.
A number of check sample or technical committee items were reported. A hardness index check sample for the single kernel characterization system and a collaborative study to evaluate the apparatus were discussed. This system is an exciting innovation and I will be tracking the progress of the collaborative effort. Two new alpha-amylase methods (Megazyme and Kodak Ektacom) for wheat and barley were suggested.
-Scott Heisel
AMBA LIAISON REPORT
The most significant challenge facing the American Malting Barley Association, Inc. (AMBA) continues to be the Fusarium head blight or scab epidemic. This disease has affected the malting barley crop in the Dakotas and Minnesota for the past four growing seasons, and it is expected to be a continuing problem.
The best solution to the problem is the development of barley varieties with genetic resistance or tolerance to scab. It is more likely that tolerance, rather than total resistance, will be developed. Comprehensive research programs, with funding from AMBA, individual companies, growers, universities, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are in place at North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, and the University of Minnesota to develop scab-tolerant varieties. Productive screening nurseries are located at field stations in Minnesota and North Dakota and offseason in China. In some areas of China scab is endemic, and natural infection nurseries usually provide consistent levels of disease pressure for screening nurseries.
Germplasm populations have been developed from six-row and two-row sources of resistance to genetically map the scab resistance and to develop tolerant varieties to utilize in crosses. The mapping effort is a critical component of the overall program. Mapping scab resistance genes will generate genetic markers that will allow for improved efficiency of introgressing resistance genes into acceptable malting barley varieties. This will enable the tracking of resistance genes through the crossing and backcrossing process without the need to grow all the progeny to maturity for Fusarium inoculation.
Unfortunately, identified genetic sources of resistance are in lines that have poor quality and are unadaptable to Midwest growing regions. The development of malting barley varieties with suitable quality, agronomic, and durable scab tolerance characters will take time and does not address the current Fusarium-induced shortage of malting barley. What has AMBA done to help in the short term?
In July 1996, Foster, a six-row variety developed at North Dakota State University, was added to the AMBA list of recommended malting barley varieties. This should help with the supply situation. Although Foster's scab tolerance is no better than other currently grown varieties, it has a unique low protein character. This may improve the chances of growers producing acceptable malting barley in areas that are currently marginal due to high protein inducing temperature stress. Some of these areas are outside the major scab infestations and hold the potential of producing malting-quality Foster barley.
Another possible short-term solution is the line MNS85. This is the most promising selection with scab tolerance from the University of Minnesota's long-term program to develop varieties with resistance to kernel discoloration. If AMBA contracted production of MNS85 this season produces barley of suitable quality, this line will be evaluated in its first year of plant scale testing with the 1997 crop. In theory, AMBA could complete its plant scale evaluation with the 1998 crop, and the first year of commercial production could be in 1999. There is concern that this line is a high soluble protein variety, with a Stander quality profile, and that this may not be desirable. If this is the case, but the line has good scab tolerance, it may still serve as a replacement for Stander, which has little or no resistance. AMBA will be collecting as much data as possible regarding the agronomic characters, scab tolerance, DON levels, and quality profile of MNS85 to determine whether it has a place as an AMBA recommended malting barley variety.
AMBA funds a broad range of other breeding and research programs, including programs to develop varieties for the western United States with resistance to barley stripe rust, a disease of significant importance in that area. Special emphasis is also being given to research to develop improved methods of transformation technology (genetic engineering) for malting barley, studies on proteinase enzymes and inhibitors, starch hydrolytic enzymes, and molecular variety identification. AMBA made grants totaling almost $740,000 in its current grant fiscal year to state and federal facilities in support of malting barley research programs in 11 states.
-Michael P. Davis
AOAC LIAISON REPORT
There was considerable activity during the past year in support of three ASBC methods submitted for evaluation and consideration for adoption by the AOAC. In addition, there was a continued review of the "Malt Beverages and Brewing Materials" chapter of the 16th edition of the AOAC Official Methods of Analysis for accuracy and content.
Efforts continued in support of two ASBC collaboratives: "Nitrogen in Wort and Beer by Combustion Method" and "Total Nitrogen in Brewing Grains by Combustion Method", previously submitted for AOAC evaluation. Safety check lists, appropriate MSDS forms, and corresponding ASBC Methods Beer-11B and Barley-7C were sent to the methods coordinator. This information, along with reports by the committee statistician, were reviewed at the AOAC Methods Committee meeting of September 1996. The method for wort and beer was approved but needed some clarification. The method for brewing grains was not approved due to the collaborative having only four sets of materials (Youden pairs) instead of the required five. After consulting with the general referee and methods coordinator, the two ASBC collaboratives and corresponding methods were combined and submitted to the Method Committee on Additives, Beverages and Food Process Related Analytes. The combined study was approved as noted in the April 1997 issue of Inside Laboratory Management. After formatting to AOAC style, the "Nitrogen (Total) in Beer, Wort, and Brewing Grains, Combustion Method", along with supporting documents, will be submitted for adoption first action at the June 1997 meeting of the Official Methods Board.
The third procedure submitted was ASBC Method Beer-4F, "Enzymatic Method for Low Alcohol Concentrations". The collaborative and other supporting documents were sent to the General Referee and Methods Coordinator for review and consideration for AOAC adoption. After evaluation, it was decided to propose the method as a "limited range" test due to the limited alcohol range and number of test samples (three pairs) in the collaborative. A review by the committee statistician identified different outliers than reported by the ASBC. The Method Committee approved the method at the September 1996 meeting, but required that the title indicate application to less than 0.5% alcohol. After revision to AOAC format, the procedure was reviewed by the Official Methods Board in January 1997, but was not adopted. Major concerns cited by the Board were overall method performance and the proprietary nature of the method as written. Subsequent efforts under consideration are to seek a proprietary agreement with Boehringer Mannheim or disclosure of reagent compositions, revamping the method to be more acceptable and justifying the procedure as necessary for laboratories with limited instrumentation.
Last year, the Technical Committee conducted a review of Chapter 27 "Malt Beverages and Brewing Materials". As a result, over 30 recommendations pertaining to method clarification and updating of terminology or references were sent to the general referee of beverage alcohol for evaluation.
-Marc Constant
ALAFACE LIAISON REPORT
The XXV Annual Meeting of the Board and the XIX Convention of the Latin American Beer Brewers Association was held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, September 3-6, 1996, with 218 participants from 18 countries. The Annual Meeting was focused on the topic: The Strategic Challenge for Latin America. Subtopics included: Marketing (Jhon Quelch); Model of the Latin-American Development (Miguel Rodríguez); Education for the Future (Juan Luis Londoño); Information Processing (panel discussion); The Social Function of the Company (Carlos Salazar Lomelin); The Future: Foresee to Be Part of It (Arturo Cruz)
The economic region of the Latin-American breweries has to grow together, if it will keep up with the global competition, especially with the emergent Asian countries. The Congress was outstandingly well organized by Mr. Juanatey, general secretary of ALAFACE, and collaborators of the local brewery, Cervecería Centro Americana, which celebrated its 100th anniversary. There were interesting insights into the economic development of the region from different points of view. All speakers recommended the countries of the region to lead to a harmonization of their markets as fast and as extensively as possible to remain firm in the international competition of the future.
Beside the economic topics, the Congress dealt with the tasks and duties of the companies, with alcohol and alcohol-abuse in public discussion, with international marketing trends, as well as with data collection from the production and sales departments as a basis for an extensive communication and decision outline.
The regional special events included a visit to the modern brewhouse of Cervecería Centro Americana and also a day trip to the ancient Maya-city of Tikal, the social highlight of the Congress.
At the Annual Meeting, the participants agreed to: hold a biennial technical congress; publish the Brauwelt in Spanish quarterly; and create a scientific foundation for the study of alcoholism.
The First Technical Congress of ALAFACE was held in Panama on April 9-11, 1997. Over 120 participants from 23 countries traveled to Panama to exchange their experience in engineering and technology.
