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ASBC Newsletter
VOLUME 58, NUMBER 1 - WINTER 1998

President's Column
Final Call for Nominations
Final Call for Papers
ASBC Past Presidents
Local Section News
Industry News
Active ASBC Corporate Members
New Active ASBC Members
Student Travel Grant Program Fund
ASBC Online Event
Miscellaneous


President's Column

I had the rare privilege to address the Master Brewers Association of the Americas in Baltimore in October 1997 on the occasion of their 110th Annual Meeting. 110 years! That's a lot of history and tradition! I congratulated the MBAA on that great accomplishment and invited them to the 110th Annual Meeting of the ASBC, which will be held in the year 2042! I apprised them also, of the historic efforts of each of you in continuing the 64-year tradition of the ASBC in working together to ". . . develop and adopt uniform, standard methods of analysis for the brewing, malting, and related industries, . . . to conduct and encourage scientific and technical research . . . and to cooperate with sister organizations." In case I have not said it recently, thanks to each of you and your companies for serving as members of ASBC standing committees, new and continuing method collaborative subcommittees, local section officers and members, research paper and poster presenters, and exhibitors at annual meetings, and the many other roles you fill.

Speaking of history, did you know that ASBC started life as the MASC in 1934? Do you know what MASC stands for? Do you know which six breweries, six maltsters, six scientific stations, four corn processors, and two hop growers were the original member companies? Which sister society did we share the technical program with in that first Annual Meeting in 1934? Do you know which city has been the location for more of the 64 ASBC conventions than any other? Do you know how many times before June 20-24, 1998, the ASBC Annual Meeting has been held in the Boston area? (The answers to these questions are at the end of my column.)

I am looking at an actual program from the 5th ASBC meeting in Kansas City on May 22-25, 1939, and I see the pioneers in our occupation, names like: Ehrnst, Sandstedt, Kneen, Tenney, Krause, Bratton, Becker, Wallerstein, Siebel, and Dickson. These historical figures are just as important in their own right, to the birth of the ASBC, as are Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and the Alcotts to Boston's historical place in American literature. I have no doubt that brewing researchers in the next millennium will look back and remark in a president's column or two on the important work done and reported by you at the Palm Springs, Boston, Phoenix, and Orlando meetings, and reported in scientific volumes like the Journal of the ASBC, and there is a certain symmetry to that.

In writing about "The Brewing Laboratory--Then and Now" for the 25th anniversary retrospective of the ASBC, Alex Sigal spoke of the vast improvements, and common threads between brewing research and quality control in the first days of ASBC, compared to the modern era of 1959. I find his thoughts eerily familiar to today's start-up and small brewery laboratories, to wit: "Judged by our modern standards, the laboratory (of 1934) appears primitive. It contained the essentials--running water, a drain, a gas burner, chemicals, a microscope, a balance, some spindles and thermometers, tables and benches; these last, often makeshift or castoffs. Usually, space for a laboratory was not provided by the architect; consequently, it occupied available space, whatever that might prove to be." How many microbreweries have we seen in similar situations recently, with temporary labs in closets or under stairs? The big difference, however, is that microbreweries of today now have the combined historical experience of your work in published reference methods, collaboratively tested, and nicely displayed in the brand new ASBC Laboratory Methods for Craft Brewers Handbook. This method book, published in January, is selling very rapidly and fulfills a need identified by many of you in the strategic plan and membership surveys.

What future tools, techniques, and methods that you are thinking about or working on now will make the brewing labs of 1998 look primitive when viewed from the next millennium? After all, the Boston meeting will mark the final 20 months of the 20th Century! Congratulations to all of you for making your little pieces of ASBC history happen, for as that famous Bostonian, Ralph Waldo Emerson once said . . .

"If a man write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mouse-trap than his neighbour, tho’ he build his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door."

-Dave Thomas
President

ASBC began as the MASC in 1934. What does MASC stand for?
Malt Analysis Standardization Committee.

