• About the Gazette
  • Kingdom and Local Events
  • Submissions

The Æthelmearc Gazette

~ Covering the Kingdom of Æthelmearc of the SCA

The Æthelmearc Gazette

Category Archives: Brewing

A&S Faire at dripping wet site this year!

06 Thursday Apr 2023

Posted by aethgazette in A&S Faire, Arts & Sciences, Brewing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A&S Faire, arts & sciences

This years’ Æthelmearc Arts & Sciences Faire and Queen’s Prize Tourney will be hosted by the Shire of Nithgaard (event details) Saturday, April 29, 2023. The format will be, as has been in the past, to have room for all who choose to display their works as well as enter in the Queen’s Prize Tourney. This sure will be a day to celebrate the artisans of our Sylvan Æthelmearc!

To show her appreciation to the artisans entering the Tourney, Her Royal Majesty Kallista will honor her favorite entry with the Queen’s Prize.

And by special request of our ÆthelBrewers, we were able to find a site that is dripping wet this year! You have no idea how excited and happy I am to accept alcoholic beverage entries on-site at this (any!) event – parking-lot car trunks and off-site hotel rooms are *something* but ideal it’s not!

(Then) Royal Majesties Byron and Ariella showing quite an interest in Lord Snorrie’s metal stamp project (or perhaps it was the coins?) at the A&S Faire and Prize Tourney in Blackstone Raids, 2022.

How does the A&S Faire differ from traditional competitions?

In contrast to the Kingdom A&S Championship as well as regional A&S competitions, the Æthelmearc A&S Faire is not a judged competition. It does not include judging rubrics nor a populace vote. The A&S Faire and Prize Tourney is set up with two components: an A&S display for anyone to share their amazing work with our populace and the Queen’s Prize Tourney, where, in addition, entrants are offered an opportunity to meet face to face with a panel of advisors. The A&S display is open to anyone who likes to showcase their work. No requirements, no theme, no pre-registration required.

The Queen’s Prize Tourney is intended to provide a platform for anybody to receive constructive feedback on their work in a friendly and non-competitive environment and to stimulate enthusiasm and motivation within our A&S community by sharing our art. It is an excellent opportunity for up-and-coming artisans to show their work and get to be known by more experienced artisans, as well as an opportunity for more experienced artisans to gain meaningful feedback about their projects.

Sponsors

The populace enjoying the A&S Faire and Prize Tourney entries, this one the Kievan Rus outfits by Lady Aurelie de la Rose, at Blackstone Raids 2022.

Participants in the Queen’s Prize Tourney must register ahead of time and must be sponsored by a Laurel or Fleur (or the equivalent to the Fleur from another kingdom), who should provide meaningful mentorship to the entrant. This can take many forms, and is dependent on the entrant and their sponsor. Some entrants seek a mentor who is much more engaged, with regular check-ins leading up to the Faire. Some entrants may not feel the need for in-depth engagement. This should be discussed before a sponsor/entrant agree on the sponsorship.

If an artisan wishes to enter but does not know of a sponsor to approach, we are glad to help match them up; likewise, if anyone would like to be a sponsor and is seeking an artisan(s), we will work to pair folks together.

Each sponsor is asked to bring a gift for each entrant they sponsor, so that each entrant receives a prize.

Entrants

Queen’s Prize Tourney entrants are allowed up to three items which should show a cohesive body of work. Entrants will have one or two groups of reviewers, scheduled for one hour each, who will ask questions about the item(s), documentation, the research process, etc. After each review session, the entrant will receive feedback forms from each reviewer. Written documentation is encouraged, but not required. To facilitate multiple advisors per review session, we ask that entrants bring three copies of their documentation. We encourage entrants to sit with their display for most of the day to give Their Majesties and the populace a chance to chat with them as well. We ask you to register via our online entrant form and to securely upload some basic info, some photos, and your documentation.

Youth artisans are highly encouraged to enter the display and/or the Queen’s Prize Tourney! The comment sheets for youth entrants will be different from those for adult entrants, designed with their age group in mind. Ideally, a youth entrant should be able to express how much of the project they did alone and how much they had help with, what the project is, how it works, and what they believe they learned throughout the process.