The papers dealt with all processes and stages: the determination of alpha-amylase; the clarification of wort; and the continuous maturation of beer by means of immobilized yeast; automation, pasteurization, water treatment, planification of bottling lines, and the introduction of a quality management system in the brewery.
The organizer had set special value on the desire that all speakers give an account of their experiences and work in their respective breweries. Thus, a main purpose of this technical convention of ALAFACE was achieved: exchange of experience and communication between the Latin American brewing technologists. All papers were distinguished by a high level of significance and an excellent presentation.
The first edition of 1997 of Brauwelt in Spanish, produced in cooperation with ALAFACE, was presented on the occasion of the First Technical Congress of ALAFACE in Panama City, and was received with enthusiasm by the Latin American brewing technologists. In addition, the technical board of ALAF ACE acquired the rights for translation and publication of the Methods of Analysis from the Central European Brew-technical Committee of Analysis. The first volume in Spanish will be published next year. Also planned is the translation of other technical literature into Spanish. With all these measures, the Latin American brewers want to overcome the linguistic barrier and make use of the brewing skills of other countries. Altogether, the First Technical Congress of ALAFACE was very successful and achieved ambitious goals.
The XXVI Annual Meeting of the Board and the XX Convention will be held this year in Brazil.
-Rainer Haag
BMBRI LIAISON REPORT
According to the Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute of Canada, barley production in Canada in 1997 will be below the record 15 million tonnes set in 1996, as growers revert to oilseeds for both economic and crop rotational reasons.
Six-rowed varieties Robust and Excel are now fully registered in Canada. Stander and Foster have interim registration, which basically means that they can be grown under contract in quantities sufficient for industry testing.
Six-rowed white aleurone varieties were grown on 21% of Canada's barley acres in 1996, and relatively little change is expected in 1997, since some of the 1996 crop of this type of barley stayed in the bin for quite a long time. This would indicate to growers that an optimum acreage has been reached for this kind of barley.
There is no obvious reason for any reversal in the precipitous decline in the area sown to blue-aleurone barleys. They will be obsolete in two years.
Of the two-rowed varieties, none of the recent releases, such as Manley, Stein or AC Oxbow is challenging Harrington's dominance. The search for a suitable replacement is ongoing.
Some of the newer lines nearing release include AC Metcalfe (TR232), TR128, TR133, TR139, TR145, and TR251.
Some of these lines are more specifically designed for export markets where excellent hull adherence is required, combined with high carbohydrate extract (i.e., lower than typical levels of soluble protein) and adequate DP.
Other Developments. In March 1997, the results of a plebiscite on the future of the Canadian Wheat Board as the sole marketing agency for malting barley were released. Nearly 63% of respondents endorsed the Board's mandate.
In recent years, exports of both malt and malting barley from Canada have increased, to the extent that domestic brewers now take less than 20% of the crop. Beer consumption in Canada is in decline and several breweries have closed.
The role and function of BMBRI are changing to meet these new challenges.
-Norm Kendall
BREWERY CONVENTION OF JAPAN LIAISON REPORT
The BCOJ collaboratively tested five analytical methods during the past year. 1. Bitterness Units in Wort and Beer. The BCOJ has accepted this method. 2. Ash in Beer. Repeatability and reproducibility were acceptable and the method will be included in the BCOJ Methods of Analysis. 3. Simultaneous Analysis of iso-alpha-acids and alpha-acids in Beer by HPLC. Reproducibility of the method remained unacceptable and the collaborative will be repeated next year. 4. Calories in Beer. Both repeatability and reproducibility were acceptable and the method was recommended for inclusion in BCOJ Methods of Analysis.
Three methods will be collaboratively tested by the BCOJ this year. 1. VDK in Beer by Capillary GC. 2. beta-Glucan in Wort and Beer by FIA. 3. alpha-Acid in Beer by HPLC
The BCOJ are planning to write microbiological sections into their methods book based on EBC Analytica Microbiologica and ASBC Methods of Analysis and publish in 1999.
Analysis Committee chair is Shuso Sakuma to whom we look forward to continuing liaison.
-Rena Crumplen
EUROPEAN BREWERY CONVENTION LIAISON REPORT
Harry White continues in his second year as EBC Analysis Committee chair. We look forward to continuing the relationship between the two organizations and working closer to international methods harmonization in the future.
The EBC has also been involved in the introduction of the International Calibration Extract ICE-1 and in the stability ring analysis conducted with the AHA and Dr. Pfenninger.
The Analysis Committee continued to be very active in collaborative programs. The subcommittee on Alcohol Determination published the final text of the test report on the statistical evaluation of the distillation, instrumental, refractometric and GC methods in ISO format, and was disbanded. The Microbiology Subcommittee has worked toward updating the current EBC Analytica Microbiologica II to reflect the best operating practice regarding its reliability, reproducibility, and practicality.
Other subcommittees include Barley and Cereal Adjuncts, Malt and Colored Malt, Hops, Beer, Wort, Packaging, Process Aids, and Statistics. Participation by EBC members in ASBC collaborative subcommittees continues to increase and strengthen.
-Rena Crumplen
HOP RESEARCH COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT
The mission of the Hop Research Council is to solicit and provide funds for scientific investigation and research related to the agricultural production and quality of hops in the United States. It continues to be a vigorous, healthy and effective organization, whose membership comprises six brewers, 10 hop dealers, and three hop commissions representing the hop growers in each of the hop growing states (Washington, Oregon and Idaho). The current HRC officers are: president, Ronald Brulotte, Washington Hop Commission; vice-president, Darrell Smith, Busch Agricultural Resources; treasurer, Jan Langan, Coors Brewing Co.; secretary, Mike Kerr, Oregon Hop Commission. A strategic plan for the HRC has been developed and will be voted on at the next meeting of the Council.
The financial health of the HRC continues to be good. The total HRC income in 1996 was $368,038 from assessments, dues, and interest. Total expenses were $337,116, of which $315,528 (94% of expenses) was used for six ongoing research projects. The year ended with a carryout of $72,774.
The HRC's ongoing research program comprises breeding, including cultivar development, genetics, and physiology; hop chemistry, including analytical services, virus and fungal diseases, aphid, mite and other insect control; and plant protection, including coordination of data for registration of pesticides. It also includes other special and emergency projects as needed and as funds are available. Support for a new ongoing project, the chemistry of hop constituents that influence the flavor and physical properties of beer, under the direction of Max Deinzer, Oregon State University, was initiated in 1997.
Al Haunold retired in 1995 as research geneticist, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services, Oregon State University. He was replaced in 1996 by John Henning. Jackie Blackmer resigned as research entomologist, University of Idaho, Parma, and was replaced by Jim Barbour in 1996.
The HRC recommended at the 1997 winter meeting that two new varieties be released and named. The required documents for both have been submitted and are being reviewed The first, selection 21664 from Al Haunold's Tettnang triploid breeding program, will likely be named "Santiam". The second is the high alpha-acids selection 21373, also from Al Haunold's breeding program. There is not yet a consensus on a name for it.
The 1997 winter meeting of the HRC was held January 27 and 28 in Las Vegas. The next meeting will be held August 13 and 14, 1997, in Boise, ID.
-David Hysert
INSTITUTE OF BREWING LIAISON REPORT
Geoffrey Buckee has continued his excellent effort as International Liaison for the Institute of Brewing (IoB).
The Flavor Subcommittee has published a general policy statement on Health and Safety relating to the consumption of flavor standards. The purpose of the statement is as an insert into the IoB Flavor Manual, inclusion in the new IoB Methods of Analysis, and for general distribution to the membership. The Barley, Malt and Adjuncts Subcommittee has prepared its report on Malt and Wort Color by Visual and Spectrophotometric methods. Due to poor precision data of the spectrophotometric method, it was not recommended for inclusion.