What were the original member companies of ASBC?
Anheuser-Busch, Blatz, Pabst, Ruppert, Schlitz, and E.A. Schaefer breweries; Columbia, Fleischmann, Froedtert, Kurth, Rahr, and Schwill malting companies; National Brewers Academy, Schwarz, E.A. Siebel, Siebel Institute, Wahl-Henius and Wallerstein laboratories; American Maize, Corn Products Refining Company, Krause Milling and Patent Cereals corn product companies; Clemens Horst and Pacific Hop Growers hop companies.

What sister society shared the technical program with ASBC in 1934?
American Association of Cereal Chemists.

What city has hosted the most ASBC Annual Meetings?
Milwaukee, WI.

Up to 1998, Boston had never been the site of the ASBC Annual Meeting. Join us for an historic meeting at this historic site.


Final Call for Nominations

The ASBC Nominating Committee has begun its assignment of providing qualified Society members to serve on the Board of Directors. Nominations for the offices of secretary, vice-president, and president-elect are required for voting at the 1998 annual meeting.

The term of office for secretary is two years, from the close of the 1998 annual meeting to the close of the WBC 2000. The term of office for vice-president is one year, beginning with the close of the 1998 annual meeting. However, because the vice-president is the principal candidate for president-elect and subsequently succeeds to the offices of president and past president, a commitment of four years is expected. Following the same progression, the commitment for president-elect is three years.

The selection of candidates for these offices is critical to the Society. The Nominating Committee needs your help to identify qualified members to fill these leadership positions. Please remember that all nominees must be active members of the Society, be willing to serve, and have the permission and support of their employer management. Nominees for elected offices will be published in the spring 1998 Newsletter.

Please direct nominations to any of the following members of the Nominating Committee:

Bruce R. Sebree, Chairman
ADM Malting Div.
4666 Faries Pkwy, Box 1470
Decatur, IL 62525
217/424-4067
Fax 217/424-4175

Richard L. Berndt
8048 Johnson Point Rd., NE
Olympia, WA 98516-9559
360/754-5009
Fax 360/754-5129

Rob McCaig
Molson Technical Services Centre
33 Carlingview Rd.
Etobicoke, ON, Canada M9W 5E4
416/679-7538
Fax 416/679-2342

James Munroe
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
One Busch Place, 36-5
St. Louis, MO 63118
314/577-9968
Fax 314/577-1055

Richard E. Pyler
Coors Brewing Co.
Mail Stop BC 600
Golden, CO 80401
303/277-5942
Fax 303/277-6834


Final Call for Papers

The ASBC Program Committee has begun solicitation of papers and posters for the 64th Annual Meeting, June 20-24, 1998, in Boston, MA. As expected, the Technical Program will continue to provide the latest scientific information and technologies.

Preliminary plans call for sessions revolving around raw materials, fermentation, finishing, packaging, yeast technology, and flavor stability. Prospective papers in these areas as well as those that present new analytical protocols will be considered. Subject matter for both oral presentations and posters may be original research and development, describe advances or progress in brewing and/or packaging technology, show modifications to brewing techniques, analytical procedures, or applications, or be of technical review format. The schedule will allow for a finite number of oral presentations and space is available on the form for a preference to be indicated.

An abstract form can be found in the Fall 97 issue of the Newsletter. Additional forms can be obtained from members of the Program Committee or the St. Paul Office. We encourage use of this form and suggest that the instructions given regarding its use be followed. Deadlines are: Jan. 30, 1998, for title submission; Feb. 28, 1998, for abstract form submission

The Committee welcomes all contributions for consideration. Please accept this invitation and extend it to your colleagues. Any questions or correspondence may be directed to: Dirk Bendiak, ASBC Program Committee Chairman, Molson Breweries, Molson Centre for Innovation, 33 Carlingview Drive, Etobicoke, ON, Canada, M9W 5E4. Phone: 416/679-7507; Fax: 416/798-8391; E-mail: dsbendia @molson.com


