To the Brewers, Vintners, and Imbibers of this great Guild of Lochac does THL Bjorn Bassason send hearty greetings,
Now that my administrative access to this website is sorted (my thanks to Mistress Rohesia Le Sarjent and to Brían dorcha ua Conaill), I will repeat my missive here that I previously made via the mailing list and Facebook Group.
At Rowany Festival this past 19th day of April AS58, there was held an Annual Meeting of the Guild in accordance with our Charter. At least 28 (according to my records) Lords, Ladies, and other Gentles were present for the meeting. Most, if not all of whom are Members of the Guild.
My utmost thanks to Journeyman Padraig Lowther for conducting the business of the meeting. I was confirmed as the new Clerk of the Guild, Journeyman Padraig gave a good explanation of rankings as they are in the guild, and the guild Competition “Something Red” was conducted with Master James Douglas, Thomas Bacchus, and Ottilia Simion judging.
There were nine entries in the Competition.
Journeyman Padraig presented his Cherry wine made using a recipe from the Closet of Sir Kenhelm Digby, and also presented a Lambic-style brown ale using the cherry pomace from that wine
Uberto Renauldi presented 2 styles of Mulberry Cider
I myself presented a black raspberry liqueur in the style of Chambord
Isolda Daye presented a Blackberry Sekanjabin based on a period recipe that I apparently did not write down
Apprentice Rosalind Beaufort presented Raspberry soda and a Red Ale
Master Ianto van Diemen presented his Blackcurrant Melomel
After extensive deliberation, the judges determined Master Ianto to be the winner, with Isolda Daye a close second.
Journeyman Padraig offered up a mash paddle for the winner of the competition, which Master Ianto offered on to Isolda since he does not mash.
The meeting then opened up to a general tasting, interjected by myself with brief discussion of the Guilded Symposium. The event will be held 23-25th August in the Shire of Bordescros (Yackandandah, VIC).
I have booked my own attendance at the event, and will organise a guild tasting and a tavern/bar for the guild to further share its libations. I will write further on this soon in another missive.
I will shortly report to the Lochac Minister of Arts and Sciences on the state of the Guild with minutes of the Rowany Festival meeting. If you believe anything else should be reported, please be in touch.
I would like also to echo Paddy’s encouragement of guild members seeking advancement in ranking. The Guild exists to encourage and celebrate the Art of crafting and appreciating libations, and to bring we interested in sharing in that Art with one another together into fraternity and community.
In that Art, we develop skills in the merit of beverages by their palatability and historicity, as well as understandings of the history of the Art itself, sharing the knowledges of these things, and serving the guild that the Art may be furthered and its merits and delights be spread to those others that it might benefit. We pursue these virtues and celebrate them each other, and the Rankings of the Guild give a scaffold for that pursuit.
To all events that I attend as Guild Clerk, I will bring paperwork for this purpose. I will endeavour, similarly, to hold tastings and support the running of Guild competitions at such events. I encourage other members of the guild to do similarly, and to report on any outcomes of such meetings. Please contact the list (preferably both by email and by Facebook), as I and many others would delight in seeing activities of the Guild progress, and would similarly delight in offering any support of them we are capable of. Or if you would prefer, I welcome you to contact me privately.
As for my duties, I hope to keep the guild informed on the mailing list, on the website, on the brewers guild channel of the Lochac Discord server, and on the Facebook Group Lochac Brewers. I’ll admit to not knowing many of the senior members of the guild. Does the guild currently have a webwright as set out in the charter, or should I contact Masonry about gaining access to post?
Thankyou to all members of the Guild who have expressed their confidence in me as the new Guild Clerk, and to the rest of you for your tacit acceptance. I hope to serve you all well.
Yours in Service to the Guild of Brewers, Vintners, and Imbibers
ᛓᛁᚭᚱᚿᛓᛁᛆᚱᚿᚢᛚᛧᛓᛆᛌᛆᛌᚭᚿᚢᚱᛓᛁᛆᚱᚿᚢᛁᚢ
Virðuligr Drottin Bjorn Bjarnylr Bassason ór Bjarneyu
Clerk