Other committees are Worts and Beers, Miscellaneous Brewing Materials, Packaging, and Microbiology. Three publications were sent to the JIB: the IoB Check Malt, Sensory Testing of Beer--An Interlaboratory Sensory Trial, and Estimation of Endo beta-Glucanase activity in malt using a viscometric method.
IoB involvement in ASBC collaboratives continues to increase, which is of great benefit to both societies.
-Rena Crumplen
MBAA LIASON REPORT
The duties of the ASBC's MBAA Liason Officer are to explore areas of mutual interest to the Society and the MBAA and to transmit information of general interest to the Society for publication in the ASBC Newsletter.
WBC 2000. The MBAA is fully committed to the WBC 2000. MBAA past-president Joe Hertrich is the MBAA co-chair of WBC 2000 and is working very closely with ASBC past-president Jim Munroe and the ASBC staff in St. Paul in early planning for this event. Joe Hertrich attended the recent EBC in Maastricht and came away with many good ideas which may be woven into the fabric of WBC 2000. The official logo for WBC 2000 has been approved by the joint planning committee.
Board of Governors meeting. The MBAA is now experiencing positive growth in its membership--up over 13% in the past year. This spurt in membership is largely due to the efforts made by the MBAA's senior administrator and by a member from District Texas. Since my last report, the MBAA Board of Governors approved a dues increase (at the Montreal convention), the implementation of which has solved an MBAA monetary crunch. The last dues increase prior to this was in 1980. Also approved at the Montreal convention was national office collection of dues. This change has been an overwhelming success and has taken the strain off of MBAA cash flow. The MBAA office has been updating and modifying the membership database. The central collection of dues and an accessible membership database will provide the Districts with timely information, thereby making them stronger in the long term.
The MBAA Education committee is constantly striving to improve the quality of the Brewing Seminar, the Brewing and Malting Course, and the Packaging Course, and continues to assess future opportunities for other courses. The MBAA is making an extra effort to accommodate its Latin American members by attempting to establish MBAA Districts in various areas and also by printing more of its publications in Spanish.
The Board approved the nomination of Hugo Patino of Coors to the office of 2nd vice-president. Patino will be the MBAA president during WBC 2000.
The MBAA 1997 Convention will be held in Baltimore from October 12-15, 1997. A great convention is planned. October in Maryland is one of the nicest times to visit--the steamed crabs are plentiful that time of year.
The MBAA 1998 Convention and Exhibition will be held in Minneapolis, September 20-24, 1998. The last time that the MBAA had an equipment exhibition was in 1992, in conjunction with the BCOA. The MBAA 1999 Convention will be held at the Keystone Resort in Colorado September 12-15. This is a different venue for an MBAA Convention. Should be interesting to see how the membership responds to this location.
Long Range Planning. The MBAA Long Range Planning Committee, chaired by the past-president has been charged with reviewing the MBAA Business Plan submitted at the Montreal Convention, making the necessary changes to make its implementation affordable. Many of the recommendations in the Business Plan have already been implemented, and others are still in the developmental-discussion phase.
-R. J. Klimovitz
ASBC Annual Meeting Schedule
1998 June 20-24
Boston, MA
Ferncroft Conf. Resort
1999 June 19-23
Phoenix, AZ
Wigwam Resort
2000 June 23-27
Orlando, FL
Disney Coronado Springs
Declaration of Partnership Between EBC and ASBC
Objectives
* To achieve the best results through events like Congresses, Conventions, Symposia and Workshops mutually planned from the beginning in the joint interest of the partners and their members.
* To combine the knowledge of both organisations to achieve mutual benefits.
* To collaborate in the area of evaluation and standardisation of laboratory methods for the malting, brewing and hop industries by organising joint collaborative tests to demonstrate their performance, accuracy and repeatability.
* To identify the needs of the malting, brewing and hop industries for internationally accepted analytical methods.
In order to fulfill these objectives:
1. The two Presidents and Secretaries General (or special Liaison Officers) will meet during the Congresses and Annual Meetings or when the need arises.
2. The Presidents of each Organisation will exchange complementary invitations to attend their Congress/Annual Meeting. Should the President not be able to attend, a duly appointed representative of the Organisation will assume the complementary invitation.
3. The President, Secretary General or Liaison Officer will consult his/her counterpart on possible representatives of the other Organisation to attend specific Symposia or Workshops.
4. The Chairman of the Analysis/Technical Committee will invite his counterpart to attend the meetings.
5. Minutes of Meetings of the Analysis/Technical Committee will be exchanged.
6. The Analysis/Technical Committees are to agree on the joint collaborative tests in accordance with the established procedure.
7. In order to progress the development and recognition of the "International Methods", areas of similarity and potential overlap should be continuously identified.
8. The two organisations shall cooperatively implement any changes in International Methods. Procedures are to be laid down in writing.
9. Information on dates and places of Congresses and Annual Meetings is to be exchanged whereby any conflict is to be avoided.
10. A list of publications of both organisations will be exchanged annually.
11. Exchange of information will take place as soon as new knowledge becomes available on items/issues/processes of interest to the malting, brewing and hop industries.
This declaration has been accepted by both the European Brewery Convention and the American Society of Brewing Chemists and has been signed in Maastricht, The Netherlands, on 26 May 1997.
Paul van Eerde and Marjolein van Wijngaarden (EBC)
David Thomas (ASBC)
Local Section Officers--1997-1998
Section 1-New York
Dennis Lenahan, Chair
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
200 U.S. Highway #1
Newark, NJ 07101
201/645-7718
Fax 201/645-7932
Mark Thompson, Vice-Chair
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
200 U. S. Highway #1
Newark, NJ 07101
201/645-7710
Fax 201/645-7703
James Kopec, Secretary
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
200 U. S. Highway #1
Newark, NJ 07101
201/645-7710
Fax 201/645-7703
Jeffrey Strand, Treasurer
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
200 U. S. Highway #1
Newark, NJ 07101
201/645-7710
Fax 201/645-7703
Section 2-St. Louis
Gregory Kreder, Chair
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
One Busch Place
Tech. Ctr. Lab 36-5
St. Louis, MO 63118
314/577-3662
Fax 314/577-1055
Judy Logsdon, Vice-Chair
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
One Busch Place
Tech. Ctr. Lab 36-5
St. Louis, MO 63118
314/577-2909
Fax 314/577-1055
Al Kazelis, Secretary
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
One Busch Place
Building 36-8
St. Louis, MO 63118
314/577-4566
Fax 314/577-7881
Shannon Gilbert, Treasurer
ADM Malting
Box 1470
Decatur, IL 62525
217/424-4067
Fax 217/424-5447
Section 3-North Central
Robert Jensen, Chair
Minnesota Malting Co.
918 N. 7th Street
Cannon Falls, MN 55009
507/263-3911
Fax 507/263-5087
Willis Swenson, Vice-Chair
Minnesota Malting Co.
PO Box 517
Cannon Falls, MN 55009
507/263-3911
Fax 507/263-5087
Gerry Kustelski, Secretary/Treasurer
The Stroh Brewery Co.
PO Box 64115
St. Paul, MN 55164
612/778-3194
Fax 612/778-3134
Section 4-Milwaukee/Chicago
Cynthia McLinn, Chair
Miller Brewing Co.
3939 W. Highland Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53201-4082
414/931-2864
Fax 414/931-4873
Mary Jane Maurice, Program Chair
ADM Malting
PO Box 340470
Milwaukee, WI 53234-0470
414/384-7400
Fax 414/384-8718
Frank Tanzer, Secretary
Froedtert Malt Corp.