Advisors

We will need advisors for a successful A&S Faire. Advisors must be Fleurs or Laurels and are expected to spend a good part of the day in face-to-face advising of the entrants. In order to prepare for the day and match advisors with entrants, we ask that advisors preregister. Likewise, we ask sponsors to sign up via our form.

THLady Astridr vigaskeg chatting virtually with advisor and fellow cook Mistress Katja, at the Blackstone Raids A&S Faire and Prize Tourney, 2022.

Feel free to approach us with any questions you may have by email or by finding us online. The registration deadline for in-person entry, advising, and sponsoring is April 27. The registration for online entry, advising, and sponsoring is April 20.

We hope to see many of you at the Arts & Sciences Faire and Queen’s Prize Tourney!

In service,

Hrólfr and Elska
Kingdom Ministers of Arts & Sciences

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

New Competitions at A&S Faire Announced

01 Saturday Apr 2023

Posted by aethgazette in A&S Faire, Arts & Sciences, Bardic, Brewing, Poetry & Prose

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

April Fools

The autocrat for the A&S Faire in Nithgaard on April 29th has announced two new competitions in addition to the already scheduled Arts & Sciences display, Queen’s Prize, rapier tourney, and heavy weapons tourney.

The Beer Pit Tourney

This contest will occur after the rapier and heavy weapons tourneys are completed. Judges are requested; we will need at least one judge for every six entrants for reasons that will become evident.

Each entrant is expected to being a six-pack of some potent potable and a designated driver. One can/bottle will be given to the judge. Contestants will then consume however much of the remaining five bottles or cans they desire while they regale the judge and the audience with tales of their derring-do, martial prowess, and ability to best the other entrants. While alcohol is expected to be consumed, this is not actually a drinking contest. It is a storytelling contest, lubricated by some adult beverages. Points will be awarded for a good story, good kit, and good contributions to the judge’s cup. Extra points will be awarded to entrants bringing their own home brew.

While telling their tale, contestants may swing a stick to demonstrate their smooth striking, their majestic might, or their focused fury. However, actually striking another contestant or the judge will result in immediate disqualification.

Designated drivers will then be available for both the contestants and the judges.

Asked about this new competition, Master Morien McBain said “It’s about time that we had a contest recognizing both bardic and drinking prowess!”

New A&S Category

A prize will be awarded for the best entry that was completed on the car ride to the event. This will include the drive from wherever you slept the night before to the site, or for larger projects the drive from your home to wherever you crashed the night before the event. Entries must be accompanied by an attestation from the driver of the vehicle in which the entry was completed. Drivers are not allowed to enter physical items as we do not sanction unsafe driving. Spoken word or sung entries may be entered by drivers, but they will need an attestation from a passenger that they heard the driver rehearsing their entry.

THLady Fede di Fiore lauded this new contest as right up her alley, but lamented “The drive from my house to the event site is too short to get much of anything done, especially with the baby wailing in the back seat. Why couldn’t they have held it at Ice Dragon?” Her husband, THLord Cassiano da Castello, grumbled that brewing in a car would be quite hazardous, but agreed that this was a competition whose time has come.

The autocrat, Baroness Elena de la Palma, hopes contestants and spectators will enjoy both of these new activities.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Majesties looking forward to Youth and Brewers entries in the upcoming Champs

13 Thursday Oct 2022

Posted by aethgazette in A&S Champs, A&S Competition and Display, Arts & Sciences, Brewing, Youth Activities

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A&S Champs, Royal Brewer

Their Royal Majesties King Arnthor Inn Sterki and Queen Ceirech Na Hinnsi have a special request of the populace: they would love to fill the positions of A&S Youth Champion and Royal Brewer at the upcoming Kingdom of Æthelmearc Arts & Sciences Championship.