ASBC Past Presidents

1934-35 Max Henius *
1935-36 F.M. DuPont *
1936-38 Robert Schwartz *
1938-40 George S. Bratton *
1940-42 Leo Wallerstein *
1942-44 Fred P. Siebel, Jr. *
1944-46 Bryn H. Nisson *
1946-48 Christian Rask *
1948-50 Philip P. Gray *
1950-52 Carroll A. Dayharsh
1952-53 Stephen Laufer*
1953-54 Lawrence E. Ehrnst *
1954-55 Kurt Becker
1955-56 Ulysses C. Gramsch *
1956-57 Fred C. Baselt*
1957-58 William C. McFarlane *
1958-59 Eric Kneen *
1959-60 Mortimer W. Brenner *
1960-61 George E. Bredt
1961-62 Allan D. Dickson*
1962-63 Irwin Stone*
1963-64 John B. Bockelmann
1964-65 Robert W. Rummele*
1965-66 Dwight B. West
1966-67 Philip E. Dakin
1967-68 Robert I. Tenney
1968-69 J. Robert Piening
1969-70 William J. Olson *
1970-71 Leonard T. Saletan *
1971-72 G. Calvin Dyson, Jr.
1972-73 Vincent S. Bavisotto
1973-74 F. Lloyd Rigby
1974-75 Michael R. Sfat
1975-76 David J. Lubert *
1976-77 Donald D. Brumsted*
1977-78 Harold H. Geller
1978-79 Paul K. Steinke *
1979-80 Ronald A. Latimer
1980-81 Arthur J. Rehberger
1981-82 Roger A. Carroll
1982-83 Kurt C. Duecker
1983-84 William A. Hardwick, Jr.
1984-85 James McDougall
1985-86 Phillip D. Israel
1986-88 Charles W. Baker
1988-89 Richard L. Berndt
1989-90 David W. Diffor
1990-91 Inge Russell
1991-92 Richard E. Pyler
1992-93 Peter W. Gales
1993-94 Sherman H. Chan
1994-95 James H. Munroe
1995-96 Rob McCaig
1996-97 Bruce Sebree

(*) Deceased


Local Section News

Local Section 2--St. Louis

The October 1997 meeting was held on Wednesday, October 29, at the King And I restaurant in St. Louis. Guest speaker Carol Clark of Anheuser-Busch's Consumer Awareness and Education department presented her topic of "Keeping the World Safe for Beer." The 1997 Annual Christmas Party was held on December 6, 1997, at Schneithorst's Restaurant in St. Louis. Eighty attendees enjoyed an evening of fine food and dancing. Door prizes and a personal gift to each attending member were presented by Chairman Kreder. Our January 1998 meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, at the Anheuser-Busch corporate cafeteria.

-Judy Logsdon

Local Section 4--Milwaukee/Chicago

On November 6, 1997, 28 members of Local Section 4 met at the Milwaukee Ale House. Program chairman Mary-Jane Maurice called the meeting to order and had secretary Frank Tanzer read the minutes from the previous meeting, which were accepted as read. Treasurer Thomas Volke reported a balance of $1,431.20 as of November 6, 1997, which was also accepted. Attendees were reminded of upcoming meeting dates on February 21, March 9, and April 30, 1998. There being no further business, Jerrod Hilton of S.S. Steiner, Inc. gave a hands-on presentation on the role of hops in the brewing industry.

-Frank Tanzer

Local Section 6--Canada

The ASBC Local Section 6 fall meeting was held on December 5, 1997, at the Hiram Walker & Sons reception centre in Windsor, ON. A light lunch and refreshments were available before the opening of the meeting. The business meeting consisted of an announcement of the 1998 National Meeting in Boston and a brief overview of the Student Travel Grant program.