PO Box 712
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0712
404/649-0297
Fax 414/649-0290
Thomas Volke, Treasurer
The Brewers Bulletin
8250 West Holly Rd. #11
Mequon, WI 53097-3809
404/242-6105
Fax 404/351-5710
Section 6-Canada
Steven Wright, Chair
Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine
Walkerville - Box 2518
Windsor, ON Canada N8Y 4S5
519/254-5171 x 131
Fax 519/971-5763
Steve_Wright@wlkerpmb.ccmail.
compuserve.com
Luc Bordeleau, Vice-Chair
Labatt Breweries of Canada
150 Simcoe St.
London, ON Canada N6A 4M3
519/667-7439
Fax 519/667-7350
Section 7-Northwest
John Cuti, Chair
Great Western Malting Co.
PO Box 1529
Vancouver, WA 98668-1529
360/699-9385
Fax 360/696-5695
Jim Murphey, Vice-Chair
Murphey Analytical Laboratories
7 West Mead Ave.
Yakima, WA 98902
509/577-8963
Fax 509/577-8963
Bob Smith, Secretary
SS Steiner, Inc.
PO Box 9009
Yakima, WA 98909
509/574-0220
Fax 509/457-4638
Kathy Nelson, Treasurer
Mueller Hop Products
PO Box 1793
Yakima, WA 98907
509/453-8254
Fax 509/452-4139
Section 8-Wild West
Mike Joyce, Chair
Coors Brewing Co.
PO Box 4030, BC600
Golden, CO 80401
303/277-6222
Fax 303/277-5736
mike.joyce@coors.com
Scott Voss, Vice-Chair
Left Hand Brewing Co.
1265 Boston Avenue
Longmont, CO 80501
303/772-0258
Fax 303/772-9572
Erik Pilmanis, Secretary
Odell Brewing Co.
800 East Lincoln Avenue
Ft. Collins, CO 80524
970/498-0706
Keith Villa, Treasurer
Coors Brewing Co.
PO Box 4030, BC600
Golden, CO 80401
303/277-6393
Fax 303/277-6834
E-mail: keith.villa@coors.com
Winners of the Eric Kneen Award Announced
Miyoko Ono, Shuichi Suga, and Masaaki Uchida are the 1997 winners of the Eric Kneen Memorial Award for their article "Improvement for Oxidative Flavor Stability of Beer-Rapid Prediction Method for Beer Flavor Stability by Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy" published in the Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists, Vol. 54(4):205-211.
Miyoko Ono graduated from Nara Women's University in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry at the Faculty of Science. She began her career as a research scientist at the Foundation of Suntory Institute for Bioorganic Research, where she worked as a protein chemist until 1972. In 1973, she received a PhD in biochemistry from Osaka University.
Ono joined the laboratory for Brewing Technology for Suntory Ltd. as a senior researcher in 1974. She then became a laboratory manager in 1985. In 1989, she joined the laboratories for Technological Development of Beer and Whisky Brewing and then transferred to the Applied Technological Development Group of Beer Production Division as a manager in 1994. She is currently a manager of the Fundamental Research Institute for Suntory Ltd. and works as a technical consultant.
For the past 20 years, she has been involved in all aspects of brewing science with emphasis in the areas of beer quality improvement, including beer foam, beer haze, hop chemistry, beer flavor, malt chemistry, and method development.
Ono and her group have developed procedures for the simultaneous analysis of hop bittering acids with HPLC. Their methods have been accepted and published as both ASBC and BCOJ methods. Ono and her group have developed the new prediction method for beer flavor stability in a market using ESR.
Ono is past chairperson of the BCOJ Analysis Committee (1992-96). She is a member of the American Society of Brewing Chemists. She is an active and contributing member of the ASBC and currently serves as a member of the ASBC Program and Publications Committees. She is a member of the Society of Fermentation and Bioengineering, Japan; Brewing Society of Japan; and the Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.
Ono has been published widely in the brewing literature, including the ASBC Journal, the proceedings of EBC, and Japanese scientific journals. She has written book chapters on detection of microorganisms, hop chemistry and beer analysis methods. She is the holder of a dozen Japanese and foreign patents dealing with hop analysis methods and the production of new raw materials for brewing.
Shuichi Suga is currently a section manager of Research Institute for New Product Development, for Suntory Ltd. His main efforts are in the development of new beer products and the improvement of beer quality in the market.
He received a bachelor's degree from the Department of Biotechnology, the Faculty of Engineering, Osaka University in 1981, and then joined Suntory Ltd.
For the past 16 years at Suntory, he has been involved in several fields of brewing science. He worked mainly toward the improvement of beer storage process at the laboratory for Brewing Technology during 1981-89. He coauthored "Endoscopic investigation on the behavior of biological and non-biological particles during fermentation and storage of beer" presented at the EBC Congress in 1983 and 1985. In 1989-92, he studied fluidization in the fermentation tank at the laboratories for Technological Development for Beer and Whisky Brewing. Suga moved to the Institute for Brewing Technology and New Beer Product Development in 1992. He is now working to develop procedures for consumer testing and marketing research to better understand consumer preferences for beer flavor and taste.
Masaaki Uchida graduated from Kyoto University in 1985 with an MS degree in industrial biochemistry at the Faculty of Engineering and then joined Suntory Ltd. He has been a chief chemist at the Fundamental Research Institute for Suntory Ltd since 1997. Uchida began his brewing career at the laboratory for Brewing Technology in Suntory. He worked on the carbohydrate chemistry in brewing and has developed an HPLC method for the analysis of linear oligosaccharides and branched oligosaccharides in wort and beer. This work was efficiently used for the development of some new beer products. In 1989, he transferred to the laboratories for Technological Development of Beer and Whisky Brewing. There he worked on fundamental research in the area of beer flavor stability with new analytical procedures using ESR, chemiluminescence, and HPLC with 16 electrode electrochemical detection. He and his group have developed a new prediction method for beer flavor stability with ESR. He subsequently transferred to the Applied Technological Development Group of Beer Production Division to apply the new basic information to improvement of beer flavor stability. He is currently studying the oxidation mechanisms of beer and other alcohol products.
Uchida has written several original papers and book chapters on mashing, fermentation, and beer flavor stability. He is a member of the American Society of Brewing Chemists and has authored several presentations at the ASBC Annual Meetings.
Past-President's Thank You Note
For those of you that may have read my columns over the past year, you will agree that one of my most enduring themes has been service. Service not only to the Society, but also from the Society to the membership. What I would like to do now though, is to thank all of the many volunteers whose effort allows the ASBC to function. As my predecessors have often stated, there are too many people to thank individually . . . Board members, Technical, Program, and Publications Committee members, subcommittee chairmen and their collaborators, local section officers . . . the list goes on and on! Until you work on the Board, it's difficult to imagine just how many volunteers it takes to operate the Society.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board members who finished their terms with the Palm Springs meeting. Rena Crumplen, Nona Mundy, and of course, Rob McCaig have served the Society well and will be missed from the Board. The Board meeting held immediately after the meeting on Thursday seemed strange, because these individuals have all been on the Board during nearly my entire stints as secretary and the presidential cycle. My most sincere thanks go also to the St. Paul staff for their tireless (and sometimes thankless) efforts behind the scenes that keep this Society on track. And lastly, special thanks go to my wife Marcia and all the "significant others" of the Society volunteers who endure the extra work and encroachment of family time that such volunteerism entails. I know that without such support the job would be much harder and we'd have many less volunteers!
Before fading into the sunset, I would like to say that my time on the Board has been an enjoyable learning/growing experience. It has definitely helped my managerial and organizational skills. So, although I must also thank ADM Malt for allowing me to serve, I think in my own mind they have gained more in the long run. Thus, I would like to urge everyone to get involved in the organization. The Society runs on people, so the only way to make sure it runs the way you want is to volunteer! In closing, I wish the new Board of Directors much success in the coming year and pledge to help them and the Society in any manner needed.
