What is Field Day? Glad you asked! According to the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for Amateur Radio in the USA, representing over 170,000 FCC-licensed Amateurs:
“Field Day is ham radio’s open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.”
“ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June of each year, thousands of radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations.
“Field Day is a picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN!”
Amateur Radio is my “other” hobby. I’ve been in radio longer (1986) than I have been in brewing (1998). The two together are utterly fantastic – which is why both occupy this space in this post.
Next month’s shindig is being organized by Fred K9SO. He secured a location for the event and will showcase his remote station operations. From a park pavilion he will be able to remotely operate his two stations: one at Q-SO Corners in WI and the other in Mooresville, NC. (Click on Fred’s call sign above for more information.)
My contribution to the event will be 5 gallons of Field Day brew. The naming rights to it are in the hands of Fred who has solicited many suggestions from the members of the local amateur radio club: Lakeshore Repeater Association (LRA). Since the naming debate is still hot ‘n heavy, I can’t go beyond the Field Day moniker at this time.
This recipe is not my own creation but came from my bother, Paul KD9PM, who brewed this for his Field Day activities. He claims that it will disappear without much encouragement or coaxing. I hope that I can duplicate that with this showing. There were a couple minor tweaks made to his recipe but nothing that should alter it drastically.
The reason I could brew this today, on a Monday, is NOT because school is over for the year. Today was a potential winter weather makeup day. Since this winter was very mild with little in the way of snowfall, today was dedicated to brewing and getting some outside things done – and getting the bike out of the shed putting a couple of miles on it. Finally there was sunshine and warmer temps around here. Although, living such a short distance from the lake does keep things cooler. BTW, the school year DOES conclude at the end of this month – before Memorial Day for a change. Nice!
Here is the makings of Field Day for Field Day in June:
Grains
- 2-Row Brewers Malt: 6 lb
- Flaked Rice: 1 lb
- White Wheat Malt: 1 lb
- Acidulated Malt: 05. lb
- Cara-Pils Malt: 0.5 lb
- Caramel Malt 40°L: 0.5 lb
Hops
- Willamette: 1 oz (60 minutes)
- Saaz: 1 oz (15 minutes)
Additions
- Irish Moss: 1 tsp (15 minutes)
Yeast
- Mauribrew AB01 (Repitch from Littleport Brewing, Racine)
Preliminary Stats
- OG: 1.050
- FG: 1.012
- Color: 7.12 ARM
- ABV: 4.91 %
- IBU: 27.7
Here’s hoping for a great Field Day and an empty keg!