There were two speakers scheduled for the technical session. Steve Wright from Allied Domecq Spirits & Wines delivered a short presentation on Canadian Whisky production and hosted a very informative tour of the Hiram Walker plant. The tour was followed by a "Taste of the World of Whiskies". Differences in the production methods of three different whisky styles, Canadian, Scotch, and Bourbon, were highlighted. A comparative tasting of select whiskies showed how production styles translate into different flavour characteristics. Qian Wang from Bruker Instruments in Billerica, MA, presented: "FT-NIR Spectroscopy in Brewing and Distilling Applications". A demonstration of the capabilities of the technique was performed on samples of distilling and brewing materials.

The meeting ended with a reception where a selection of fine wines and spirits were available. Steve Wright mentioned that local Section Officer nominations would be held at the spring meeting. The executive of the Canadian local section would like to thank Allied Domecq Spirits & Wines for their hospitality.

-Luc Bordeleau

Local Section 8--Wild West

The seventh meeting of ASBC Local Section 8 "Wild West" was held at the Wynkoop Brewing Company, Denver, CO, on December 10, 1997. Eleven brave attendees gathered and enjoyed a buffet dinner and a variety of the Wynkoop's finest on a cold snowy Colorado evening. They came from as far south as Colorado Springs and as far north as Ft. Collins. The last local section meeting of the year did not have the large gathering we had hoped for due to the adverse weather conditions, but those who did make it enjoyed the evening and the roundtable discussion on pale ales and pilseners. Local chairman Mike Joyce read the minutes from the previous meeting held at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery on September 25, 1997, and the treasury report. They were both approved as read. Mike acknowledged Laurie Kowalsky from the Anheuser-Busch for putting together the previous meeting with the fine presentation given by Kevin Gertig and the Anheuser Busch Company for paying for all expenses, thus enabling our local section to have a comfortable positive cash balance.

The meeting then proceeded with a roundtable discussion on pale ales and pilseners, which centered around design, analysis, materials and perception of both styles. The meeting concluded with a discussion about the next local section meeting to be held February 20, 1998, in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Microbrewing Symposium in Colorado Springs.

-Mike Joyce for Erik Pilmanis


Industry News

Fusarium Head Blight of Barley

Paul Schwarz and Richard Horsley, Depts. of Cereal Science and Plant Sciences. North Dakota State University, Fargo.

In 1997, as it has each year since 1993, Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) again devastated wheat and barley production in the upper Midwestern United States and portions of the Prairie Provinces of Canada. Because of the continued reoccurrence, severity, and economic impact of FHB, it has been perhaps the most destructive of plant diseases in North America during the 20th Century.

FHB, also called scab, is caused by various species of Fusarium, although Fusarium graminearum is the predominant pathogen within North America. The fungus exists as a saprophyte on cereal crop residues. Perithecia of the sexual stage develop in the spring, and ascospores or conidia are windblown or rain-splashed onto the developing barley spikes. Once infected, these kernels may produce airborne conidia that result in secondary spread. The severity of infection can range from a single spikelet to the entire spike.

Infection is most prevalent during moist warm weather, and the epidemics of FHB within the region were largely a result of above-average precipitation during July. For example, rainfalls averaged from 250 to 600% above normal in the Red River Valley during July 1993. Other factors contributing to the epidemics are related to the perpetuation of large amounts of inoculum on crop residues. These include the widespread practice of minimum tillage, a high percentage of acreage planted to susceptible crops (corn, wheat and barley), as well as short rotation intervals.

Losses associated with FHB are due to a number of factors including reduced grain yield, reduced grain quality, and the presence of mycotoxins. Because much of the FHB-infected grain is not used for malting and brewing, additional economic loss is experienced by the growers and industry in the form of lost malting barley premiums, added mycotoxin testing costs, and a short-fall in the supply of acceptable malting barley. Losses to barley growers in the upper Midwest have been estimated at $65 million for 1997 alone.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the primary mycotoxin associated with FHB-infected barley in the upper Midwest. Results from our laboratory indicated that approximately 67% of the six-rowed malting barley crop in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota was contaminated with DON in 1997. This compares to approximately 72 and 84% infected in 1996 and 1995, respectively. The average DON level of 1997 crop survey samples was 4.9 ppm.