-Bruce Sebree
Heard at the February 1997 Board Meeting:
1. Did the earth move for you too?
2. New ASBC theme song, sung to the tune of YMCA.
3. Night golfing by the light of cigars.
4. Swimming pool golf by XO.
5. Victoria's Secret . . . or Louise's, Sharon's, and Cindy's Secret.
6. The President turns 29 for the 13th time on the night of the BoD meeting. Real bad timing!
7. Elvira, the concierge at the Grand Champions.
8. Two desserts . . . too much!
9. A new ASBC publication "Laboratory Methods for the Vertically Challenged Brewer".
10. Dave cubed.
11. Rob, Bob, Rob, good thing one of them is leaving. Now if we could only convince one of the Daves.
12. Finance committee begrudgingly moves money out of church steeples into golf courses.
13. Rena, Sesame Street counting dropout.
14. ASBC Finance Committee examines new fiscal policy, Vegas economics.
15. Palm Springs, a new site for ASBC Headquarters?
16. Too many courses, too little time.
17. Will golf fore food.
18. Casey's not-so-excellent adventure. Doesn't this guy ever have a normal trip?
19. Canadian yeast, we grow 'em bigger in the north.
20. Amy does Mahi, again and again.
Highlights of the June 1997 Business Meeting
At the General Business Meeting on June 22, 1997, president Bruce Sebree summarized the activities of the Society over the past year. Membership grew by 16% this past year to a record high of 926 members. The financial picture of the Society is strong, with FY97 being the second most profitable year of the Society's history. Cooperative agreements were signed with the MBAA and EBC, and an agreement with the BCOJ will be discussed during the Palm Springs Meeting. Membership survey initiatives continued this year with a Craft Brewers Handbook well in progress. Special thanks went to Newsletter editor Jenette Poschwatta, Methods of Analysis editor Lydia Marinelli, Technical Committee chair Rena Crumplen, program chair Nona Mundy, and poster moderator Margaret Morrison, who will be completing their terms. Also acknowledged was past-president Dwight West, a long-time attendee, whose presence was sorely missed.
The minutes of the last were read and approved. After the Treasurer's report, a moment of silence was observed in memory of the following deceased members: John H. Bergmann, Ralph H. Durr, Henry Iffland, Gerhard Krauss, and Hans Gunter Schultze-Berndt. Past-president Rob McCaig presented the By-Laws Committee report. A vote on by-law changes regarding local/student section membership was taken by the membership and approved.
Rob McCaig presented the Nominating Committee's proposed slate for Society officers: president-elect David Ryder, vice-president David Hysert, and treasurer Bob Jensen. Nominations were closed after no additional nominations were brought forth from the floor. The slate was unanimously approved by the membership.
After several announcements, the meeting was officially adjourned at 10:05 a.m.
-Suzanne Y. Thompson
Secretary
Annual Meeting Highlights and
Highjinks in Palm Springs
After the last technical session cleared the Grand Salon meeting room, hotel staff commenced cleaning up. Lo and behold, someone had left behind copious notes on the "happenings" of the 63rd Annual Meeting. Since the proper owner could not be found (possibly on the golf course?), it was decided to publish the notes to assist those who were unable to attend get a "feel" for the Meeting and to reinforce fond memories for those who were fortunate enough to be able to attend.
President Sebree, in his opening remarks at the business meeting announced that it was hot in Palm Springs. This enlightened the membership, who collectively sensed something was different but couldn't put their finger on it.
The importance of being Dave: the peculiarity of having three fellows named Dave on the Board was somewhat over-worked by Sunday morning already. By Wednesday night it was a dead horse beaten to a fare-thee-well.
Speaking of Sunday morning, there was some dissension about the 8:30 starting time. One assumes this starting time must have conflicted with their plans to attend worship services that morning.
Overheard: "What year is WBC 2000 slated for?"
Where was Dori and where was her camera?
Greg Casey asked that we imagine he was Rena Crumplen. Mike Munar said Greg was a better man than Rena. Rena meanwhile reported transferring the Technical Committee to the "very capable handles of Greg Casey". This may confirm some suspicions spawned regarding their 1996 trip to Chicago.
Section Canada was described as the largest of the local sections geographically. This rivaled "Palm Springs is hot" for the most astute remark award.
Norm Kendall described a new 2-row cultivar named "Manly". Is this politically correct?
Dave Hysert reported on the HRC meeting in Las Vegas. Several brewery reps began recomputing their grant budgets.
Bruce Sebree uttered "moving right along" during the business meeting more than Kermit the Frog in the Muppet Capers movie. He moved right along so enthusiastically that he forgot to adjourn.
Dirk Bendiak hustled the exhibitors through their sound-bite presentations with machine-gun-like efficiency. He herded 17 through in 45 minutes. When one didn't show up, Dirk cheerfully intoned "that saves two minutes".
Is it just me, or does the name "Bull" as author somehow detract from the confidence one had in the technical material on free fatty acid analysis?
Corie Dacus had a birthday. Decorum prevents reporting the tally of candles, but on seeing the blaze, Amy Hope called 911.
Barry Axcell walked to town. Barry Axcell almost didn't make it back.
Date shakes were popular at the posters and exhibits. Bruce Sebree asked passers-by. "How do you make a date shake?" The correct answer was "Tell her your name is Dave Thomas". I suppose this could be taken as a compliment or an insult. Knowing Bruce, good money is on the latter.
Karl Siebert spoke of "a completely unexpected result I wasn't looking for". This is to draw a distinction from those completely unexpected results that he was looking for.
Jean Miller spoke some on potential subcommittee work utilizing VCR. This had my undivided attention until I realized she was saying "PCR".
Possibly an ASBC presentation first: A happy face and a Mr. Yuck face incorporated on a slide.
Dryest sense of humor among moderators: Barry Axcell (perfectly appropriate for the climate.)
"Finger printing" of barley cultivars is advancing. Several in the audience were perspiring profusely despite ample air conditioning.
Perhaps another ASBC first: cat and mouse animation on slides.
The Headquarters office was toasted by one and all. The Headquarters office will lead us into the Internet age. The Headquarters office told us to use Ticket #2 Sunday and Ticket #1 on Monday.
Elvis greeted us at the poolside reception. As a group passed, he called out to each by name and asked "who do you work for?" One was a young man from Europe who responded politely then asked Elvis, "and who do you work for?" Elvis was a bit stunned. Dave Thomas came to the rescue by proclaiming that "the King doesn't work for anyone".
Bruce Sebree said something about "croakee" at the welcoming luncheon. Tony Cutaia, who must have deciphered this phrase, threatened a swift retaliation if Bruce started singing.
Our speaker from TNO offered that methods for maltsters "must be simple".
Scott Heisel expressed a fondness for pictures of starch granules with little holes in them. To each his own.
Rob McCaig (perhaps soon to be know as "Hot Tub Rob") tells this story of our new president. Mr. Thomas set his alarm for 5:30 a.m. in anticipation of either a 6:00 tee time or a very good seat at the 8:30 technical session. Anyway, he awakens, looks at the clock, sees "5:30 a.m." turns the alarm setting to off, and proceeds to shower, shave, dress, and consume various forms of caffeine (coffee, chocolate . . . ). Upon getting ready to leave the room, he notes the clock still says "5:30 a.m." He had left the display on the alarm set time. The real time was 12:30 a.m. and he had slept perhaps one hour.
Mike Barney was given the moniker "can't say no" or "sucker' owing to his plethora of ribbons.
A rather large rat parading back and forth outside one of the villas had the rapt attention of quite a few outside the Rahr suite. Pete Gales took the occasion to toss a cloth onto the bare legs of Sue Kay and got a very energetic reaction.
Best nondry sense of humor: Akihito Yokoyama.
Greg Casey was asked about the health of yeast after producing some outrageous concentration of ethanol. He conveyed that for the yeast, it was a one-way trip.
Mike Ingledew's students continue to excel in the ASBC presentations. The mutual respect is obvious-but perhaps more subtle in Greg Casey's case. There is some underlying tension that stems from the loan of a pair of golf shoes to a struggling graduate student many years ago in Saskatoon.