Youth Entry by Simon á Fjárfelli from the Arts & Sciences Championship AS 53 (photo by Master Robert of Ferness)

Our Sylvan Majesties not only enjoy to spotlight their King’s and Queen’s Choice Champions with this event, they also love to to see what the Kingdom’s youth is up to! Especially in these not quite normal times where our youth seems to have grown from six to sixteen just about overnight (due to lack of events to see them on a more regular basis). King Arnthor and Queen Ceirech would love to see what the kingdom’s kids are working on: anything started during the Plague, whether or not it has been finished yet, is welcome. We’d love to have our youth feel welcome and included at A&S events; have them feel special by sharing allll about their favorite thing – instead of their parents!

Brewing entry by Ulf Barelegs at the Arts & Sciences Championship A.S. 53 (photo by Master Robert of Ferness).

Their Majesties are also hoping to find a new Royal Brewer. In the 2021 Kingdom’s Championship at Tavern Brawl, The Honorable Lord Cassiano entered his famous Krupnik in the competition that so greatly impressed Their Majesties, They named The Honorable Lord Cassiano Their Royal Brewer. They were dismayed to find after inquiring that, even though the event site is discreetly wet, zero brewers had pre-registered for their Arts & Sciences Championship! Whom of our Brewing community will take this challenge, and present our Majesties with fermented libations, to vie for the honor of being the Royal Brewer?

But what do I hear there? You are not a youth, and neither are you a brewer? And you are not quite ready to enter a Kingdom Arts & Sciences Championship yet? Not to worry! There will be a large Display area for our industrious populace to showcase their projects, in progress and finished. Documentation is appreciated but not required, although we do appreciate your information. And if you are planning to enter Champs, but have not signed up yet – please help out our event autocrat by pre-registering, it really makes the job a lot less hectic on the day off. That way, he might actually have some time to loiter and enjoy the entries!

More information on the Kingdom Arts & Sciences Championship 2022.
To register your entry online.
To register as a judge online.

We are looking forward to seeing you Saturday, October 22nd in the Barony of Rhydderich Hael.

Elska
Kingdom Ministry of Arts & Sciences

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

ÆthelBrewers to Battle for Tastiest Brew at Bog 3-Day

12 Tuesday Jul 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Arts & Sciences, Brewing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bog 3 Day, Brewing competition

The “Day at the Viking Townhall” at the Barony of St. Swithin’s annual Bog 3-Day event will be appropriately Viking flavored with the first brewing competition since the Plague! And this year, everybody is planning something: there will be archery, rapier, armored combat, thrown weapons, a bardic tavern (complete with an appearance of the ÆthelBar!), the iron scribe, classes – as well as a Baronial investiture. Good thing the event spans three days!

Lady Caterine showing off the brand-new wooden ÆthelBar top, which will be inaugurated at their investiture event.

Lord Jean Philippe dit la Barbe Rousse and Lady Caterine de Troyes will be stepping up as the new Baron and Baroness of the Barony of St. Swithin’s Bog. They are involved in establishing a Bog and Friends Brewing Guild chapter to help encourage folks interested in the arts of brewing. Lady Caterine has brewed mead for the past 15 years and Lord Jean Philippe recently took on the position of Kingdom Brewers Guild Chamberlain, and he sure knows his way around a jockey box. To liven up the event, they asked fellow brewer and friend THLord Cassiano da Castello to run a brewers competition, not only as THLord Cas always shows great ability but also as he recently branched out to other types of brewing – specifically mead.

At first, THLord Cassiano said sure when asked by Lord Jean Philippe and Lady Caterine to run a brewers’ competition at their Baronial investiture to showcase brewers during their time on the Swithin’s Chairs as a help to friends. He did not expect many entries, given the uncertainty of the plague and this being so close to Pennsic. But as he is interested to get more into judging and supporting the brewing community, especially “post” pandemic, he figured he might as well start here!

Currently, I feel like I have somewhat of a handle on it, but I am also aware of my shortcomings and appreciate your help, as well as the help of Elena de la Palma who I will deputize on the day of. My current goals are to have a competition, have scrolls and prizes, and not fall on my face or have little infrastructure to make the thing happen.