When malted, DON on the infected barley is typically lost in the steep. However, germination conditions are favorable for Fusarium growth and additional DON is often produced. DON present on malt is extracted into beer. Because of health concerns, and the public perception of a pure and safe food product, brewers are very reluctant to utilize DON-contaminated malt. Concerns regarding public perception are exacerbated by the fact that the common name for DON is vomitoxin. In addition to DON, the malting and brewing quality of barley may be affected by Fusarium infection. Fusarium also is known to produce compounds that can cause gushing in beers prepared from infected malts.

Methods to control Fusarium are limited. The use of fungicides for control of FHB on barley has not been promising. Crop rotations may be effective in reducing FHB inoculum and disease severity. The "Freedom to Farm" Act has given growers some flexibility to try rotations with alternative crops. However, geographic and environmental conditions and available markets within the region limit crop choices for many growers. Tillage (e.g., moldboard plowing) may be used to reduce the amount of crop residue and fungal inoculum present on the soil surface, although results of tillage studies have not been conclusive regarding FHB. Soil conservation must also be considered in tillage decisions. Several studies from Europe have indicated that the development of Fusarium and DON can be controlled during malting by the addition of specific microorganisms, including Lactobacillus sp. and Geottrichum candidum. This type of biological control during malting has yet to be applied in North America. At present, the main short-term solution available to maltsters and brewers is to avoid using Fusarium-infected grain, and many companies have set limits of nondetectable to minimal DON. These limits, however, have severely affected the amount of six-rowed malting barley that has been purchased from the region. This, in turn, has affected growers in terms of lost malting barley premiums, and has affected the industry in the form of increased costs of purchasing barley from other regions or countries. Barley acreage in North Dakota has declined from 172 million bushels in 1992 to approximately 101 in 1997.

The long-term strategy in the defense against FHB of barley is the development of resistant or tolerant cultivars. All current cultivars of barley are highly susceptible to FHB, and the major thrust of current research efforts are directed toward the development of resistant germplasm. Introduced barley accessions in field nurseries in China and North Dakota from 1994 to 1997 were identified with putative FHB resistance. The best sources of resistance have been two-rowed feed barley accessions from China. The accessions are unadapted to the Midwest because they have extremely weak straw, poor yield, susceptibility to other common foliar diseases, and are late maturing.

Development of FHB-resistant cultivars at NDSU began in 1993 using the most resistant Chinese accessions. The biggest limitation in developing six-rowed malting barley cultivars has been the inability to transfer FHB resistance from the two-rowed accessions to Midwestern six-rowed barley. Until recently, no six-rowed breeding lines have been identified that have resistance similar to the best Chinese accessions. In the summer of 1997, a few six-rowed lines were identified that may have FHB resistance similar to the resistant two-rowed accession Cl4196. Additional data need to be collected to validate last summers's observations. The release of six-rowed malting barley cultivars with agronomic and malt quality performance similar to currently grown cultivars and FHB resistance similar to the best Chinese accessions is still some time away.

Six-rowed lines from the University of Minnesota's barley breeding program have been identified that have 50% less DON that currently grown cultivars. The source of resistance in these lines is the six-rowed cultivar Chevron. Data from FHB nurseries in North Dakota and China indicate that the best two-rowed Chinese accessions have better FHB resistance than Chevron. Status on the release of the best six-rowed line from the University of Minnesota's barley breeding program is currently pending.

Suggested Reading:

McMullen, M., Jones, R., and Gallenberg, D. 1997. Scab of wheat and barley: A re-emerging disease of devastating impact. Plant Disease 81:1340-1348.