Jean Pierre DuFour managed to work some geopolitical commentary into his paper on solid phase microextraction. Is unrest stirring down under? We're expecting some input from Donn Hawthorne.
Rena Crumplen was excused, having given birth to a bouncing baby right-winger.
Most colorfully dressed for oral presentations: Gail Nickerson and David Quain
Nona Mundy was congratulated 1,384 times (743 of these were from Bruce Sebree) for her outstanding work in putting the program together. I think she is being softened up for a future enlistment.
So what if Larry Hartman played a little golf?
Margaret Morrison finally shed her duties as poster coordinator, only to become editor of MOA. She's giving retirement a very bad name.
It is just me, or did Dave Ryder seem to have a lot to say to Marilyn Monroe?
Rob and Louise McCaig sure have cute kids. (Not that this is a surprise.)
Our colleagues from Finland described an immobilized yeast reactor invoking the phrase "soaked in ethanol for two days". Didn't know if this referred to the yeast or the audience.
At the general business meeting, all were welcomed by the Board of Directors proudly perched under ASBC headgear. As the then president Bruce Sebree put it, "Buy your visor. Buy your hat. We need your money!"
Norm Kendall, after removing his tie, casually delivered the BMBRI Liaison Report.
President Bruce Sebree, quite proud of his accommodations at the villa in Palm Springs, was trying to "one-up" his neighbors in the villa next door. (His neighbors were those lucky four who also got a villa. They must be living right!) As he showed off the decor in his villa and spoke of certain perks that were only the president's, he boasted of a coupon that had been left in his room for three massages. John Grigsby was quick to point out, "Bruce, I'm afraid you're mistaken. This says you have 3 messages."
When asked at the International Methods meeting whether the ASBC could try to look into the vast number of foam methods, Greg Casey aptly replied "We could try, but I think it'll collapse."
Tribute to Lydia Marinelli
The ASBC wishes to recognize and offer sincere thanks to Lydia Marinelli for her many contributions to our Society and to our industry, most recently for her term as editor of Methods of Analysis.
Marinelli served as editor of Methods of Analysis from June 1993 to June 1997. During her four-year term, she oversaw the publication of the 1996 supplement to the Eighth Revised Edition of Methods of Analysis of the ASBC, which included 7 new methods, 11 new sections, 8 updates, 8 corrections, and several other improvements. We sincerely thank Lydia Marinelli for her guidance, direction, perseverance, and a job well done.
Marinelli is a long-time member of the ASBC who has served the Society in a variety of working positions: as chairperson of the NDMA Subcommittee, the FAN Subcommittee, and the Sugars and Syrups Subcommittee, and as a member of the Technical Committee, the Membership Committee, the Editorial Board, the New and Alternate Subcommittee, and an ad hoc committee on Methods of Analysis.
Marinelli holds a BA in chemistry. During her career, she worked as chemist in the research department at (then) Kurth Malting Company. At the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, she was the assistant manager of Brewing Research and group leader of the Biochemistry Group. At Miller Brewing Company, she served as manager of Analytical Services and manager of Technical Services, the position from which she retired in 1993 after 12 years of service.
The ASBC appreciates Lydia's many contributions on our behalf and hopes that she will continue to share her expertise with the Society during her well-earned retirement.
-Dave Hysert
Local Section News
Local Section 2-St. Louis
The May meeting of ASBC local section 2 was held in the historic brewhouse courtyard at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in St. Louis. A variety of hors-d'oeuvre stations were set up, including one with shrimp and oysters on the half shell. The beer flowed freely. An elegant ice sculpture was noted, keenly, by John Grigsby, to be melting. The meeting was graciously sponsored by resident brewmaster Peter Kraemer; honored guests were Mark Sammartino and Hans Stallman, brewmasters of A-B's Baldwinsville and Newark plants. A total of 56 members and guests were in attendance.
The nominating committee presented the new slate of officers, which was voted upon and approved by the membership. Officers for the coming year are: chair Greg Kreder, Brewing Technical Services, Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis; vice-chair Judy Logsdon, Brewing Technical Services, Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis; treasurer Shannon Gilbert, ADM Malting, Decatur, IL; secretary Al Kazelis, Corporate Quality Assurance, Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis. No member expressed concern that our newly elected treasurer has a penchant for the local gambling casinos.
Twenty local section 2 members, representing 10% of the total membership, attended the Annual Meeting in Palm Springs. Word has it that two attendees, Steve McCarthy and Greg Kreder, arrived at the Ontario airport in a timely manner; unfortunately, their luggage did not. Among the delayed items was Greg's set of golf clubs. Let Rich Ulmer carry them on for you next time, Greg! Gerry Melm, on the other hand, had his luggage, but no room reservation!
The "faithful exercise" award goes to both Tim Raw and Gerry Melm, who should be commended for tackling the extra resistance that jogging in the sand provides.
I heard something about Al Begany smooching with a Marilyn Monroe look-alike, or was it Madonna?? Someone else reported that an unnecessary number of barbs were aimed at ASBC Internet and International Methods chair John Grigsby. This is less believable than Al's experience!
Kreder has planned a golf scramble for July, while another committee is working on plans for an afternoon under the shade trees at a local winery. Regular section meetings will resume in September. A room for the 1997 Christmas party has been reserved at the ever-popular German restaurant, Schneithorst's Hofamburg Inn.
-Judy Logsdon
Local Section 4-Milwaukee/Chicago
ASBC local section 4 held a joint meeting with the District Milwaukee MBAA at Flatlander's Brewing Company on March 20, 1997. Upon arrival, attendees were welcomed with a substantial offering of fine beers and tours of the facility by our hosts. At the conclusion of the MBAA business meeting, local section 4 program chair Cynthia McLinn made several announcements in lieu of a formal meeting.
McLinn invited those present to attend the next local section 4 meeting, April 24th, at the Miller Inn. Sherman Chan of Rahr Malting Company will present "A New Dimension in Malting Laboratory Automation". Nomination and election of next year's officers will also take place at this meeting. All parties interested in serving in this capacity should contact a current officer prior to this meeting.
A pleasant evening concluded with conversation and a delicious dinner in the brewery's restaurant.
ASBC local section 4 met on April 24, 1997, at Miller Inn. After enjoying the fine beers and excellent hospitality provided by Miller Brewing Company, attendees gathered for the business meeting. Holly Kuester called the meeting to order and introduced David Ryder, who welcomed the group to the facility on behalf of Miller Brewing Company. Mary-Jane Maurice read the secretary's report of the March 20, 1997, meeting which was accepted as submitted. Treasurer Ellen Haggenjos presented the financial report as of April 24, 1997, which was approved as given.
Kuester then suggested that a donation be made to the ASBC Student Travel Fund. The membership of the section approved the donation and its amount as presented. The election of the 1997-98 officers was called for by chair Holly Kuester. Frank Tanzer of Froedtert Malt Corporation was nominated as secretary by Scott Heisel from the floor. Tanzer consented to the nomination and Tom Volke of The Brewers' Bulletin graciously volunteered to serve as treasurer. Kuester presented the slate of candidates to the membership and called for a vote. The officers for the next term as elected are: Cynthia McLinn, Miller Brewing Company, chair; Mary-Jane Maurice, ADM Malting Division, program chair; Frank Tanzer, Froedtert Malt Corp, secretary; Thomas Volke, The Brewers' Bulletin, treasurer.
Kuester voiced the section's appreciation for Ellen Haggenjos' years of dedicated service in the role of treasurer. Cynthia McLinn showed slides of Palm Springs, CA, to encourage the members to attend the upcoming Annual Meeting. As no old business was brought to the floor, Kuester reminded those present that the section is always open to suggestions that may benefit the organization. A call was made for adjournment and approved. Cynthia McLinn introduced Sherman Chan of Rahr Malting Company, who enlightened the guests with "A New Dimension in Malting Laboratory Automation". This excellent presentation was followed by an enjoyable dinner.
