TheeMattSmith wrote:It was creepy quiet in that room. Standing up there on that stage was just bizarre. After I sat back down one of the TX club guys said to me that we weren't a club, we don't have meetings. Restraining myself from punching the Viking hatted fellow brewer. I just said "do you listen" he said no. "we'll you should try it, the meetings are every Sunday night and you can pay your dues through pay pal"
It was an odd way to end a week of awesome fellowship with homebrewers. Everyone in that room was a friend until the BN won. The room went silent and they became jerks Fuck them.
As an Austin Zealot, I'm really sorry to hear you experienced a sour loser, and highly doubt it was actually one of our competitors which is even more hypocritical. We pride ourselves on being loosely organized a little too much. Although we have 60-75 members show up to our monthly meetings and about 600 on our Yahoo Group, but I suspect that we had less than a dozen of our members actually enter (but great showing from those that did!). A few were unable to enter the first round due to procrastination or distracted enough over the registration weekend that they were shut out of registration.
I have to admit being stunned last year when BN won, but being more involved in AHA and NHC as a whole makes me more understanding of how TBN is able not only to serve geographic areas without local clubs or even those where a club exists but for whatever reason your competition loyalty is to TBN. Personally, my first club was the Houston Foam Rangers and technically I'm a member since I get a registration at their annual competition, and I'm also a member of the Texas Carboys based in Cedar Park, TX, but I choose to compete and socialize most frequently with my home club of the Austin Zealots.
I am most proud of my BN Affiliation when I attend the annual party at NHC, in supporting local non-profits with a portion of the door proceeds. My delay in clapping was for the following reasons:
Reason #4 -- I was on the way back from the toilet
Reason #3 -- disappointed that my homeclub Zealots didn't win with a Hail Mary pass
Reason #2 -- dog-tired because the awards event went so late
Top Reason -- still hungover from double-fisting mead and imperial stouts at club night with the Amazing Kate.
Just glad I didn't blow chunks of the Spam chili that Schoppe aka "Mr. Brewniverse" had made for club night. I seem to recall congratulating Justin and Kate personally, although I was so exhausted and buzzed enough that I may have only told JP and Push thank you for the great live broadcast. Our winners at home knew before we texted and called them!
BTW - The Ninkasi Award winner Mark Schoppe is a member of the Austin Zealots, the missing club affiliation was an error that was corrected immediately today after he notified the AHA.
Sincerest congratulations to TBN for the win, and for furthering the passion and zeal for homebrewing through their hard work, tireless energy, and time!
(I saw both of them wear the same asshat at one point or another during the banquet).