Active ASBC Corporate Members

Advanced Polymer Systems
Altek Company
ADM Malting Co.
Advanced Polymer Systems
Anheuser-Busch Corp.
Anton Paar USA
Asia Pacific Breweries PTE Ltd.
Association of Brewers-IBS/AHA
Beer Indust. Assoc Shandong China
Bio-Chem Laboratories, Inc.
Brewing Research International
Briess Malting Company
Brulotte Farms, Inc.
Boston Beer Company - Brewery
Carlsberg Research Center
Casco Inc.
Cerveceria Polar CA
Cerveceria Quilmes Grupo Tecnico
Cervejarias Kaiser Brasil Ltda.
Coors Brewing Company
DB Breweries Ltd.
DiverseyLever Inc.
Fabricas Nacionales De Cerveza
Froedtert Malt Corp.
Fund.Mexicana Investigacion
Genesee Brewing Co., Inc.
Great Western Malting Co.
Guangzhou Malting Co. Ltd.
Haas Hop Products
Heineken
J Boag & Son Brewers
J. E. Siebel Sons Company
John I. Haas, Inc.
Kalsec Inc.
Karl Strauss Breweries
Kirin Brewery Company, Ltd.
Labatt Breweries of Canada, Ltd.
Ladish Malting Co.
Lupofresh, Inc.
Millennium Chemicals
Miller Brewing Co.
Minnesota Malting Co.
Molson Breweries
Morris Hanbury USA Inc.
Novo Nordisk BioChem
Pabst Brewing Company
Pacific Western Brewing Company
Peavey Grain Co.
The PQ Corporation
Pure Malt Products
Rahr Malting Co.
Schreier Malting Company
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
The Stroh Brewery Co.
Union de Cervecerias Peruanas
Vicam
Vinquiry, Inc.
World Minerals Inc.
Yakima Chief Inc.


New Active ASBC Members

  • Andersen, Lisa B., microbiologist, Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO
  • Dresler, Steve L., brewmaster, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA
  • Fogarty, Michael W., manager, Visco Sys Alpha Tech., Louisville, KY
  • Gallagher, Glenn, director of sales, Guelph, ON, CAN
  • Klinetob, Robert Y., brewing supervisor, The Lion Brewery Inc., Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • Leggett, Keith A., area service manager, Diversified Metal Engineers, Traverse City, MI
  • Maradyn, David J., research scientist, Labatt Brewing Co., London, ON, CAN
  • Mullin, Brian J., Sr., flavorist, Algonquin, IL
  • O'Connor, David A., biochemistry student, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
  • Palacios, Hernan R., research assistant, North Dakota State University, Dept. Cereal Science, Fargo, ND
  • Scarlata, Christopher J., graduate student, University of California, Dept. of Food Science, Davis, CA
  • Shimabukuro, Masaru, senior staff, Orion Breweries Ltd., Okinawa, JAPAN
  • Singh, Satwinder P., scientist, Seagram Manufacturing (P) Ltd., Pune, INDIA
  • Turner, Bruce K., chairman, Pure Malt Products, East Lothian, SCO
  • Vann, Paula L., process analyst, Harrisonburg, VA
  • Whelan, Dennis E., director of quality assurance, Anheuser-Busch Inc., St. Louis, MO
  • Wrobel, William A., brewer, Dragonmead Micro Brewery, Warren, MI

Deceased Member

Allan D. Dickson, 1900-1997
President ASBC, 1961-1962

Dr. Allan D. Dickson died on October 8, 1997, in Black Earth, WI, at age 97. He was the first director of the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Barley and Malt Laboratory, serving from its establishment in 1948 until his retirement in 1968. Dr. Dickson was born March 27, 1900, in Moxee City, WA. He attended school in Yakima and Washington State University before he came to the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1919. There he earned his BS and PhD (in 1929) in biochemistry. After a brief period in Washington, DC, he returned to Wisconsin in 1931 where he took a position with the USDA. With the repeal of prohibition in 1933, there was an urgent need for research on the quality of new barley varieties that had replaced the older malting varieties during the period when breweries were inactive. By 1940, the research emphasis had switched to evaluating new breeder selections that were being developed at state and federal experiment stations. In 1948, a new barley quality research project was approved which led to the establishment of the Barley and Malt Laboratory in Madison, WI. Dickson was appointed as the first director. His major accomplishments were the establishment of the ARS barley quality testing program and development of the close relationship with the barley breeders and the malting and brewing industry (through the MRI, later Malting Barley Improvement Association, now American Malting Barley Association). This program remains a crucial aspect of malting barley improvement. Dickson was a member and past president of the American Society of Brewing Chemists and a member of the American Association of Cereal Chemists and the American Chemical Society. After his retirement, he moved from Madison to Black Earth, WI, where he lived with his wife, Emma, who preceded him in death in 1982. The Dicksons had three children, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.