-Mary-Jane Maurice
Local Section 7-Northwest
The spring meeting was held in Leavenworth, WA, at the Enzian Inn on April 12, 1997. The business meeting was called to order at 7:30 a.m. by president John Cuti. There were 15 members and one guest present. The minutes of the summer 1996 meeting were read by secretary Bob Smith. Next, Kathy Ne1son read the treasurer's report. John Cuti motioned to give $100.00 to national ASBC for the student travel fund and was approved.
John Cuti decided to put together a task force on how to get craft brewers involved in our local ASBC. Dan Christopher, John Cuti, and Jim Murphey volunteered. They will report their suggestions at the next meeting. Cuti agreed that our local ASBC will give $250.00 to District Northwest MBAA for our share of this Spring's MBAA/ASBC meeting and it was approved. Cuti told us that there was no written agreement between our local ASBC and District Northwest MBAA that we would always have the meeting shared. He motioned that our local ASBC should have a written agreement with District Northwest MBAA for shared Spring meeting and thus have full participation in all future Spring MBAA meetings. The purpose of this move was to give our local ASBC equal partnership with the MBAA in regard to the technical meeting. Everyone at the meeting agreed with this motion.
The Summer/Fall meeting will be held at Saxer Brewing Co., Lake Oswego, OR, on July 25th. Afterward, volunteers will be stationed at our ASBC booth at the Oregon Beer Festival in Portland, OR, on July 25-27 to help generate interest in the ASBC by the craft brewers.
-Bob Smith
Local Section 8-Wild West
The fifth meeting of ASBC local section 8 "Wild West" was held at the Rockies Brewing Company, Boulder, CO, on May 12, 1997. Fifteen attendees gathered for food and fine beer from the Rockies Brewery, with socializing from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The business meeting was called to order by local chair Ryan Martyr at 7:00 p.m.
Mike Joyce, secretary, read the minutes from the last meeting held at the Columbine Brewery, February 4, 1997. The minutes were approved as read. Laurie Kowalsky read the treasurer's report and informed the group that for the first time, we have a positive cash balance. Cash in from the last local section meeting was $130.00, minus a $50.00 donation to the ASBC Student Travel Fund, leaving an ending balance of $80.00.
Martyr initiated the roundtable discussion on hops at 7:15 p.m., and introduced Robert T. Foster, II, from the Coors Brewing Company, who recently completed his PhD in brewing biochemistry from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh Scotland, and is a renowned hop expert with 23 years of experience. Foster fielded many questions from the floor regarding hops and their interrelations in brewing. Dave Thomas concluded the session by informing the group that ASBC will soon be publishing Laboratory Methods for Craft Brewers available in the summer of 1997.
The duties of local section officers were reviewed and nominations opened for election of officers. Local section members elected to a one-year term of office were: chairman Michael Joyce, Coors Brewing Company, Golden, CO; vice-chair Scott C. Voss, Left Hand Brewing, Longmont, CO; secretary Erik Pilmanis, Odell Brewing Company, Ft. Collins, CO; treasurer Keith Villa, Coors Brewing Company, Golden, CO.
The meeting concluded with thanking our outgoing chair, Ryan Martyr for his enthusiasm, guidance, and vision in directing the "Wild West" local section 8 through its first year. ASBC president-elect Dave Thomas congratulated Martyr on a job well done, and informed the group that it was Martyr who was instrumental in pursuing a local section with micro-brewing involvement. The meeting concluded with door prizes.
-Michael J. Joyce
ASBC Editors Start New Terms
Newsletter
Karen DeVries received a BS degree in biochemistry from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. After working in the Biochemistry Department of Washington University Medical School and then in the Amino Acid Laboratory at Ralston Purina, she came to Anheuser-Busch. She has been with A-B for 11 years in various capacities including analytical chemistry and methods development. During that time she published two articles in the ASBC Journal. DeVries lives in Illinois with her husband and four children. She enjoys spending time with her family and pets, including several horses, dogs, and cats.
Methods of Analysis
N. Margaret Morrison received a BSc in chemistry from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. She worked as a medical technician for six years before joining Sick's Lethbridge Brewery as plant chemist. Two years later, the plant was one of five purchased by Molson Breweries. After 14 years at the Lethbridge Brewery, she transferred to Molson's Central Quality Control and Research Laboratory in Montreal, moving to Mississauga when the Molson Technical Centre opened. During her 19 years in the Central Lab and Technical Centre, she worked in many departments and held several positions. She was manager of Technical Services at the time of her retirement in 1990. Morrison has been a member of ASBC since 1966. She served three years on the Board of Directors as chair of the Editorial Committee (now Publications Committee). She was chair of the Technical Subcommittee on Revised Methods of Diacetyl Analysis and a member of several other subcommittees. As a member of the Program Committee, she has coordinated the poster sessions since their inception. Morrison played an active part in both BOAC'S, first as ASBC representative on the joint publications committee, then as ASBC cochair of the poster presentations. She has now accepted the position of editor of the ASBC Methods of Analysis.
"Malt Specifications--What Do Brewers Need?"
Following the formal technical program at the recent ASBC Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, a couple of hours were devoted to something of an experiment in addressing the perceived need for improved communication between maltsters and brewers. Approximately 50-60 malt-sters, brewers, and public research professionals met informally to discuss the general question "Malt specifications-What do brewers need?"
Thanks to energetic participation by representatives of most key malting and brewing companies (including several international representatives), it became apparent quite quickly that there is intense interest in improving clarity of malt specifications and in ensuring batch-to-batch consistency of malts. Several examples of improved control were cited as current applications in some companies (e.g., use of neural networks, implementation of total quality control programs from producer to brewer), but it was a common theme that many analytical methods and specifications are frequently inadequate in predicting overall performance. Such diverse issues as undesirability of certain barley varieties, the tedious nature of growth counts, beta-glucan assays, F/C difference, and the excessive number of assays were also discussed. Environmental variability is a major influence on malt quality and consistency, but the overall tone indicated clearly that there is need for continuing reevaluation of analytical methods and specifications.
Many members of the ASBC Board of Directors assisted ably in leading some of the discussion relating to potential roles of the ASBC in improving maltster-brewer communication links. Participants made a number of useful suggestions for continuing this important dialogue, and it was obvious that similar discussions at future ASBC meetings would be well received. Watch for further developments along these lines, as ASBC continues its important function of providing a forum for continuous improvement in specification definition and brewer-maltster interaction.
Active ASBC Corporate Members
ADM Malting Co.
Decatur, IL
Advanced Polymer Systems
Redwood City, CA
Altek Company
Torrington, CT
Anheuser-Busch Corp. Library
St Louis, MO
Anton Paar USA
Ashland, VA
Asia Pacific Breweries PTE Ltd.
Ibrahim, SINGAPORE
Association of Brewers
Boulder, CO
Beer Indust. Assoc Shandong
Jinan, PEOPLES REP CHINA
Bio-Chem Laboratories, Inc.
Grand Rapids, MI
BRF International
Redhill Surrey, ENGLAND
Briess Malting Company
Chilton, WI
Brulotte Farms, Inc.
Toppenish, WA
Boston Beer Company-Brewery
Boston, MA
Carlsberg Research Center
Copenhagen, DENMARK
Casco Inc.
Etobicoke, CANADA
Cereceria Leona SA
Zipaquira, COLOMBIA
Cerveceria Polar CA
Caracas, VENEZUELA
Cerveceria Quilmes
Quilmes, ARGENTINA
Cervejarias Kaiser Brasil Ltda.
Campinas, BRAZIL
Coors Brewing Company
Golden, CO
Cultor Food Science, Inc.
Milwaukee, WI
DB Breweries Ltd.
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
DiverseyLever Inc.
Plymouth, MI
Fabricas Nacionales De Cerveza
Montevideo, URUGUAY
Foss North America
Silver Spring, MD
Froedtert Malt Corp.