If this is to happen again next year, he prefers to advertise at Christmastime so folks can get things in kegs or bottles ahead of time, not right after War Practice. He noted that: “I am also rapidly learning that this may be more service than I would like to do more than once a year (if I’m being completely honest!)”

This year, the brewing competition will focus on tasting over documentation. THLord Cassiano intends to assign judges to slots where they can taste and converse with the entrants, and then whatever entries are available after can be up for grabs for populace tasting! Of course, although their schedule will be hectic on their day of investiture, Lord Jean Philippe dit la Barbe Rousse and Lady Caterine de Troyes have already signed up as judges, as have I (Elska).

Are you interested in judging as well? Please contact THLord Cassiano (Cas Zemba on the Book of Faces) to be added to the list. Are you more interested in tasting? Keep an eye on the schedule, and come join us after judging – I am sure there will be plenty to choose from. And if the judges did not leave much, Lord Jean Philippe also requested that the Kingdom Brewers’ Guild bar have a presence – as the new Guild Chamberlain, he is the one in charge of guild equipment – which of course will include many homebrews to choose from. Bring your tasting cups!

  • Want to judge? Contact THLord Cassiano da Castello.
  • Want to enter? Fill in your Entry Form now or at the event (please read the form beforehand as it requests brewing day specifics).
  • Want to see the scoring sheet? Check it out ahead of time!

To give THLord Cassiano a helping hand, and the competition a boost, the Kingdom Brewers Guild donated a couple of enticing prizes to be given away at his discretion. And when I mean enticing, I mean I would not mind getting my hands on some of these myself…

Up for grabs are:
– A Sour Cherry Pilsner beer ingredient kit by Brewer’s Best– Three water testing kits (pH, chlorine, peracetic acid) by Insta-Test

– And commercially dried whole leaf hops (Belma 21) from Hops Direct

And of course, THLord Cas would not be Cas if he wouldn’t add half-size bottles from the local distillery…!

Now it is up to you, our ÆthelBrewers, to come armed with brew and entry form, and Battle for the Tastiest Brew.

(From experience, I would guess this to be the one to go home with empty keg or bottles!)

Yours in service,
Elska

 

 

 

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Æ Royal Bar Returns this Pennsic

11 Monday Jul 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Brewing, Pennsic, Royalty

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

AEthelmearc Brewers Guild, Æ Royal Bar, Brewers Guild, Pennsic Bar

Pennsic is nearly upon us and the Æthelmearc Brewers Guild is happy to announce that the Æ Royal Bar will be back once again this year!

Because of the unusual circumstances of this Pennsic and the precautions that are necessary to keep our populace safe, the bar will be running on a much shorter schedule than last Pennsic.

We hope to be open for Order meetings, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Court, Baronial dinner, and the Kingdom party; with the possible addition of a few more hours depending on need and interest.

That said, we need you. To make this happen we need bar staff to help us man the bar and keep the drinks flowing. We are looking for volunteers to work the events and times the bar is scheduled to be operating. There are time slots of 30 minutes but of course more is always appreciated; we know there are many opportunities to volunteer around Pennsic, and your time is precious to us.

Pennsic Bar Schedule google doc Sign Up Sheet

If there are any Baronies / Shires / Households / groups or individuals that would like to staff the bar for certain events or certain days, please feel free to sign up as a group or singularly. We will need someone to be the point of contact for group sign-ups, and would ask for a contact method for anyone taking a solo shift. We need at least 2 people, but prefer 3 to cover each shift, so if there is an empty slot in the schedule, please feel free to take it – the more the merrier!

If you know your availability or if you have a preference for working a specific time frame, you may sign up for that slot now by contacting me via Facebook Messenger at Vick Presler, or via email or Elska via Facebook Messenger at Elska á Fjárfelli, or via email. During Pennsic, starting Peace Week, please contact Elska via text or call at 315-200-9738 or 607-351-5181 (Hrolfr) for any questions or to sign up for a shift.