Student Travel Grant Program Fund

The American Society of Brewing Chemists continues its Student Travel Grant program, which awards travel funds to students so they may attend the ASBC Annual Meeting. The travel grants cover partial expenses for students who are presenting a paper or poster at the annual meeting, and the amount of each grant will be determined by the amount of funds raised for the program.

The program was approved by the ASBC Board of Directors in 1995. All ASBC student members, graduate or undergraduate, who are at least 21 years of age are eligible to apply for these awards. Applicants should send written requests (up to 300 words typed) to attend the annual meeting, a copy of the abstract that was submitted to ASBC and verification of ASBC membership to Leslie Gibson, ASBC Headquarters, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097.

Any company, ASBC Local Section or individual who would like to help students by making a tax-deductible donation may do so by pledging now and paying by April 30, 1998. Pledges and checks should be made out to the ASBC Student Travel Fund and sent to ASBC Headquarters.


ASBC Online Event

ASBC is sponsoring an online event in cooperation with The American Phytopathological Society (APS), the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC), the Hop Research Council, the Hop Growers of America, and the Washington Hop Commission. The online event (like a symposium, only on the Internet) will follow a meeting in Yakima, WA, January 21, 1998, on the outbreak of powdery mildew on hops in the Northwest (United States). Look for the online event to open on the Internet about March 2, 1998, and to conclude in April 1998. The event will feature several presentations on hop powdery mildew and allow "attendees" to learn more about the disease and its management, and to interact with others interested in hops by making comments and posting questions. For more information contact Dave Hysert (dwhysert@ wolfenet.com) or Cindy Ash (cash@scisoc. org).


Miscellaneous

Upcoming ASBC Meetings

1998
June 20-24
Ferncroft Conference Resort
Boston, MA

1999
June 19-23
Wigwam Resort
Phoenix, AZ

2000
June 23-27
(This is also the WBC)
Disney's Coronado Springs
Orlando, FL


1998 Newsletter Deadlines

Spring 2/27/98
Summer 7/7/98
Fall 9/23/98
Winter 11/16/98


Recommended Reading

Manual of Good Practice
Vol. 3: Hops and Hop Products I
Edited by the Technology and Engineering Forum of the European Brewery Convention. 200 pages, numerous illustrations and diagrams. Price: DM 95,00. ISBN 3-418-00758-9.

Hop is a highly significant raw material in the production of beer contributing to flavour and head retention. The Manual provides an extensive guide to the practical use in the brewing process of hops and hop products by explaining the requirements for hop components in various stages of the process; in describing the hops and hop products available, from chemistry through agriculture to preparation and use; and particular attention is given to processing and storage conditions because of the sensitivity to both thermal and oxidative degradation.

The text has been structured to aid the new recruit to the industry to rapidly gain a clear understanding of both the science and technology associated with hops and hop products while providing the experienced practitioner with the deeper understanding necessary to achieve the full potential of hops in beer both in terms of beer properties and efficiency of use.


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 58, Number 1, Winter 1998

Karen J. DeVries, Editor

ASBC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David A. Thomas, President
David W. Hysert, President-Elect
David Ryder, Vice-President
Bruce R. Sebree, Past-President
Suzanne Thompson, Secretary
Robert Jensen, Treasurer
Robert Maruyama, Chair, Publications Committee
Greg Casey, Chair, Technical Committee
Dirk Bendiak, Chair, 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
Leslie Gibson, Director of Meetings
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