Milwaukee, WI
Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd
Portland, OR
Fund.Mexicana Investigacion
Col. San Rafael, MEXICO
Genesee Brewing Co., Inc.
Rochester, NY
Great Western Malting Co.
Vancouver, WA
Guangzhou Malting Co. Ltd.
Guangzhou, PRC
Int'l Speciality Products
Wayne, NJ
J Boag & Son Brewers
Tasmania, AUSTRALIA
J. E. Siebel Sons Company
Chicago, IL
John I. Haas, Inc.
Yakima, WA
Kalsec Inc.
Kalamazoo, MI
Karl Strauss Breweries
San Diego, CA
Kirin Brewery Company, Ltd.
Tokyo, JAPAN
La Brasserie Labatt Brewing
La Salle, CANADA
Labatt Breweries of Canada
London, CANADA
Ladish Malting Co.
Jefferson, WI
Lupofresh, Inc.
Wapato, WA
Millennium Chemicals
Baltimore, MD
Minnesota Malting Co.
Cannon Falls, MN
Molson Centre for Innovation
Etobicoke, CANADA
Morris Hanbury USA Inc.
Yakima, WA
Novo Nordisk BioChem
Franklinton, NC
Pabst Brewing Company
Milwaukee, WI
Pacific Western Brewing Co.
Burnaby, CANADA
Peavey Grain Co.
Minneapolis, MN
The PQ Corporation
Conshohocken, PA
Rahr Malting Co.
Shakopee, MN
Schreier Malting Company
Sheboygan, WI
Sunrise Hop Marketing Inc.
Sunnyside, WA
The Stroh Brewery Co.
Detroit, MI
Union de Cervecerias Peruanas
Lima, PERU
Vicam
Watertown, MA
Vinquiry, Inc.
Healdsburg, CA
World Minerals Inc.
Lompoc, CA
Laboratory Check Sample on Mycotoxins Available
With Fusarium head blight currently posing a real threat to the barley crop, ASBC members and others using or processing malt need to be concerned about the possible presence of deoxynivalenol (also known as DON or vomitoxin) in barley, malt, and brewed products. The American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC), which shares headquarters with ASBC, offers a quarterly check sample series on mycotoxins. It's designated as Series L among AACC's 23 separate monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly check sample series.
Series L provides subscribers with a quarterly sample of ground mixed grains containing analyzable levels of three mycotoxins-aflatoxin, vomitoxin, and fumonisin-all derived from natural contaminant sources. The cost to nonmembers of AACC or ASBC is $450 annually, plus $24 additional airmail postage outside North America. However, ASBC members may subscribe to the series for the AACC corporate member discounted price of only $300 annually.
For more information or a copy of the AACC International Check Sample Service brochure containing descriptions of this and other check sample series and an order form, contact Steve Weiland, ASBC check sample coordinator at ASBC headquarters, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097. Phone: (651) 454-7250. Fax: (651) 454-0766. E-mail: sweiland@scisoc.org
New Active Members
Allen, Maureen E., QC technician, Labatt Breweries, New Westminster, BC, Canada
Ball, Larry E., Anheuser-Busch, Columbus, OH
Blair, James L., Anheuser-Busch, Columbus, OH
Bronson, Edward C., brewmaster, Taylor Brewing Co., Naperville, IL
Boatright, Becky R., quality services team manager, Miller Brewing Co., Albany, GA
Cheng-Whei Tsai, director, Ping-Tung Winery, Taiwan Tobacco & Wine Monopoly Bureau, Taipei, Taiwan
Donelan, Matthew C., director/ consultant, Trew Brew Pty Ltd., Bondi Junction, Australia
Garcia-Tatis, Ramon, senior vice-president of operations, Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana, Santo Domingo, Dominican Rep.
Gass, Teri F., microbiologist, Bridgeport Brewing Co., Portland, OR
Grambsch, Don E., vice president of grain and transportation, Great Western Malting, Vancouver, Canada
Grossman, Ken R., president, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, CA
Hamm, Jeffrey C., medical doctor and chemist, Hollywood, FL
Henning, John A., research geneticist, USDA-ARS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Herbers, Gregory J., engineer, Kellogg, Battle Creek, MI
Jong, H Park, chemist, Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Kuhr, James L., brewing manager, FX Matt Brewing Co., Utica, NY
Kyung-Joon, Park, principal researcher, Doosan Training & Technology Center, Yongin City, Korea
Lai, Jian Sheng, managing director, Blue Ribbon High Worth Brewery, Zhao Qing, China
Li, Hong, brewmaster, Blue Ribbon High Worth Brewery, Zhao Qing, China
EBC Elects Two New Vice-Presidents
In the European Brewery Convention (EBC) council meeting held in Maastricht on May 25, 1997, two new vice-presidents were elected: Horst-Gevert Bellmer (Brauerei Beck & Co., Germany) and Ing. Jan Vesely (Pilsner Urquell, Czech Republic). They succeed Ib Rosendal (Carlsberg, Denmark) and Bernard Atkinson (formerly BRFI, United Kingdom). Rosendal will continue to represent Denmark in the EBC council.
The other two EBC vice-presidents are Alexander P. Füglistaller (Warteck Invest AG, Switzerland) and Peter de Vogel (Groupe Danone, France). Paul Van Eerde (Heineken, The Netherlands) is president of EBC.
WBC 2000
The World Brewing Congress 2000, a meeting for the brewing and related industries, announced that the Congress will be held June 23-27, 2000, in Orlando, FL. This unique meeting is expected to be a major event in the brewing industry, with a comprehensive world-wide perspective. Attendance is anticipated from all segments of the world brewing community. The venue will be the Disney Coronado Springs Resort, a new conference center and resort.
The Congress technical program will be a stimulating and unique presentation of papers, posters, and exhibits. The program will highlight a comprehensive review of the state of brewing technology and a look at its future in the next century.
Fall 1997 Newsletter Deadline: September 22, 1997
Winter: November 17, 1997
ASBC Policy Statement
The Board of Directors approves the following policy statement:
"Members of ASBC Committees, especially Technical Committees, are reminded that they do not and may not speak for or on behalf of the Society in matters relating to the brewing industry without express permission of the officers or Board of Directors of the American Society of Brewing Chemists. This prohibition includes the use of ASBC letterhead when making a statement of technical or economic nature. Members of the ASBC speak only for themselves when giving opinions or making statements concerning technical matters relating to the brewing industry."
ASBC NEWSLETTER
Volume 57, Number 3, Summer 1997
Karen J. DeVries, Editor
ASBC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David A. Thomas, President
David Ryder, Vice-President
David W. Hysert, President-Elect
Bruce R. Sebree, Past President
Suzanne Thompson, Secretary
Robert Jensen, Treasurer
Robert Maruyma, Chairman, Publications Committee
Greg Casey, Chairman, Technical Committee
Dirk Bendiak, Chairman, Program Committee
Other Publications
Peter Freeman, Editor, ASBC Journal
Margaret Morrison, Editor, Methods of Analysis
ASBC STAFF
Steven C. Nelson, Executive Officer and Publisher
Miles Wimer, Director of Publications
Larry J. Hartman, Director of Finance and Administration
Corie Dacus, Director of Meetings
Ann King, Editorial Supervisor
Phyllis Albertz, ASBC Newsletter Assistant Editor
Amy Hope, Advertising Sales Representative
Linda Gold, ASBC Methods of Analysis sales
ASBC Newsletter (ISSN: 0149-7308) is published quarterly by the American Society of Brewing Chemists, Inc., 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN. PUB 066970.
Postmaster: Send address changes to ASBC Newsletter, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097; (651) 454-7250; Fax (651) 454-0766.
Subscription rates: $25.00 per year within the United States, elsewhere $31.00 (includes expedited postage). Canadian customers: Please add 7% GST to elsewhere price. Canadian GST #R 131584898. Canadian IPM 0979176. Single back issue: $10.00.
© 1999 by the American Society of Brewing Chemists