In Service,
THL Lasairfhiona inghen Aindriasa
Butler, Æthelmearc Brewers Guild

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

The Return of Artisan and Scribal Playtime at Æthelmearc War Practice

11 Wednesday May 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Arts & Sciences, Bardic, Brewing, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

AEthelmearc War Practice, Bardic, Brewing, scribal

One more weekend, and it is time to pack the camping gear, head out of town and enjoy the copious A&S activities at the Æthelmearc War Practice! With the Return of the Great Hall, boy, do we have a line up… There will be Artisan Playtime, there will be Scribal Playtime, there will be Brewing, there will be Bardic – as well as a woodworking demo and whatever other projects the populace brings for show and tell. Reserve some time out of your busy schedule of martial activities and classes for the many Cool Things happening in the Great Hall yet once again!

Brews and Bards in the Barn Social from 4-8pm in the Great Hall

Master Morien MacBain performs on the field.

To start the weekend off with a bang, the Brews and Bards in the Barn social will happen Friday from 4-8 PM in the Great Hall. Sylvan Bards THLady Maggie Rue and Master Morien MacBain plan a bardic circle together with the pouring of libations by the Brewers Guild. Master Morien would invite prospective Bards to partake of his Eleanor of Aquitaine Challenge! He offers a pair of prizes, one for Joglars or Best Performance and one for Trobars or Best Poem or song Composed on-site, during the evening! He will announce the topic at 5PM and composers may either present their work themselves, or designate another to do so. Eleanor of Aquitaine was the great patroness of the troubadours; the trobars were the writers, the joglars were the singers and a person could be both.

 

The Æthelmearc Guild of Brewers, Vintners, and Meadhers is working hard on restoring the Pennsic Bar and intends to have it up and running to be able to serve cold brews and fruity meads during the Brews and Bards in the Barn revelry. The first part of the evening the Brewers Guild plans a social get-together or round table for all our brewers old and new to meet and greet the many familiar and perhaps not so familiar faces we have not seen since far too long. Have you kept on brewing? Bring something to share. Are you looking for feedback? Definitely bring something to share! We welcome all, and will also have non-alcoholic beverages available.

Artisan Playtime from 1-5 PM in the Great Hall

A plow plane used for cutting the groove for a panel in a frame.

My personal favorite, woodworking virtuoso Master Robert of Sugargrove will bring his collection of hand tools to demonstrate commonly used period techniques. He shared with me: “I usually do a little stock prep – rough scrub plane & finish smooth plane – how we make a flat, true board; then either some dovetail work or mortise & tenon joinery.”

Master Robert likes to get random folks to try plane work; to give them a sense of what is involved in just getting out a board for a project. He hopes woodworkers will stop by with questions, like what type of wood to use, which joint where, how do I lay out for joinery and such, which Master Robert does not think “really anything unusual or cool,” but I beg to differ!

Teaching the populace the proper way to handle a plane.

Scribal Playtime from 1-5 PM in the Great Hall

Is woodworking not really your thing? THLady Eleanore Godwin is coordinating Scribal Playtime during the same time slot of 1 – 5 PM. She recently secured supplies from her locals the Barony of the Rhydderich Hael (thank you, Mistress Cori!) and looks forward to sharing her tables with the populace. Would you like to get feedback on an existing project? Bring it and share! Are you new to the art but curious to try your hand? Choose a bookmark or perhaps a scroll blank and give it a swing! You never know until you try, right?

At Artisan Playtime, everyone is welcome set up a table and chair and share what they are working on, or to stop by and be inspired by what others are working on. Artisan Playtime is a most wonderful way to see artisans in action, to socialize and network – and to get out of the rain / sun / whatever Pennsylvania Spring has in store for us!

KMoAS Consultation Table from 1 – 5 PM in the Great Hall

A reminder, the Kingdom Ministry of Arts & Sciences will arrange for an A&S Consultation Table during Artisan Playtime for those new, and not so new, to the arts & sciences to chat about projects, progress and inspirations. Come hang out with us, ask questions about research, documentation and entering for future events, or just plain enjoy the view of art happening in real time!

Hope to see you there.
Elska

Please Contact Me if you would like to know more.
It is probably not a bad idea to bring a comfy chair.

