Please welcome our new Chamberlain!
You may know Baron Rauþbjorn by "R.J.". He's been brewing for 19 years, specializing in short meads. He's also the owner of the Horse Piss Tavern set up on the top of Mount Eislinn during Pennsic. The Guild is fortunate to have his expertise behind the bar.
Were you interested in the Chamberlain position, but lack experience? Reach out to the Guildmaster! Become an apprentice and learn the ropes so that you can step in to be a future Chamberlain!
Teaching Opportunities
February 28, Victor, NY (Dry site)
All those interested in holding a class should contact our Coordinators of Classes, Mistress Bronwyn nic Gregor and Baroness Elizabeta da Venezia using this Google Form link.
Upcoming Events
I would love to see more opportunities for the east and south of the Kingdom, so please get in touch if you know of any (or are willing to host a tasting table).
April 4, 2026, Utica Pennsylvania
It's in the name! There will be beer and judging of ales, lagers, porters and all brews. Keep an eye on the Facebook event page!
Æthelmearc Hospitality Request
Æthelmearc hospitality wants to offer more sekanjabin to refresh the populace at Pennsic this summer. They would like to have 15 gallons of syrup for the ten days that the Royal encampment is set up.
The Debatable Lands brewers have already offered to contribute five gallons to Hospitality. If you make sekanjabin, or know of someone who does, and would like to contribute some syrup to Æ Hospitality at Pennsic this year, please contact Muirgheal Inghean Dubhghaill for more information, and to let them know you'll participate.
Æthelmearc Brewing Challenge
Have you started your A/B challenge yet? I am working on two straight meads, one with honey from a spring harvest and one from a fall harvest!
Participate in the 2026 A/B challenge for Æethelmearc brewers! Here's what you need to do:
- Select an alcoholic beverage that you want to create (beer, mead, cordial, wine, etc).
- Make two batches at the same time. They don't have to be five gallons - a one gallon batch is fine!
- Change only one ingredient between the two batches. For example, make one mead with store-bought honey and the other with fireweed honey. Or make one ale with kveik yeast and the other with Safale-05. Any single ingredient is fine. Note that this is changing an ingredient, not adding or omitting. So a straight mead compared to a straight mead with cinnamon falls outside of the spirit of the challenge. (Making one mead with Ceylon cinnamon and another with Cassia cinnamon fits perfectly, though!)
- Do a side-by-side tasting of your creation at an event or meeting, sharing it with as many other folks who want to try it out. Here's where you should find some added enjoyment from this challenge; watch as drinkers compare one small change between the two beverages!
- Share your experiment with the Brewers Guild mailing list, Tavern Talk!
I'll scout out opportunities to showcase your creations as the season progresses. For those who need a deadline, two strong contenders will be War Practice in May and Pennsic.
Guild Chamberlain
Do you want to contribute to the guild in a supportive, meaningful way that doesn't require a ton of time? Consider stepping in as the Guild Chamberlain, the invisible power behind the Æthelmearc bar!
Find more details in the October update. If you're interested in taking on this responsibility, please email the Guildmaster! Without the vital role the Chamberlain provides, we cannot offer anything "on tap" at the Royal Bar.