The LIBME Imbiber

After a triumphant return to the 6th Annual Blue Point Cask Festival, where our table prominently featured ten unique casks that rivaled any showing from any brewer in the production, I was musing at all of the great press and accolades we have been receiving. It addition to our membership and friends, we have received a generous outpouring from Newsday, The Masters of None podcast: www.MastersOfNoneShow.com, writers, and bloggers  who all seemed to like our exceptional liquid creativity.

We fashioned this growing movement for the love of craft beer and brewing it a mere three years ago as an idea shared among three friends on their way to see the fabled Sixpoint Brewery in the Redhook section of lower Brooklyn, NY. Since that time, the group has grown in both its ranks and its followers who make a point of seeing us at every show we participate at. We have been working to make every showing of the LIBME a fun moment in history as our beers’ quality often exceeds that of our commercial brethren.

Presently, the focus of the emerging Long Island Beer & Malt Enthusiasts is on the completion of its official filing for both NY State and Federal recognition as a non-profit organization under the IRS designation of 501c3. This application’s approval will free the LIBME to climb higher and build more events all over LI as the group is also seeking to build a larger presence in Nassau County.

In addition to producing more events all over LI, this group has its sights on two bigger events in the distance. The Bellport Beer/Bellport Chamber charity beer tasting for the benefit of Camp Paquatuck and the Lighthouse Mission on Thursday June 10th, 2010 will be great way  for this group to express its thanks to the community while it brews for the great beer show in August at the North Fork Craft Beer Festival. Simply known to us as “Martha Clara”, after the donating vineyard in which the show happens, it is widely considered by the members of the LI beer community to be the best show on Long Island.

While the LIBME will be working forward on building great showings in the next few months, I would like it to be known that our door is always open to those who simply share our appreciation for great beer and desire to make Long Island, NY a great place for beer and other malted beverages. I would encourage anyone wanting to join us to visit a few of our meetings and shows and then step to join the LIBME as a supporting member.

Cheers,

Rich