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Change of Office at the Æ Brewers Guild

30 Saturday Apr 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Arts & Sciences, Brewing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

AEthelmearc Brewers Guild, Arts and Sciences, Brewers Guild, Brewing

Greetings Populace and Brewers of Æthelmearc!

As of Thursday April 28 at 7PM, Master Madoc Arundel stepped down as Head of the Royal Æthelmearc Guild of Brewers, Vintners, and Meadhers, and we, Mistress Elska á Fjárfelli, assisted by Guild Deputy Lady Violeta de Valencia, are taking over leadership of the Brewers Guild.

Lady Violeta and I would like to thank Master Madoc for the awesome job he did with the Guild, growing its presence in person as well as online. I can’t think of saying our thanks any better than old-time brewer Master Artemius of Delftwood: “You fostered and advanced guild and mentored many of the members. You encouraged many of us to try new recipes and gave honest feedback that helped us all grow as brewers. The kingdom has benefited from your efforts on many levels. Thank you very much for your service and guidance over the years.” Thank you from the bottom of our heart!

Naturally, we jumped right into the job and are busily coordinating Guild participation both at Æthelmearc War Practice and of course at Pennsic Royal. Our new Guild Chamberlain Lord Jean Phillipe from St. Swithin’s Bog started inventory of the Guild equipment right away to make sure everything is spic and span come Pennsic Bar time, with a hopeful early appearance of the bar at War Practice. And don’t worry, we will track down you active brewers and see what we can coordinate for Pennsic bar donations soon (please PM or email us).

For those who are not as familiar with the two of us – or just itching to get out and share a good home brew – the Brewers Guild, in collaboration with Bardic Champion Master Morien MacBain, will host a Brews & Bardic in the Barn Social Friday evening from 4 to 8PM in the Great Hall during War Practice (stay tuned for more on this event). Come say hi, share a brew, admire the Guild bar & taps, and hang out to enjoy the song & stories! After two years of Plague, I am betting there are some stories…!

Again, thank you, Master Madoc, for your service to the Æthelmearc Brewing community, and for your offer to stay on as Guild Webminister. We hope to do you proud. Understandably, the Guild is not quite the same now as when we the Plague first manifested and we figure it best to start back up with a clean slate. If you consider yourself an active brewer and/or active Guild Officer, please reach out (sooner rather than later) so we can update the Guild Roster, etc.

Lady Violeta and I look very much forward to help the Guild back on its feet, and welcome back our brewers, vintners and meadhers. Now go forth, and ferment All The Things!

Mistress Elska and Lady Violeta
Head of the Brewers Guild, and Deputy

Learn more about the Æthelmearc Brewers Guild here

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Behind the Scenes at Kingdom Champs: Krupnik

17 Thursday Feb 2022

Posted by aethgazette in A&S Champs, Arts & Sciences, Brewing, Research

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

arts & sciences, Championship, Champs

by Elska á Fjárfelli

A closer look at Krupnik with Lord Cassiano da Castello in the 2021 Kingdom of Æthelmearc Arts & Sciences Championship.

Could you tell me a little about you, your persona. Is your entry something your persona would use?

I am currently a mix of personas, trending towards 16th C. Polish. The working story is that my persona traveled to Italy in search of new trade connections/ flavors, and due to a customs error, got stuck in Northern Italy with an Italian name. Lord Cassiano is still trying to get home to Poland, but alas, the records are mixed up and he is still trying to find his Polish name to leave.

My Kingdom A&S entry, a Lithuanian honey Krupnik made with rye vodka, is something that I think he definitely would drink and be familiar with. The research beyond the making of the drink argues that home distilling of this beverage occurred prior to the late period, and was available on special occasions like holidays. I have not proven this fully and entirely, but work continues.

Lord Cassiano’s yummy entry of honey Krupnik (sampled outdoors, of course).

What inspired you to make your entry? Did you have a specific need? A desire to try a new skill?

Several years ago, I was introduced to Krupnik by members of the Lithuanian diaspora in Pittsburgh, where many found work in mills, or in PA’s anthracite coal regions– that coal and steel barons may have also imported workers because of ethnic biases (Slavs work hard and don’t complain) is another story for another time. Regardless, I tried the drink, liked it, and thought I might try to track its roots back into medieval period.

There go some famous last words, as tracking it into medieval period has been difficult. What became a “I just wanna try this and see how it goes” became a real quest to try to give some small voice to a particularly marginalized and historically silenced area of the world. The more I dug, the more that I came to understand how another ethnic group came to be systematically hamstrung and erased from the medieval socio-political landscape. The Krupnik project, in attempts to use primary source documents, became a discussion of how to find answers in the land and in local hearsay, when the footsteps of life ways for a living, feeling people had been wiped from the landscape.

This line of inquiry kept me going where I might have been sincerely frustrated.

Did the entry throw up any unexpected issues?

Yes and no, all the issues and none at all. Krupnik is blessedly easy to make, and to make well. It has a flexible and robust recipe, capable of accepting additional and varied ingredients (I’ve made the recipe substituting honey with maple syrup, shagbark hickory syrup, and molasses, all have turned out delicious). It is very fun to play with, trying new flavors and new combinations because it holds up so well. So no issues in the project journal aspects of the project.

The research aspect will always have an asterisk, however. Certain folks have remarked that my documentation approaches thesis-length, and half of it is explaining leads that should be taken with a grain of salt, adding caveats, and extensively providing secondary resources where I lack a formal recipe. It’s not ideal. I know it isn’t. But I think that proper justice can be given with the source material provided, it just requires all that much more care and precision.

Did you learn something specific, something you would do differently, or would recommend others to do again?

In the last iteration of the project, I used rye vodka instead of another grain vodka, as I surmised that if a vodka was made in period, it would be from the most available, cheapest grain in the area, and thus rye. The resulting flavor change I think is the best version I have put forward. Rye has a spiciness/ sourness to it that I think really balances out the strong honey character. I would recommend this to anyone making Krupnik.

What do you think of the difference between entering an in-person or a virtual competition?

I have entered virtual competitions with tastings and I do prefer in-person for this. It takes so much more effort to ship out samples or drive them to people. Much easier for in-person!

What motivated you to enter the Kingdom Championship?

I try to enter everything I can. Feedback is necessary for sure, and I am chasing growth and direction with this project. It is also important to me to see benchmarks in my scores of how they change and what I can do to affect them. Even if they do not demonstrate growth, they are a marker of consistent effort, and that is meaningful.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Virtual Known World Cooks and Bards Symposium

01 Sunday Aug 2021

Posted by aethgazette in Arts & Sciences, Bardic, Brewing, Cooking, Event Announcements & Updates, SCA @ Home, Tidings

≈ Leave a comment

Welcome to the Ninth Known World Bardic Congress and Cooks Collegium, to be held online on September 10th, 11th, and 12th.  We are hosted this year by the Mid-Realm’s Barony of Ayreton.

Join us for a weekend filled with classes, concerts, and bardic circles. In addition to cooking and bardic, we will also have brewing & vinting, along with instrumental & choral music classes –and more!

We encourage attendees to register on the website.  Much like Pennsic, you can use your account to offer classes, suggest others, request stage time, or create your personal schedule.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/359545818902748

Webpage: http://tilted-windmill.com/kwcb2021/

Host Webpage: https://ayreton.midrealm.org/

Event Steward: Cerian Cantwr (Charles Grab) via email

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

A Smorgasbord of A&S at Ædult Swim

05 Wednesday Feb 2020

Posted by aethgazette in Arts & Sciences, Brewing, KMOAS

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A&S, Advice, Brewing

Tired of fighting all morning? Feel like doing something else for a bit while partner is off having fun smacking people? Come check out to the Ædult Swim Arts & Sciences smörgåsbord! Ædult Swim Arts & Sciences will have the whole second floor to themselves to hang out with fellow artisans! Once again, Ædult Swim Arts & Sciences has numerous arts & sciences activities on the menu, including the Kingdom Ministry of Arts & Sciences Consultation Table with an on-site library to peruse, as well as Arts & Sciences social circles, each devoted to a particular arts or science topic.

Come check out the:
–Costuming Social: planning on updating your look or fighting clothes? We might be able to help! Sewing machines, books, and advice available to help your persona look top-notch. Accessories included!

–Fiber Arts Social: Learn more about the variety of Fiber Arts available in period and how to incorporate them in your persona.

–Viking Age Social: Are you a beginning Viking persona and want to be more authentic? Are you an experienced Viking and want to show others how you pulled it off? Come join the Viking Circle and share in current research on this fascinating historical period.

–Medieval Sciences Social: The Medieval Sciences are often under-represented but no less fascinating. From Chemicals to feats of Engineering, bring your specialty to help share the love! Books and research on a variety of subjects should be available.

IMG_7706

If the Roaming Library does not have what you need, perhaps the merchant book shelves do – and  bring your precious home!

And don’t forget the…

KMOAS Consultation table, hosted by the Kingdom minister of Arts & Sciences Hrólfr á Fjárfelli. He welcomes anyone with questions about Arts & Sciences! Like, how do I enter an A&S display or competition? What do I need to do to enter an A&S display or competition? What is this thingy called documentation? Can I get some feedback on a project I’m working on? I have trouble (re)searching online, do you have any suggestions? …?  For this, and more, visit the KMOAS Consultation table.

Roaming Library, also hosted by Master Hrólfr á Fjárfelli. He will bring two book cases, and a couple crates of books on Costuming, including Viking and Anglo-Saxon eras. Bring a camera if you hope to bring back a chapter or two for research. And if you have something you think others would enjoy to take a peek at, please bring and share too (with name) – he and his minions will stand guard all day to protect the Hoard!

Region 3 Brewing Round Table, hosted by Master Gille MacDhonuill. Want to talk about making brews of all types stop by and share your recipes, ideas, or learn more about the art of alcohol? Then this is where you want to be, starting at 3 pm – home brews not required but always welcome, of course.

Yours in Service,
THL Maggie Rue

Ædult Swim V on Facebook
Ædult Swim V on the Kingdom calendar

 

 

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Æthelmearc Gazette

Æthelmearc Gazette

Categories

  • 50 Year
  • A&S Champs
  • A&S Competition and Display
  • A&S Faire
  • AE 300
  • AEcademy
  • AELive
  • Announcements
  • Aoife's Links
  • Archery
  • Arts & Sciences
  • Autocratting
  • Awards
  • Æthelmeac Æcademy
  • Æthelmearc History
  • Bardic
  • Book Reviews
  • Brewing
  • Camping
  • Combat Archery
  • Competitions
  • Cooking
  • Corporate News
  • Costuming
  • Court Reports
  • Crown Tourney
  • Dance
  • demos
  • donations
  • Equestrian
  • Esoterica
  • Event Announcements & Updates
  • Event Reports
  • Feast
  • Fencing
  • Fiber Arts
  • Food
  • Food pantry
  • Foresters Guild
  • Forestry
  • Gaming & Fun
  • Gulf Wars
  • Heavy List
  • Heraldry
  • Herbalism
  • Humor
  • Ice Dragon
  • In memoriam
  • Interviews
  • Kingdom News
  • KMOAS
  • Largesse
  • Music
  • Newcomers
  • Officer Announcements
  • Pennsic
  • Poetry & Prose
  • Populace-in-focus
  • Quarterly reports
  • Queen's Rapier
  • Rapier
  • Research
  • Royalty
  • SCA @ Home
  • SCA History
  • SCA Shop Talk
  • Scribal
  • Service
  • Siege
  • Teaching
  • The AEthelmearc 300
  • Thrown Weapons
  • Tidings
  • Uncategorized
  • Youth Activities
  • Youth combat

RSS The Æthelmearc Gazette

  • Court Report Bog Twelfth Night 1/21/23
  • Court Report: Queen’s Rapier Champion Tourney, April 8, A.S. 57
  • Populace in Focus: Katja Davidova Orlova Khazarina

Powered by WordPress.com.

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: